Northern Territory Invention Wins Innovation Grant

A clever Northern Territory invention is a step closer to the market place today following the latest round of Australian Government innovation grants.

Member for Solomon, Mr David Tollner MP today announced local company SRA Information Technology Pty Ltd had received $728, 546 to help develop its groundbreaking Envirosys product.
Mr Tollner congratulated the company on its success, saying the Government was committed to helping businesses like SRA Information Technology take the important steps that turn bright ideas into great commercial products.

"This project is a good example of a clever Australian idea that just needs some extra help from the Government to make it to the marketplace,” Mr Tollner said.

"This support is important to our local economy because innovative companies like SRA Information Technology, and the products and services they develop, hold the key to future job, export and economic growth.”

SRA Information Technology was awarded the funding under the Howard Government's Commercialising Emerging Technologies (COMET), or Commercial Ready program.

The grant will be used to help commercialise an environmental information management system which is currently being installed at BHP Billiton to manage its health, safety, environmental and community data.

The system incorporates software that has been designed to monitor environmental information from a number of sources and send an alert when allowance standards are exceeded.

Twenty-three companies across Australia are sharing in over $9.7 million in the latest round of Commercial Ready and COMET funding.
Mr Tollner said the company was part a growing band of Australian businesses investing in R&D.

"According to latest ABS figures, Australian Business Expenditure on Research and Development (BERD) has increased for the sixth consecutive year, reaching a record level of $8.4 billion in 2004-05.
"The Howard Government is supporting this achievement with a range of carefully targeted innovation programs and I encourage local companies to apply for funds.”

A list of the latest innovation grants can be found at www.ausindustry.gov.au or phone the AusIndustry hotline 13 28 46, or email hotline@ausindustry

2007-05-01