Clean Technology Innovation (CTI) Commercial Readiness Stream

To be eligible for funding, you must meet all the requirements outlined in Section 4 of the Commercial Readiness Stream (CRS) funding guidelines and Section 2 of Clean Technology Innovation (CTI) supplementary guidance.

• Universities          
• Cooperative Research Centres (CRCs)
• Start-ups/Entrepreneurs 
• Researchers
• Innovators

To be eligible for funding, projects must:

• be based in NSW
• be applying for funding between $250,000 and $5 million
• be expected to be complete within 3 years of commencement
• have a technological readiness level (TRL) of between 6-9 and
• have a commercial readiness index (CRI) of less than 4
• align to a Decarbonisation Opportunity Cluster as outlined in the Office of Chief Scientist and Engineer’s 2023 update to the Decarbonisation Innovation Study
• have a minimum cash contribution of at least 50 per cent of the total proposed project cost from non-NSW Government sources (for example, applicant, collaborators, private or other public organisations). 

• Greenhouse gas emissions (CO2, Methane, Nitrous oxide) metric tonnes
• Energy savings in Dollars per annum
• Mhw/year in Gas
• Mhw/year in Electricity
• Technology readiness level (TRL)
• Commercial Readiness Index levels(CRI)
• Number of technology commercialised
• Number of new clean technology businesses established from program funding
• Number of employees in the new clean technology business established from program funding
• Number of FTE construction jobs supported
• Number of FTE ongoing jobs supported

Eligible costs may only be incurred once both parties have signed a funding agreement. This may include costs that:

• are directly related to undertaking of the project
• are incurred by you within the project duration except for audit costs
• are a direct cost of the project and not be provided for the benefit or profit of related bodies
• meet the conditions set out in the guidelines, guidance documents and the funding agreement.

Ineligible applicants include:

• Australian or NSW Government agencies, state owned corporations or statutory authorities
• local government authorities or their section 355 committees
• organisations that do not have an ABN and are unable to obtain an ABN to enter a funding agreement.
• unincorporated associations
• other unincorporated organisations
• an individual (including sole traders)
• insolvent businesses.

The following costs are ineligible for funding:

• expenditure on the acquisition of land for a project
• repayment of existing debts or budget deficits
• expenditure that does not directly support the successful completion of the project
• administrative, operational and maintenance costs not related to the project
• items that can be reasonably be considered as business-as-usual operational costs
• salaries for positions that have already been accounted for in organisational budgets
• business-as-usual staff costs unrelated to the project, such as redundancy or retirement benefits, workers compensation payments, professional fees or memberships
• activities carried out or committed to before a grant is offered and accepted
• costs relating solely to marketing, advertising or product promotion, including education and information campaigns
• legal costs associated with a consortium, disputes or funding arrangements not agreed to as part of the funding agreement
• infrastructure and equipment that can be reasonably be assumed to be integral for the core business, such as laptops.

• Pre-feasibility, Research and Development projects (Refer to the TRL and CRI Scales in Appendix B).
• Scaling or manufacturing a commercially proven technology.
• Marketing or Business development activities to support customer sales.
• Projects aimed at developing a new technology for private use only.
• Commercialising the new version or iteration of an existing technology where the updates and changes are minor and therefore do not qualify as being an innovation.
• Routine infrastructure and equipment that can be reasonably be assumed to be integral for the core business, such as laptops.
• Engaging one or more experienced executive(s) to fill an identified gap in the project management team, for the purposes of achieving commercialisation outcomes.
• Projects requiring ongoing funding from the NSW Government.
• Projects that would proceed and be delivered within the same timeframe without government investment support.
• Projects that have already commenced for the scope of work for which funding is requested in the application.
• Projects that have already received NSW Government or other funding for the same outputs and outcomes.

Example 1 (Technology development): Company A has completed the research, development and has a lab proven technology sitting at TRL 6 and CRI 2.

 Company A will validate and verify the feasibility of the technology to demonstrate the functionality. This will progress their technology on the TRL and CRI scale.

 Example 2 (Infrastructure): Company C wants to build a research and development laboratory to test an innovative technology in their facility.

 Company C will construct a dedicated laboratory to test and evaluate their innovative technology. This laboratory is located within their own facility. By having a dedicated space, Company C can conduct rigorous testing, verification, and validation of their technology. It provides them with a controlled industry environment to assess the performance, safety, and reliability of their product.

Applicant must have a minimum cash contribution of at least 50 per cent of the total proposed project cost from non-NSW Government sources (for example, applicant, collaborators, private or other public organisations).