Business Development Vouchers

APPLICATION FORM AND GUIDELINES

Application Guidelines

What can Business Development Vouchers be used for?

Business Development Vouchers have been established to drive opportunities for research collaboration between NSW small-to-medium enterprises (SMEs) and researchers at Charles Sturt University.

Business Development Vouchers are designed to increase SME access to NSW research and development (R&D) organisations, facilitate business expenditure on R&D, and to promote collaboration.

Through Business Development Vouchers, you can be connected with experts in a relevant field of research

and embark on a joint research project. The program also enables access to high level capabilities and facilities that would otherwise be difficult to access.

Business Development Vouchers are administered by CenWest Innovate at Charles Sturt University as part of the Boosting Business Innovation program funded by the NSW Department of Industry, the NSW Government’s economic development agency.

Applications for Business Development Vouchers are now open, and can be submitted at any time.

You can use a Business Development Voucher to:

» access CSU capabilities in market research and customer surveys, digital marketing analyses, assistance with brand development, creative industries support, data mining and statistical analysis, and many other capabilities;

» Support a research project tailored to the business development needs of the SME.

For more information, search our CSU capabilities listing online at innovate.csu.edu.au

How to apply

Business Development Vouchers funding

Eligibility criteria for Business Development Vouchers

Please submit the attached application form to cenwestinnovate@csu.edu.au. For more information on applying, please phone 6338 4503. Note that all applications will be assessed on a competitive basis. Once your application for a Business Development Voucher has been received, you will be contacted

by a member of the CenWest Innovate team. They will advise on the availability of relevant expertise to work on the proposed project and work with you, as needed, to further develop your proposal before it is submitted for final evaluation and submission for approval.

Business Development Vouchers will be awarded on a competitive basis to eligible NSW companies for amounts of up to $15,000. BD Vouchers are valid for a period of six months from the date of issue and will not cover work already undertaken. A business applying for a Business Development Voucher must be involved in other CenWest Innovate programs (such as the Next Stage Growth Program, or attending CenWest Innovate events and workshops) Outcomes from

Business Development Vouchers will include growth in jobs; development of new products and/or access to new markets. Other considerations will include:

» Whether the outcomes achieved will benefit other regional businesses.

» Whether the business is Indigenous owned and/or has an Indigenous employee strategy.

In order to be eligible, companies must:

» Be incorporated in NSW

» Have fewer than 200 employees

» Have turnover of less than $30 million per annum

» Have been in operation for at least one year

» Conduct the majority of the proposed activities in NSW

» Have not previously received a

business development voucher

» The request does not primarily involve accessing CSU technical equipment or laboratories and related support. TechVouchers should be used for this purpose.

» Suitability for the program will be assessed on the applicants ability to provide co-funding of a minimum of one third cash of the total project cost

Please answer the following questions:Company Description

1. Company description – what products or technologies do you produce?

2. Is your business Indigenous owned?

Application FormPlease Note!

Applicants are responsible for ensuring that the information they provide is

correct, complete, and sufficient to allow for determination of eligibility and merit as set out in the guidelines.

Company name:

ABN:

Website:

Your Title:

Your Name:

Phone:

Mobile:

Email:

Street Address:

Suburb:

Postcode:

State:

Engagement with CenWest Innovate

3. Are you currently participating in any of the CenWest Innovate activities? If yes, which ones?

Proposal

4. What is the project name and could you please provide a description of what support you are requesting (potentially for public disclosure)?

5. If successful what outcomes do you anticipate from this proposal (for example, sales increase, accessing new markets, jobs growth)? Please also describe any wider industry benefits.

CSU Research Capabilities

6. What CSU research capability are you seeking to access?

7. Have you been previously been in contact with CenWest Innovate about this proposal? If yes, please provide details.

8. Have CSU staff been identified who have agreed to work with you on your project? Please provide details.

Project Costs

9. What cash co-contribution are you proposing to contribute towards the cost of this research (enter $ amount)?

10. What funding amount are you requesting through a Business Development Voucher (enter $ amount)?

Project completion

11. Please provide estimated project start and completion dates

12. Have you worked on any previous R&D projects with researchers at Charles Sturt University? If yes, please provide details.

13. Please name any other partners to the project

14. Is there any other information you would like to provide about this application?