Clean Technology Innovation (CTI) Project Development Stream

To be eligible for funding, you must meet all the requirements outlined in Section 4 of the Project Development Stream (PDS) 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 up to $250,000
• be expected to be complete within 12 months of commencement
• have a lab proven technology or technological readiness level (TRL) of between 5-9 that is at a clear go/no-go decision point which requires a technical, feasibility or equivalent study to be undertaken
• 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). 

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.

Example 1:  Company A has a lab proven technology and wants to further understand the technical and commercial viability of their product in NSW.

 Company A will conduct a feasibility study to assess both the technical and commercial viability of their product. The study will provide them with crucial information and analysis to determine if the product is feasible and has potential for success in the market. The feasibility study will help Company A decide whether to proceed to the next stage of development, modify their project scope, or potentially explore alternative options. The outcome of the feasibility study will help Company A in making informed decisions regarding the future of their product.

Example 2: Company B is interested in accelerating the development of their product by undertaking F.E.E.D (Front End Engineering Design) and conducting design validation.

 Company B will conduct a FEED study to assess the technical and practical feasibility of their detailed engineering design, 3D drawings, and design validation plans. The study will provide them with valuable insights, analysis, and assessments to determine if their proposed approach is viable and can lead to successful product development.

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).