The Export Market Development Grant (EMDG), Australia’s leading government funding initiative aimed at increasing Australia exports into foreign markets, was established in 1974 with the purpose of giving a cash flow boost to Australian businesses exporting their products or services overseas.
This cash flow boost is provided in the form of a government grant of up to 50% of all eligible marketing, branding and lead generation expenses.
Each year, approximately 4,000 grants are provided to small and medium enterprises start or expanding their export business.
New changes
As of 1 July 2021, the EMDG program has changed to become an upfront funding program, with the process for receiving a grant as follows:
You apply for a grant before you spend money on promotional activities.
Once all applications have been assessed, Austrade offers a grant agreement to each eligible applicant.
You enter into a grant agreement with Austrade. You then undertake your promotional activities as agreed in the grant agreement.
You request milestone payments in accordance with your grant agreement.
Your grant agreement will set out when your milestone payments should be made and what you need to do in order to receive these payments.
Round 2 of the EMDG program is currently open and closes on 17 August 2022.
This is for companies that do not have a Funding Agreement already for FY22 and would like to apply for expenses they will incur from 1 July 22 - 30 June 23.
How does it work?
The Federal Government’s Export Market Development Grant (EMDG) is a cash rebate program to encourage more Australian businesses to export.
The incentive is that eligible businesses will receive a cash refund for about 50% of overseas marketing expenses across 10 categories:
Overseas Representative
Marketing Visits (Foreign Countries)
Marketing Visits (Within Australia)
Marketing Consultants
Foreign Buyer Visits
Soliciting For Business In Foreign Country (Trade shows and networking events)
Free Samples
Advertising (Google, Facebook, Instagram, Amazon, Influencers etc)
IP & Trademarks
Eligible Expenses Of A Person In Respect Of Training Activities
Who is eligible?
Australian businesses in most industries and services that are exporting or intending to export, and have spent money on international promotion.
It is non-competitive – if you are eligible, you will receive a grant.
How much funding is available?
Funding available is dependent on the tier your expenditure falls under:
Tier 1: Newcomers to Exporting – up to $40,000 per year
Tier 2: Expanding Current Export and Promotion Activities – up to $80,000 per year
Tier 3: Making Strategic Marketing Shifts – up to $150,000 per year
The maximum grant available in one year is $150,000. The grant can be used on 8 separate occasions, however, with an upper limit of $770,000 per business over the 8 years.
For further information on the grant, your eligibility and how to apply, visit Rimon Advisory’s website: Export Market Development Grant (EMDG) - Rimon Advisory
Haines Consulting Group is a management consultancy firm specialising in business strategy, growth, government grants and new venture developments. If you need any assistance with a Grant submission please contact us now for a confidential conversation.
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