The Export Market Development Grants program will be changing from 1 July 2021.
SMEs will be able to apply for grants up to $770,000 per applicant, and over up to 8 years (not necessarily consecutively) for eligible promotional activities.
To be eligible, SMEs will need to be export-ready and have a turnover of less than $20 million.
Grants will be available in 3 stages called tiers:
How will EMDG work from 1 July 2021?
From 1 July 2021 the EMDG program will become an upfront eligibility-based grants program, and the process for receiving a grant will be as follows:
- A grant application needs to be submitted before you spend money on promotional activities. The application will include milestone payments that link to key expenditure activities you undertake.
- Once all applications have been assessed, Austrade offers a grant agreement to each eligible applicant.
- Once you have your grant agreement you can commence spending. We will then submit your expenditure in line with your milestones to receive a cash back as outlined in your grant agreement.
Your expenses up to 30 June 2021 will not be affected, the same application process applies. This new program applies to your export promotional budget from 1 July 2021.
How can Avant Group help manage your EMDG?
- Avant Group will manage the Export Market Development Grant application for you
- The grant agreement with Austrade will be negotiated by Avant Group
- Avant Group will manage your Milestone submissions, which unlocks your grant as you progress.
What Next?
Our fees remain unchanged. Under this new process we will charge a success only application fee of $495+ GST to write your grant application and this will be charged upon provision of your Grant Agreement. This amount will then be credited against our standard fees when you get paid your grant amount.
The next stage will be an onboarding call – where we will interview you and key personnel to assist us in the preparation of your grant.
To register your interest please contact [email protected].
What do you need to do?
That’s simple, we will be asking you for a headline budget – what you want the money for. So please start thinking about this now as the window will open and close very quickly. We will do the rest!
What can you claim?
Not much has changed in this respect. Eligible promotional items for goods, services or events (based on the Exposure Draft):
- Overseas representative (in a foreign country for more than 6 months in a Financial Year)
- Marketing Visits (up to 21 days) per trip per traveler (airfare + per diem allowance)
- Consultants (research into foreign market for eligible product or promotional activity in foreign country)
- Overseas buyer visits (up to 21 days)
- Free samples
- Promotional and advertising material – Google adwords, brochures, digital and social media marketing, etc.
- IP Costs – patents and trademarks (exc Aus and NZ)
- Trips within Australia (up to 21 days) – marketing to eligible product to foreign buyers
- Eligible expenses of a person in respect of training activities – being for export marketing training only.