Defence manufacturing grant program opens under MMI

The newly appointed Minister for Industry, Science and Technology, Christian Porter, has opened the $1.3 billion Modern Manufacturing Initiative (MMI) for projects in the defence sector. This is underpinned by an industry-led road map, also released by the Minister, showing a ten year plan for investment and industry growth.
“The road map identifies opportunities for defence manufacturers to build on existing areas of strength such as military vehicle and aircraft manufacturing, naval shipbuilding and marine hardware production, cutting-edge digital technologies such as 3D printing, and explosives and propellants,” Minister Porter said.
“The road map also identifies opportunities for Australian manufacturers to build scale and capability in three key areas: investment in the defence sector, defence exports and adapting advanced technologies to the defence sector or for civilian application.”
Initial applications will be limited to the Translation and Integration streams of the Modern Manufacturing Initiative, with expressions of interest for the larger Collaboration stream to open in coming months.
“Manufacturing is critical to a modern Australia economy and creating a sovereign capacity to manufacture sovereign guided weapons will drive innovation, skills and resilient supply chains,” Minister Porter said. “This initiative will help us leverage Defence investment to grow a high-tech manufacturing ecosystem in Australia.”

Australian companies undertaking defence manufacturing projects can apply for funding support under the:

• Manufacturing translation stream: helps Australian manufacturers translate high quality research and ideas into commercial outcomes
• Manufacturing integration stream: helps Australian manufacturers to access domestic and global supply chains and distribute quality products and high value services into them

Successful National Manufacturing Priority projects are eligible to receive up to 50% of funding. Applications for the third MMI stream—the Manufacturing collaboration stream—will open later this year.

Applicants should first read the Defence National Manufacturing Priority Road Map. This is designed to help grow the scale and competitiveness of Australian defence manufacturing and help it develop world leading defence capabilities and support for businesses. The Defence sector roadmap follows the release of National Manufacturing Priority area road maps for the Space, Medical Products and Resources Technology and Critical Minerals Processing sectors.

For more information on the road maps and available grant funding visit industry.gov.au/manufacturing