Direct funding for the Industry Growth Centres ended on 30 June 2022. Some of the Industry Growth Centres have finished their contracts with the Australian Government. Other centres are progressing with their transition into self-sufficient entities ahead of the 31 December 2024 program end date.
Industry Growth Centres are not-for-profit organisations, each led by a board of industry experts.
About Industry Growth Centres
The centres led and continue to lead cultural change in their sectors with a focus on:
- increasing collaboration and commercialisation
- improving global opportunities and market access
- enhancing management and workforce skills
- finding areas for regulatory reform.
Each centre produced sector competitiveness plans which described:
- a 10-year strategy for the sector
- regulatory reform opportunities
- industry knowledge priorities such as skills and research needs.
We manage the initiative and oversee surrounding policy.
Advanced manufacturing
The Advanced Manufacturing Growth Centre (AMGC) ended its contract with the government in July 2024. It worked with the sector to lead cultural change, increase competition, unlock new commercial opportunities and foster innovation.
AMGC activities included:
- the AMGC Sector Competiveness Plan
- the Advanced Manufacturing Early Stage Research Fund
- the $30 million Commercialisation Fund in consultation with the other growth centres and the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), supporting projects in line with the 6 National Manufacturing Priorities.
AMGC co-funded over 65 industry-led collaborative projects to develop new materials, innovative products and improve industrial processes.
Cyber security
The Cyber Security Growth Centre (AustCyber) ended its contract with the government in June 2024. It worked with the sector to help increase collaboration, build capability, innovate and take part in globally competitive markets.
AustCyber merged with not-for-profit Stone & Chalk in February 2021. The company is an incubator that works to scale tech start-ups.
AustCyber activities included:
- the AustCyber Sector Competitiveness Plan
- making Australia the leading centre for cyber security education
- fostering Australia’s cyber capability development through a national network of cyber security innovation nodes.
AustCyber co-funded over 26 industry-led collaborative projects.
Food and agribusiness
The Food and Agribusiness Growth Centre, Food Innovation Australia Ltd (FIAL), ended its contract with the government in September 2023. FIAL worked with the sector to grow the share of Australian food in the global marketplace.
FIAL activities included:
- the FIAL Sector Competitiveness Plan
- connecting businesses with research and development expertise through the Enterprise Solutions Centre
- improving access to global markets through trade missions and the Australian Food and Beverage Catalogue
- developing clusters across the value chain to unlock the $200 billion potential for the agri-food sector.
FIAL co-funded 77 industry-led collaborative projects.
Medical technologies and pharmaceuticals
The Medical Technologies and Pharmaceuticals Growth Centre (MTPConnect), is setting direction to make Australia an Asia Pacific hub for medical technology and pharmaceutical companies. MTPConnect will end its contract with the government when the program concludes in December 2024.
MTPConnect activities include:
- the MTPConnect Sector Competitiveness Plan
- the Medical Research Future Fund program for the Department of Health and Aged Care, including:
- working with Austrade and other groups to engage with global markets.
MTPConnect co-funded over 38 industry-led collaborative projects.
Mining equipment, technology and services (METS)
The Mining Equipment, Technology and Services Growth Centre (METS Ignited), ended its contract with the government in June 2024. It worked with Australian mining industry suppliers, global miners, researchers and capital providers to improve sector competition and productivity.
METS Ignited set up the Australian Innovation eXchange (AIX). AIX builds on the knowledge and experience of the Industry Growth Centre program and seeks to bring local innovation to market.
METS activities included:
- the METS Ignited Sector Competitiveness Plan
- the Accelerator Program to improve the commercialisation rate of mining technology into the mining sector
- improving workforce capability and skills with METS Masterclasses
- forming clusters of complimentary expertise to increase commercial engagement opportunities
- supporting NERA to deliver the Regional Hydrogen Technology Cluster Network.
METS co-funded 30 industry-led collaborative projects to fast-track mining equipment, technology and services projects into industry.
Oil, gas and energy resources
The Oil, Gas and Energy Resource Growth Centre, National Energy Resources Australia (NERA), ended its contract with the goverment in July 2023. NERA worked with the sector to make sure it was globally competitive, sustainable, innovative and diverse.
NERA activities included:
- the NERA Sector Competitiveness Plan
- building a Regional Hydrogen Technology Cluster Network to support the hydrogen industry. The program will give seed funding of up to $100,000 per successful cluster
- launching the Centre of Decommissioning Australia (CODA) to address challenges and maximise opportunities of decommissioning Australia’s ageing oil and gas infrastructure.
NERA co-funded 75 industry-led collaborative projects.