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What is claimed to be a world-first Australian innovation that can extend the expiry date of fresh milk to more than 60 days has received a $1-million grant from the Federal Government.
Queensland company Naturo will use its Accelerating Commercialisation grant to build a pilot manufacturing plant in Coolum on the Sunshine Coast for its patented technology for processing milk that is nutritionally superior and has a longer shelf life.
It’s among nine Australian businesses sharing in $4.4-million in matched grant funding to expand their operations.
Minister for Industry, Science and Technology, Karen Andrews, said the aim is to help companies such as Naturo that are pushing the boundaries of the possible.
“I’m so impressed by the ingenuity and determination of businesses like Naturo, [which] are using science and technology to turn bold ideas into job-creating realities,” Andrews said.
“This grant will help the company build a pilot plant in Queensland to create their product and then export it to the world, while also paving the way for a full scale facility to be built in regional Tasmania.
“Through the commercialisation of innovative products and services like this we’re creating new jobs and giving a much needed boost to our economy as we recover from the pandemic.”
Andrews said the project also demonstrates the incredible opportunities in the food and beverage sector, which is one of the six priority areas under the government’s Modern Manufacturing Strategy.
Among the other businesses to receive a grant is Canaria Technologies, also of Queensland. Its $749,000 will help to commercialise a real-time biometric system to improve safety in the resources sector by ensuring employees are not suffering heat exhaustion and cognitive fatigue.
Victoria company, GO Resources, has been given $712,000 to commercialise its bio-based engine oil for export and create new jobs in oil manufacturing in rural areas.
Also from Victoria is Hearables 3D. It received a grant of $168,000 to complete the development of its smartphone scanning and cloud-hosted software system that creates custom-fit hearing aids and noise-protection devices.
Accelerating Commercialisation is part of the Australian Government’s Entrepreneurs’ Programme, which has provided 512 grants worth $247-million to local businesses since it was established in 2014.