Grants Innovation in Landscape in Australia

We'd like to invite you to join BSI Innovation for a quick update on the current grants landscape facing innovative Australian businesses.

With new programs (State and Federal) recently introduced, some changes to the existing R&D Tax Incentive program likely, and the deadline for lodgement of claims for 2013/14 approaching fast, now is the time to get a refresher on what benefits are available for your business.

Our consultants will take you through each of the various tax incentive and grant schemes currently available, the real benefits available, and the key aspects of the application process. If you’re a start-up company, or represent an SME developing and commercialising new products and/or services, you can’t afford to miss this event.

Some of the topics we will discuss include:

 • The R&D Tax Incentive – What are the real benefits? What activities are eligible? What else do you need to know before claiming?

 • The Export Market Development Grant – Are you maximising what you’re entitled to? How are your trip records? Tips for first time applicants.

 • The Entrepreneurs’ Infrastructure Programme – 3 streams of benefit, the path to EIP funds, Accelerating Commercialisation – CA grants revisited.

Refreshments will be provided and attendees will have the opportunity to discuss specific issues with our consultants after the main presentation.

RSVPs are essential as places are strictly limited.

Details:

Date:             Tuesday 24th February 2015

Time:             5:30 pm arrival – 6 pm start

Duration:          Approx 1 hour

Location:         BSI Innovation Seminar Room, Level 7, 14 Martin Place SYDNEY NSW 2000

REGISTER HERE

Looking forward to seeing you there!

Crowd funding - bring it on!

The federal government appears set to adopt its first recommendation from the financial system inquiry that would pave the way for equity crowdfunding laws, The Australian Financial Review reports:

According to the newspaper, Minister for Small Business Bruce Billson told a group of 20 startups yesterday that it is the government’s “clear goal” to have crowdfunding legislation put before the parliament in the spring session.

Crowdfunding is a form of financing that sees ventures or businesses funded by small amounts of money from a variety of investors, the ‘crowd’, through an online platform.

The Financial System Inquiry, led by former Commonwealth Bank of Australia chief executive David Murray, threw its support behind the crowdfunding regulation proposal in December.

At the time, the FSI emphasised the problems small businesses have securing financing, especially at competitive rates, with traditional lenders. Crowdfunding would provide another finance stream for SMEs and help drive down the overall cost of borrowing for small business.

The system currently under consideration would allow securities-based crowdfunding, which would allow potentially large public offers.