Priority Investment Program

Pillar: Relationships
Lead directorate: CMTEDD

Overview

The Priority Investment Program was established in 2018-19 and facilitates collaboration between the ACT Government, industry, research and the tertiary sectors to attract investment and grow both established and emerging priority sectors of Canberra’s economy.

Four projects across the space, energy, agri-technology and technology sectors have been supported to date.

In the space sector, a Quantum Optical Ground Station will be established at Mt Stromlo. Skykraft, a spin out company from the University of New South Wales will collaborate with local and international partners to design and manufacture small satellite constellations for the delivery of space-based air traffic management services.
In the energy sector, ITP Renewables Pty Ltd will establish a Distributed Energy Resources Laboratory at the Australian National University, in collaboration with industry and the tertiary education sector. The laboratory will provide an interface with the energy grid to test devices and gain intelligence about how energy networks function.
In the Agri-Technology sector, the ANU/CSIRO Centre For Entrepreneurial Agri-Technology will build an innovation ecosystem where research and technology is targeted to agricultural challenges independent of traditional discipline boundaries.
In the technology sector, Austcyber will deliver the Canberra Cyber Security Innovation Node. The Node will grow and create jobs while strengthening Canberra’s knowledge economy – particularly around cyber security in the space, defence and education sectors.

Status update

Date	Update
April 2021	Since the previous update a further two projects across the space and biodiversity sectors have been supported: $300,000 to establish the Spacecraft Detector Characterisation Facility, which will enhance the ANU Space Testing Facility and secure the ANU and Canberra businesses opportunities in the supply chain of the global infrared detector industry for space applications. The new capability has a wide application in defence, agriculture, mineralogical surveys, health (pollen and air quality monitoring) and natural hazard management (bushfire and water quality). $1.2 million to enable DART Pty Ltd in collaboration with ANU and UC to establish a cloud-based biodiversity and biosecurity data storage and analysis platform to enable wider research and commercial applications. Considering the ongoing impact of COVID-19 on the economy, the 2020-21 PIP funding round, which is the third round, is focused on jobs and economic recovery. PIP extends beyond the cyber & digital sectors, and a total of $2 million is available in this round to support projects that will contribute to economic recovery and creation of jobs in the priority sectors of the ACT’s economy. 22 expressions of interest were received under the 2020-21 Priority Investment Program Jobs and Economic Recovery round with six being shortlisted and invited to submit a detailed business case. Business case submissions closed at midnight on Tuesday 16 February 2021 and are currently being assessed for funding suitability.

Date

Update

April 2021

Since the previous update a further two projects across the space and biodiversity sectors have been supported:

$300,000 to establish the Spacecraft Detector Characterisation Facility, which will enhance the ANU Space Testing Facility and secure the ANU and Canberra businesses opportunities in the supply chain of the global infrared detector industry for space applications. The new capability has a wide application in defence, agriculture, mineralogical surveys, health (pollen and air quality monitoring) and natural hazard management (bushfire and water quality).
$1.2 million to enable DART Pty Ltd in collaboration with ANU and UC to establish a cloud-based biodiversity and biosecurity data storage and analysis platform to enable wider research and commercial applications.

Considering the ongoing impact of COVID-19 on the economy, the 2020-21 PIP funding round, which is the third round, is focused on jobs and economic recovery.

PIP extends beyond the cyber & digital sectors, and a total of $2 million is available in this round to support projects that will contribute to economic recovery and creation of jobs in the priority sectors of the ACT’s economy.

22 expressions of interest were received under the 2020-21 Priority Investment Program Jobs and Economic Recovery round with six being shortlisted and invited to submit a detailed business case. Business case submissions closed at midnight on Tuesday 16 February 2021 and are currently being assessed for funding suitability.