Area 61 Application Process

Application Process

At Area 61 our skilled staff will work with you to take an idea from paper to reality.

The unique skill set, knowledge and expertise of our staff will help turn your innovation from an idea into a one-off prototype which can be scaled for manufacturing. Our staff specialises in the build of unique and complex ideas, and bring together decades of research experience across multiple technical streams.

Area 61 has partnered with the Department of Regional Development, Manufacturing and Water (DRDMW) to offer the Commercial Manufacture Acceleration Voucher (CMAV) scheme.

The Townsville Manufacturing Hub has identified an impediment to manufacturing industry growth in regional Queensland is the ability of small-to-medium enterprises (SMEs) to develop and fund working prototypes that can be scaled for commercial manufacture.

To address this impediment, a pilot program in collaboration with JCU will support SMEs to develop commercially viable prototypes by providing targeted funding (vouchers) and technical assistance.

DRDMW is leveraging JCU’s expertise to explore the opportunity for candidates to further develop their prototypes to a marketable and scalable standard to allow them to meaningfully position for supply contracts.

The pilot will deliver targeted industry vouchers to North Queensland SMEs to increase the commercialisation of high-potential, locally-made prototypes.

SME's will need to meet DRDMW eligibility criteria and JCU feasibility (co-design) to be eligible for the voucher. The voucher will be for up to 50% of the total project cost (capped at $25,000).

To be eligible for the DRDMW voucher, you must initially meet these eligibility criteria:

  1. Be a small to medium enterprise (SME) (being any business employing between 5 – 200 people and is a company (or corporate trustee on behalf of a trust) incorporated in Australia), which is not a subsidiary or related body corporate of a corporation that is not an SME;
  2. Not be a federal, state or local government entity, statutory authority or not-for-profit organisation;
  3. Be registered for GST and hold an active Australian Business Number (ABN);
  4. Have a proposal for development/testing of a product that has the potential to:
    1. build the capacity and/or capability of your business to increase its productivity and/or competitiveness;
    2. align with the strategic direction of your business;
    3. demonstrate value for money to your business, JCU and the local market;
    4. be achievable within stated budget and timeframes.
  5. Not be insolvent or have owners or directors that are an undischarged bankrupts;
  6. Have at least three (3) years of operations which may be demonstrated through financial statements for at least the 3 years prior to the year of application; and
  7. Have demonstrated financial capacity to pay the Services Fees.

For information on the process view the infosheet here: Area61_Process.pdf

There are two ways to engage with Area 61 :

  1. If you are an eligible small to medium business enterprise (SME) apply for the voucher by submitting and Application Form.

  2. For non-voucher submissions, including staff and students from JCU, and SME's not eligible for the voucher scheme, submit an EOI via the Webform

Download the Application Form (voucher scheme)

Submit an EOI (non-voucher)