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Legislative Council - Fifty-Third Parliament, Second Session (53-2)
2017-05-30 Daily Xml
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Innovation Voucher Program

The Hon. J.M. GAZZOLA (15:19): My question is to the Minister for Manufacturing and Innovation. Can the minister update the chamber on recent recipients of grant funding through the Innovation Voucher Program?

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Minister for Employment, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation, Minister for Manufacturing and Innovation, Minister for Automotive Transformation, Minister for Science and Information Economy) (15:19): I thank the honourable member for his enthusiastic question and his enthusiastic interest in this area so regularly. The state government is strongly supportive of fostering innovation in South Australia in small to medium enterprises, as we have covered thoroughly with questions from the Leader of the Opposition today. That's why we have the Innovation Voucher Program in South Australia that provides grants from $10,000 to $50,000 to small to medium enterprises to stimulate innovation through collaboration with research and technology organisations, such as universities and similar private research providers.

Through the latest round of the Innovation Voucher Program, three companies were successful in being awarded funding for their projects to stimulate innovation in their businesses. Microbric received $50,000 in funding, subject to a co-contribution of $20,000, for industrial design to assist in the development of an affordable and easy-to-use Lego-compatible robot for educational use in junior primary schools. Microbric have had significant success with their existing product, the Edison educational robot, for use in secondary and tertiary education and have sold more than 100,000 Edison robots, both directly and through a rapidly growing international dealer network of more than 40 dealers now.

The prototyping and development of the Edison robot was made possible through an earlier Innovation Voucher Program grant in 2014. Sales of the Edison robot have brought almost $5 million in revenue to the state. This product line resulted in the creation of five full-time jobs in Microbric's Tennyson office, plus additional contractors that provide a range of services in the areas of software development, electronics and website development. I look forward to keeping the chamber informed of the company's continued success in their latest Lego-compatible product.

SPW Analytical is a South Australian-owned business established in 2014 that specialises in soil, plant and water analytical services. The company is focused on the prompt delivery of results to the industry through a variety of flexible, innovative reporting formats. Since its establishment, SPW Analytical has grown from employing eight staff in the 2013-14 financial year to 37 staff in the 2016-17 financial year. They were successful in their grant application for $26,000, which is subject to a co-contribution of $13,000, with the funding to be used for a project with Resonate Systems and the University of Adelaide to develop an automated high-throughput device for infrared analysis in agriculture.

The third grant approved in this round was provided to Kontor Commercial, a South Australian company that has operated successfully in Adelaide over the last five years. Kontor Commercial manufactures a range of products targeting developers, architects, landscapers, builders, government and educational institutions. The company has developed products that incorporate traffic and safety management systems; shade and shade sails, including umbrellas; solar street lighting; composite decking; commercial and industrial storage; and streetscape and commercial furniture.

Kontor was successful in receiving a grant of $50,000, subject to their co-contribution of $25,000, to develop and independently test a fire-resistant protective shelter that could be manufactured in a factory and transported as a complete unit to site. I understand the company has demonstrated a clear differentiation to existing shelters on the market through the innovative product design of this new product.

These grants will deliver positive outcomes for the companies involved and foster new economic growth. I am pleased that the Innovation Voucher Program is delivering support to our state's businesses to make sure that they are able to transform in a modern economy to develop growth and economic output for this state.

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