Grants foster local innovation

The Chief Minister and Minister for Business and Economic Development Jon Stanhope has announced funding for three successful applicants in the latest round of the ACT Government's InnovationConnect (ICon) grant program.

The ICon program assist projects to achieve the critical mass they need to succeed by providing funding that is matched dollar-for-dollar by the successful applicants.

They successful applicants are:

GPT Designs, a Canberra-based high-tech manufacturer of audio equipment for the hearing impaired, was awarded $40,000 towards the development of a large drive induction loop amplifier to assist the hearing impaired in large venues such as stadiums and concert halls;

Ingenate Pty Ltd, a start-up company specialising in water recycling technologies, was awarded $25,000 to conduct a project to prove the development of technology capable of treating the wastewater component of grease trap waste, using a combination of algae and bacteria in a bioreactor. The objective is to treat the wastewater and recover valuable material and algal biomass which can then be used as animal feed, fertiliser and irrigation products; and

Q-Motive Pty Ltd, a subsidiary of Qirx (a previous recipient of both ACT and Commonwealth Government innovation program support), was awarded $15,000 towards development of a prototype rally car seat using Canberra-based ELACO Technology's composite material that offers increased safety, light weight and high impact resistance. The prototype seat will address demands for reduced weight and greater safety in rally cars, but also has significant potential for adaptation to other environments such as general transport and military applications.

"Canberra has long been recognised as punching above its weight in innovation technology and the ACT Government's ICon program has been set up to foster innovation and accelerate the development of new companies and their technologies."

"In these difficult economic times it is particularly important that the ACT Government continue to support companies who are investing in our future," Mr Stanhope said

Further information on the ICon grant program is available at www.business.act.gov.au.