Archived Grant Opportunity View - GO4875
Artificial Intelligence and Digital Capability Centres Grants
The grants will provide up to $11 million for the establishment of AI and digital capability centres to drive the adoption and use of AI technologies by Australian businesses.
The Australian Government’s Artificial Intelligence Action Plan (the Plan) sets out a vision for Australia to be a global leader in developing and adopting trusted, secure and responsible artificial intelligence (AI).
Under the Plan, the Government is investing $44 million across 2021-2022 to 2024-2025 to establish four AI and Digital Capability Centres. These centres will connect small and medium enterprises (SMEs) with AI equipment and tools, provide services and training, and link them to AI skills and expertise. In turn, the centres will support the development, commercialisation, and adoption of new high-value AI products and services for the domestic and global marketplace.
The objectives of establishing these Capability Centres are to:
- establish a ‘front door’ for SMEs to access capabilities, expertise and innovative technologies to adopt, adapt, test and deploy AI technologies
- foster collaboration and connect SMEs with opportunities to lift productivity and drive commercialisation
- coordinate and drive the growth of Australia's AI ecosystem
- lift SME capabilities so they can confidently adopt AI solutions.
You can apply if you meet the eligibility criteria. The eligibility criteria are a set of rules that describe who we can consider for this grant. You can apply if you:
- are an eligible entity
- have an eligible project
- have eligible expenditure
- are applying with at least one Australian industry partner.
Eligible entities
To be eligible you must have an Australian business number (ABN).
You must also be one of the following entities:
- an entity, incorporated in Australia
- a publicly funded research organisation (PFRO).
You can’t apply if you are:
- an organisation, or your project partner is an organisation, included on the National Redress Scheme’s list of Institutions that have not joined or signified their intent to join the Scheme
- an employer of 100 or more employees that has not complied with the Workplace Gender Equality Act (2012)
- income tax exempt
- an individual
- a partnership
- an unincorporated association
- a non-corporate Commonwealth entity
- the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO)
- a trust (however, an incorporated trustee may apply on behalf of a trust).
Eligible projects
You must complete your project by 31st March, 2025.
Your project must:
- be located in Australia
- support the creation of AI products or services by small and medium enterprises (SMEs) for an overseas or interstate market, or
- support the use of AI or digital capability within an SMEs to create or improve products or services for an overseas or interstate market.
Eligible expenditure
You can only spend grant fund on eligible expenditure.
Eligible expenditure includes:
- labour costs
- up to 30% of labour on-costs (e.g. superannuation, payroll tax, workers compensation insurance)
- eligible project activities that you contract to others
- domestic and overseas travel, within reason
- workshop and conference costs
- staff training
- capital items.
The eligibility rules are in the grant opportunity guidelines.
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