Made in Queensland Program

Made in Queensland Program – Round 7

  • Round 7 will open for applications on 24 September 2024 and close 24 January 2025
  • Queensland-based manufacturers looking to adopt industry-leading equipment, technologies, systems and processes that include energy efficiency, export, reshoring, supply chain improvements, sustainability and/or advancement of decarbonisation and net zero outcomes are encouraged to apply for matched funding grants of $50,000 to $2.5 million.

The Made in Queensland (MIQ) Program offers grant funding to assist small to medium enterprises (SMEs) in the traditional manufacturing sector based in Queensland. Its primary objective is to enhance their international competitiveness, productivity, and profitability by facilitating the adoption of cutting-edge technologies and processes. By supporting existing manufacturing jobs and fostering the creation of future roles within Queensland's manufacturing businesses and supply chains, the MIQ Program strives to fuel the growth of Queensland's economy.

Key Requirements

An MIQ Program grant is designed to assist eligible manufacturing SMEs based in Queensland. It provides reimbursement for up to 50 percent of the Eligible Project costs associated with projects undertaken by SMEs. Grants are available in the range of $50,000 to $2.5 million (excluding GST) per grant and operate on a dollar-for-dollar cash basis for matched funding of Eligible Project costs. These projects should align with the strategic direction of the applicant, the MIQ Program Objectives, and the Eligibility Criteria.

The grant allocation follows a two-stage competitive selection process:

  1. Stage 1: This is an open application phase where applicants demonstrate how their projects meet the Eligibility Criteria and Assessment Criteria. Applications submitted during Stage 1 are evaluated and scored against the Assessment Criteria.
  2. Stage 2: In this phase, the applicants with the highest-ranking Stage 1 Applications are invited to provide additional information for the Value for Money and due diligence assessments. Applications are then ranked, and grants are awarded to the shortlisted applicants with the highest-ranked applications until the funding is exhausted.

For Round 7, up to $2.5 million (excluding GST) in available funding has been reserved for applications that do not involve the purchase of equipment and are seeking less than $250,000 (excluding GST) each in funding. These applications will follow the same two-stage competitive selection process as all other applications.

Applicants who have previously received funding in prior rounds of the MIQ program are eligible to apply for funding for additional projects in the current round. However, it’s important to note that the cumulative value of all MIQ grants received by any applicant, including grants received by their Associated Entities, across all rounds of the MIQ Program should not surpass $2.5 million (excluding GST).

The objectives of MIQ (Program Objectives) are designed to align with the Queensland Government’s objectives for the community, Advance Queensland Priorities, and the Department’s Strategic Direction through:

  • growing productivity, profitability, and international competitiveness of manufacturing SMEs in Queensland
  • encouraging Queensland-based manufacturing SMEs to become Advanced Manufacturers through the adoption of cutting-edge equipment, technologies, processes, and systems
  • providing support to sustain traditional manufacturing jobs while generating new, high-skilled manufacturing opportunities for the future.

The MIQ Program aims to empower SME manufacturers to achieve their goals in energy efficiency, export growth, reshoring, and decarbonisation. Through transformative projects focused on Industry 4.0 and 5.0, these objectives can be accomplished within a 12-month timeframe.

What is eligible for funding?

To be considered an eligible project, certain criteria must be met.

  • be consistent with the Program Objectives
  • focus on one or both of the following industry-leading activities:
    • implementing advanced robotics and/or Industry 4.0 and/or 5.0 equipment that will differentiate the applicant’s products, processes, and markets from its Queensland manufacturing competitors
    • implementing a sector-relevant technology, system, or process

The project may also involve the development of a plan or strategy.

  • a primary focus on achieving significant business transformation, avoiding duplication of the applicant’s existing equipment or system updates, while embracing Industry 4.0 and/or 5.0 principles (e.g., digitisation, interconnected factory, big data analytics)
  • demonstrate expected outcomes, including enhancements in productivity, profitability, and international competitiveness, relevant to the applicant’s existing business activities
  • possess a project site address located within Queensland
  • be capable of completion within 12 months from the execution of a Funding Agreement
  • not have commenced, and must not be scheduled to commence, until after the execution of a Funding Agreement
  • be distinct from any project previously approved under past MIQ rounds, for which an agreement has already been established (or is in the process of being finalised) between the Department and the applicant.
  • not be concurrently receiving funding from any other local, state, or federal government grant or scheme.

Your project may encompass one or more of the following project examples, along with their corresponding critical costs:

Advanced robotics and/or Industry 4.0 and/or 5.0 equipment

  • New equipment, purchase, installation, commissioning and training, including:
    • simulation or digital twin
    • new and advanced robotics or cobotics
    • equipment which automates existing processes
    • autonomous equipment
    • augmented or virtual reality equipment.
  • Equipment integration is essential for seamless operations within your business. To ensure efficiency, it is crucial that the equipment seamlessly integrates with existing systems, processes, and workflows. It is important to avoid duplicating equipment that already exists within your business or its associated entities, regardless of their location. By following this approach, you can maintain a professional and streamlined environment for your operations.

Sector-relevant technology, system or process 

  • Introduction of Industry 4.0 and/or 5.0 technologies, systems and processes to the business, including installation, implementation and integration of: 
    • big data, artificial intelligence (AI) analytics, digital connectivity, Internet of Things (IoT), digital twin
    • enterprise resource planning (ERP) system, manufacturing execution system (MES), material requirements planning (MRP) system 
    • carbon monitoring system 
    • sustainability management software 
    • supply/value chain integration management system
    • Lean manufacturing, lean audit, value stream mapping, error and down time reduction, life cycle assessment 
  • Technology, systems, and processes should establish a direct connection to the applicant’s manufacturing process, focusing on relevancy rather than general business operations.

Plans and strategies (must be part of an equipment, technology, system or process project) Professional Advice

  • professional advice on optimising/augmenting current resources/equipment or new equipment/technology investment (planning), including integration of advanced technologies plan 
  • developing a human resource management plan to support integration to boost commercial outcomes creating sustainable jobs 
  • site visualisation deployment for improved structure and factory layout 
  • Decarbonisation or net zero 
    • development of a decarbonisation or net zero plan or strategy 
    • development of an energy efficiency plan 
  • Improvement planning
    • development of a networking and digital connectivity implementation plan
    • development of a supply/value chain digital data capture and analysis plan 
  • Waste reduction
    • development of an innovative water use management plan 
    • development of a sophisticated material waste, reuse and recycling management plan 
  • Market expansion 
    • market research 
    • differentiation/diversification of existing products/services strategy 
    • social media, digital media/market/export strategy 

Associated project costs critical to the success of the proposed MIQ project 

  • servers to accommodate advanced systems and process connectivity to be installed as part of the project
  • software licencing (up to 12 months) where the software is required to operate the new equipment or implement the system or process 
  • training to support implementation of a new software system or integrated technology 
  • freight of Eligible Project items (equipment) to the project site
  • cybersecurity

Eligible Project cost items must be supported by quotes.

What companies are eligible for funding?

To qualify for an MIQ grant, an applicant must be either a standalone entity or a group of entities (as outlined below):

  • is a Queensland-based business whose principal activity and majority annual turnover is derived from manufacturing, as defined under Division C of the Australian Bureau of Statistics’ Australian and New Zealand Standard Industrial Classification (ANZSIC) 2006 
  • operates independently and has control of its own corporate governance and decision making 
  • is an SME with between five and 200 full-time equivalent (FTE) employees. A minimum of five FTE employees must be located in Queensland 
  • is registered for GST and holds an active Australian Business Number (ABN) 
  • has a proposed Eligible Project that meets the requirements set out in Section 2.3.2 
  • owns the existing equipment used in its manufacturing operations and will own any equipment to be purchased under the proposed Eligible Project 
  • accepts that the Department may require security over any or all of Eligible Project items for the duration of up to seven years
  • has the financial capacity and standing necessary to successfully undertake and complete the proposed Eligible Project recognising that grant payments are made in arrears 
  • does not have, and must not be an Associated Entity of an entity that has made, an application under Round 6 of the MIQ Program that in aggregate exceeds, or will exceed funding of $2.5 million (excluding GST) 
  • does not have, and must not be an Associated Entity of an entity that has received (or about to receive) funding under the MIQ Program that in aggregate exceeds, or will exceed $2.5 million (excluding GST) 
  • is not a federal, state or local government entity, statutory authority or special purpose vehicle or not-for-profit organisation.
  • is not insolvent or does not have owners or directors that are an undischarged bankrupt

If an applicant fails to meet the Eligibility Criteria, their application may be rejected by the Department and not considered for any further assessment.

Please note that as part of the application process, a comprehensive due diligence and probity review may be conducted on applicants. This review may include various checks and searches, some of which are listed below:

  • conducting applicant bona fide checks, which include status, corporate structure, ownership, and a review of directors, among other factors
  • assessing financial capability through historical financials and evaluating viability by considering funding capacity and sources
  • background and probity investigations, which include checks with entities such as the ACCC, Banned and Disqualified lists, bankruptcy records, adverse media, and court records
  • addressing business and project risks, along with the corresponding planned mitigation strategies.

The Department’s due diligence review outcome can influence the Department’s assessment of the application. If it is determined not to meet the due diligence and financial probity requirements, the application may be deemed ineligible for a grant, and the Department may choose not to proceed further with the application.

Is this grant competitive or entitlement based?

Competitive. Your application will be assessed among other applications by a judging panel.

How can I increase my chances of winning this grant?

By engaging an accredited government grants consultant, such as Avant Group.

Competitive grants often require significant business case development and project analysis to support the application, this may include detailed presentations supporting the project’s merit, projected sales, cost-benefit analysis and more.

As part of your engagement with Avant Group, your account manager will assess the required documents and will provide the following as needed to support your grant submission.

Grant application writeup including a detailed presentation illustrating how the grant funding will contribute to your project, how the funding will contribute to the project’s budget, a project milestone plan, delivery timeline, impact on employment if applicable and a breakdown of the management and leadership team for the project

  • Industry analysis presentation
  • Competitor Analysis Presentation
  • Marketing and Sales Analysis Presentation
  • 3-5 year Cashflow Forecast
  • 3-5 year Balance Sheet Forecast
  • Cost-Benefit Analysis of Grant Funding
  • End-to-end grant application including information collating, analysis and application writing
  • CAPEX (Capital Expenditure) cost-benefit analysis
  • Stakeholder relations and Risk Mitigation Plans
  • Any other relevant forecasting that will support your application

How can I get help with my application? Or know if I’m likely to win funding?

Avant Group offers a no-obligation assessment of your eligibility for funding and will assess your likelihood of a successful grant application.