WA Enterprise Support Program: Food Innovation Precinct

Program Overview and Objectives:

The Enterprise Support Program (ESP) is designed to speed up innovation, diversification, export capabilities, product development, and commercialisation. WA uses the Food Innovation Precinct to target small to medium agribusinesses, enterprises, and entrepreneurs. The Precinct is a cutting-edge hub that fosters growth in WA’s food and beverage manufacturing sector and provides access to advanced manufacturing technologies, incubation space, and research facilities.

The Precinct opened on 24 February 2023. It had a $45 million investment from the State Government’s additional $21.75 million funded construction from the Regional Growth Fund. The goal is to help primary producers and food and beverage businesses. It assists in developing, testing, and producing new and improved products. This facility uses innovative, advanced manufacturing technologies and processes. It empowers businesses to explore and validate their product innovations at a commercial batch scale.

Key Grant Details:

• Funding Available: Up to $600,000 per applicant
• Total Funding Pool: $3.85 million
• Program Partners: Shire of Murray, DevelopmentWA, Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD)
• Location: Peel-based Food Innovation Precinct, Western Australia (FIPWA)

Key Objectives:

The Enterprise Support Program aims to:

• Drive economic growth and create jobs in WA’s agrifood sector.
• Foster food innovation and product development.
• Boost agrifood exports and commercialisation of research.
• Support business growth through access to cutting-edge technology and collaborative research.

Funding Streams:

There are three available funding streams within the Enterprise Support Program:

• Stream One: Business and Product Commercialisation, Collaborative Research and Development.
• Stream Two: Shared Precinct Equipment.
• Stream Three: User Incentives to Access the Precinct Space, Facilities, and Services.

Applicants may request funding across one or more streams. Projects are allowed up to 2 years for completion and fund acquittal.

Eligible Projects:

Projects eligible for funding must exhibit the following:

• Innovation in product or process.
• Diversification of business activities.
• Better export capability.
• Product creation and development.
• Commercialisation of research outcomes.

Projects typically use the Precinct’s research capabilities, incubation spaces, and advanced technologies. This helps to develop, test, and produce new or improved food and beverage products at a commercial batch scale.

Eligible Applicants:

Eligible businesses must be:

• Small to medium enterprises (SMEs).
• Agribusinesses or entrepreneurs operating in Western Australia.
• Businesses actively using or intending to use the Food Innovation Precinct WA.

Assessment and Competition:

This is a competitive grant program. A judging panel assesses applications, evaluating them on innovation, economic impact, export potential, and project feasibility.

How can you get help with your application or assess your likelihood of success?

Consider consulting with a professional grant specialist like Pattens Group. We offer initial assessments to review your business’s eligibility. We will also evaluate project alignment with grant objectives.

Where to Get Help

Consider consulting with a professional grant specialist like Pattens Group. We offer initial assessments to review your business’s eligibility and evaluate how well your project aligns with the grant’s objectives.. Visit the Enterprise Support Program webpage for guidelines, templates, and guidance.

Additional Information:

The Food Innovation Precinct WA is a key driver of the Peel region’s agrifood innovation ecosystem. It is supported by significant state and federal investment. The Precinct aims to increase the output of WA’s food and beverage sector, create jobs, and boost regional economic development.