CLEVER GREEN ECO-INNOVATION PROGRAM

Mrs GERAGHTY (Torrens) (14:57): My question is to the Minister for Manufacturing, Innovation and Trade. Can the minister inform the house what the government is doing to promote innovative and green manufacturing in South Australia?

The Hon. A. KOUTSANTONIS (West Torrens—Minister for Manufacturing, Innovation and Trade, Minister for Mineral Resources and Energy, Minister for Small Business) (14:57): I thank the member for her question and her keen interest in helping save the planet. The government is eager to encourage local businesses that want to grow and are committed to exploring innovative strategies to achieve that goal. Innovation is at the heart of advanced manufacturing and plays a key role in ensuring South Australia can continue to compete on the world stage.

One of the initiatives aimed at supporting businesses that want to adopt innovative strategies is the Clever Green Eco-Innovation program. The aim of this particular program is to encourage greater collaboration between South Australian manufacturers and local innovators so that they are able to partner up to adopt environmentally sustainable strategies. With $1 million in annual funding, the Clever Green program offers two types of grants:

a grant for a pilot plant, equipment, infrastructure or new technologies based on a dollar-for-dollar co-contribution of up to $350,000; and

a fully funded feasibility or business development study that identifies and quantifies the costs and benefits of implementing various resource efficiency or waste minimisation projects.

To ensure that we foster partnerships, funds from the Clever Green program must be used by two or more manufacturing and service companies looking to promote sustainability by minimising the environmental impact of their businesses. One of the areas in which they might choose to collaborate is to improve efficiency and the use of resources. This includes a better use of waste products and the efficient reuse of energy produced.

The Clever Green Eco-Innovation program is consistent with growing advanced manufacturing. It is also in line with the Manufacturing Green Paper's aims of encouraging small and medium-size firms in this state to adopt innovation strategies and technologies. By encouraging our manufacturers to be early adopters of home-grown know-how, the program also provides opportunity for local innovators looking to market technologies that promote sustainability.

The Clever Green Eco Innovation program is funded until 30 June next year and is being administered by the Department for Manufacturing, Innovation, Trade, Resources and Energy. I encourage South Australian businesses that think they might meet the eligibility requirements to apply for one of these two grants.