The WA Government has announced a massive $148 million of co-funding grants into 40 innovative, job-creating projects across the State through thei fiist round of its Investment Attraction Fund (IAF).
The IAF was a 2021 election commitment (as part of the ‘WA Jobs Plan’), and was set up to provide funding for projects in priority sectors that create local jobs, build on WA’s economic strengths (the 8 priority sectors as identified by ‘Diversify WA’) and embrace future opportunities.
“Through the Investment Attraction Fund, we’re driving a strong and diversified economy that delivers secure, quality jobs for the future,” said Premier Cook at its announcement last week.
We’re building on WA’s economic strengths, and embracing new and innovative industries – positioning our State at the forefront of the global energy transition. We’re backing local companies to manufacture here in WA, to value-add, and to take on the world in developing high-tech products for the future.
WA Premier Roger Cook
The 40 successful recipients will receive $148.4 million in grant funding, with projects spanning: defence; energy; health and medical life sciences; international education; mining and mining equipment, technology and services; primary industries; space industries; and tourism, events and creative industries.
The funding injection supports a whole array of projects across the State, including:
- A pilot plant to produce high-purity alumina for high-tech battery cells;
- Establishing a renewable diesel biorefinery in Narrogin;
- Advanced manufacturing of medical biosensors to prevent complications during childbirth;
- A high-performance computing campus in Geraldton;
- Establishing a brewery, restaurant, bar and family-friendly venue at Cable Beach;
- An expansion of Stanley College’s capacity to take on international students; and
- Establishing a value-adding dairy facility and tourism offering in the Swan Valley.
One recipient, Pacific Energy, will receive more than $2.4 million to expand its capacity to manufacture renewable energy Stand-alone Power Systems.
The expansion will support the company to double its monthly manufacturing capacity, creating more than 40 local jobs and helping to transition regional and remote communities to a cleaner, reliable and affordable energy future.
More than half of the 40 successful projects are located in regional WA or have State-wide operations, while the remaining 19 are located in Perth.
More than 200 applications were made for funding support through a rigorous two-stage application and assessment process for the Investment Attraction Fund.
The 40
4D Delta – Development of the Wear Management for the Digital Age project, Funding: $500,000
Austin Engineering* – Development of an advanced and automated manufacturing process for mining load and haul equipment, Funding: $5,000,000
Austvolt – Development of Cathode Active Material (CAM) sample and enabling works for full scale commercial production, Funding: $3,000,000
Baxter Healthcare – Expansion of local pharmaceutical manufacturing, Funding: $4,000,000
Bridgewest Perth – Expansion of Western Australian biotech product manufacturing capabilities, Funding: $2,000,000
Clearvue Technologies – Development of a photovoltaic and nanoparticle components manufacturing facility, Funding: $2,000,000
DUG Technology (Australia) – Development of the Geraldton Climate-Positive High Performance Computing Campus. Funding: $5,000,000
European Foods Wholesalers – Development of the Blue Cow Dairy project, a value-added milk production and tourism facility. Funding: $5,000,000
Franmarine Underwater Services – Development of a Western Australian based Global Operations Centre for delivery of ships husbandry and sustainment to Australian and Global Defence organisations. Funding: $3,950,000
Fremantle Seaweed – Expansion of the Seaweed Solution to Climate Change, seaweed farming project. Funding: $4,000,000
Future Energy Exports CRC* – Development of the Kwinana Energy Transformation Hub. Funding: $15,000,000
Future Green Solutions – Development of the Closing the loop – food supply chain: innovative technology upcycling organic waste to produce high value products project. Funding: $5,000,000
FutureEnergy Australia * Development of the Narrogin FutureEnergy Park for fuel security and land regeneration. Funding: $4,720,000
FYI Resources – Development of the High purity alumina (HPA) project. Funding: $3,000,000
Good Earth Dairy – Development of an infant formula and novel long-shelf life camel milk manufacturing facility. Funding: $4,400,000
Infinite Green Energy – Development of the MEG HP1: Green Hydrogen project. Funding: $5,000,000
Kimberley Cotton Company* Development of the Ord Cotton Ginnery. Funding: $5,000,000
Koodaideri Innovation and Technology – Development of an advanced additive manufacturing facility for hydraulic tuning tool and services. Funding: $952,500
Latconnect 60 – Development of an EONET project, accessing satellites and delivering Earth Observation Data for vital insights. Funding: $800,000
Linley Valley Pork* Development of advanced manufacturing and traceability technology for Linley Valley Pork products. Funding: $5,000,000
Magellan Powertronics – Development of innovative advanced manufacturing battery eco-system hubs for the Pilbara and Rockingham regions. Funding: $4,410,974
Milne Feeds – Expansion of the John Street Mill Fibre and Compound Ruminant Feed Mill. Funding: $5,000,000
Minearc Systems – Extension of controlled environment product portfolio and manufacturing automations for biomedical applications. Funding: $3,100,000
Murdoch University – Development of an Extractive Metallurgy Research and Education Centre in the Kwinana Strategic Industrial Area. Funding: $763,000
Nexxis Technology * – Development of Project Argus for robotic autonomy in heavy industry inspections. Funding: $985,000
Oncores Medical – Manufacturing and commercialisation of a diagnostic imaging system in Western Australia. Funding: $3,000,000
Onslow Marine Support Base – Development of the Onslow Marine Support Base channel optimisation and navigational support project. Funding: $2,376,255
Opal Biosciences – Development of a facility for small scale formulation and manufacturing (SSFM) of sterile liquid products including vaccines. Funding: $5,000,000
Pacific Energy Renewables WA – Development of advanced manufacturing capabilities for Stand-alone Power Systems (SPS). Funding: $2,448,250
Richgro Garden Products* – Manufacture of organic waste to new high-value granulated fertiliser and wood fibre for agriculture and horticulture. Funding: $4,840,197.00
Rose Hotel Bunbury* – Development of the West End Precinct, Geraldton project. Funding: $5,000,000
Spinifex Brewery – Development of the Spinifex Ale House, Cable Beach, Broome project. Funding: $1,980,000
Stanley International College – Creation of Schools of Nursing & Allied Health, Culinary Arts and Information and Communication Technology (ICT). Funding: $5,000,000
Terra15 Technologies – Expansion of hardware production and software support for the manufacturing of infrastructure sensor platforms. Funding: $1,473,000
Unigrain – Expansion of advanced manufacturing of premium Western Australian oat flour. Funding: $3,000,000
University of Western Australia – Development of the Springboard Medical Manufacturing Alliance. Funding: $2,698,292
Vital Trace – Development of advanced manufacturing processes for medical biosensors in Western Australia. Funding: $4,000,000
VRX Silica – Development of a high purity quartz sand manufacturing process. Funding: $2,000,000
Wide Open Agriculture – Development of a plant-based milk production facility. Funding: $5,000,000
Yuri Operations* – Development of the YURI Renewable Hydrogen to Ammonia Plant. Funding: $3,000,000
*Subject to the execution of a Financial Assistance Agreement between the recipient and the State in accordance with the Industry and Technology Development Act 1998.
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More information and a full list of recipients is available at: https://www.investandtrade.wa.gov.au/opportunities/investment-attraction-fund
