Useful Contact

"The Department of Industry and Resources has the role of facilitating the State's economic development through services to industry that help ensure the State is an attractive place to live and do business. The Department aims to provide services valued by its customers, industry and effectively and efficiently achieve the government's strategic outcomes for the Western Australian community. Targets include broadening the State's economic base, creating new jobs and ensuring that industry meets government standards for responsible and sustainable development. These are pursued through services that are focused on resource access, policy and advice, development facilitation and brokering opportunities. The Department's customer base is in the resources, manufacturing and service sectors. In addition, it provides the administrative framework for collecting mineral and petroleum royalties, a major source of State revenue. The Innovation Services Directory is an initiative of the Office of Science, Technology and Innovation, a branch of the Department that is responsible for developing Western Australia's innovation, emerging technologies and research and development industries. The Office of Science, Technology and Innovation recognises that the science and innovation industries are key drivers in the growth of state and global economy. In support of this it takes the role of assisting in the development of existing, emerging and new industry sectors; assisting priority sectors that promote science and innovation as a catalyst for these new industries; and to implement government initiatives to commercialise innovative ideas and expand technology parks."

"The Innovation Centre WA assists in supporting businesses and their ideas, from concept to commercialisation by facilitating services offered by the Office of Science, Technology and Innovation such as: mentoring, collaboration, support networks, information and knowledge sharing, technology transfer and strategic links."

"IP Australia is the Federal Government agency which grants intellectual property rights for patents, trade marks, industrial designs and plant-breeders rights. Intellectual property rights complement innovation in generating wealth for Australia, while caution is needed regarding protection afforded by business names and domain names relative to trade marks in the market place."

"The Small Business Development Corporation focuses on the development of the small business sector in Western Australia and delivers programs and services to meet the needs of new and existing small businesses. The Corporation provides a one-stop shop for guidance, information and publications on starting or expanding a small business in Western Australia. These include: business licence and permit information, skills development workshops, free guidance from specialist advisors and access to specialist networks. These programs and services can be accessed in person, by phone, fax, email or online. A comprehensive range of publications are available and these can be purchased from the Corporation located in the Perth CBD, by mail order or through the online bookshop. The Corporation also supports a network of independent small business centres located in metropolitan and country areas across the state to facilitate business development and growth within their local community. To provide assistance in the commercialisation of an innovation the Corporation delivers the Innovation to Market program with the key objective being to provide a better understanding of the commercialisation process and breakdown any barriers in taking an innovation to the market. Specialist guidance and financial assistance is available to qualifying Innovation to Market applicants."

AusIndustry is the federal Government's business program delivery division in the Department of Industry, Tourism and Resources. It provides a range of incentives to support business innovation.

AusIndustry delivers a range of more than 30 business products including tax and duty concessions, small business services and support for industry competitiveness worth nearly $2 billion each year to approximately 10,000 small and large businesses.

How AusIndustry can help you
Developing a cutting-edge product, process or service?

Comet, another of AusIndustry's programs has a strong focus on mentoring, business management, advice and support and offers grants in the range of $5000 to $120,000.

To help you with product and eligibility information, AusIndustry has customer service managers located in 26 offices across Australia, a national hotline and website, plus almost 60 small business field officers in regional areas.

For more information or to subscribe to the AusIndustry ebulletin
visit www.ausindustry.gov.au, telephone the AusIndustry
hotline on 13 28 46, or email hotline@ausindustry.gov.au.