The EMDG Scheme Access the Australian Governments funding boost and take on the world

The EMDG Scheme: Access Australian Government Funding And Take On The World


2 min read
By Tom Moore
Director | R&D and Government Incentives

If your business sells an Australian product or service to overseas markets, then you’re more than likely to qualify. While the application process can be a little difficult to navigate, a grant consultant can make it more than worth your while, with the potential to receive up to $150,000 in reimbursements. It sounds too good to be true, but Australian SMEs have been seeing positive results. So pack your bags because it’s time to take your business global.

Did you know that there's easy-to-access government support that helps Australian businesses to reclaim thousands of dollars in overseas marketing expenses?

If your business sells an Australian product or service to overseas markets, then you’re more than likely to qualify. While the application process can be a little difficult to navigate, a grant consultant can make it more than worth your while, with the potential to receive up to $150,000 in reimbursements. It sounds too good to be true, but Australian SMEs have been seeing positive results.

What is the EMDG?

The Export Market Development Grants scheme, aka the EMDG scheme, is government support for Aussies looking to scale their businesses to overseas markets. The EMDG was established by the Australian Government to encourage small and medium-sized businesses to export Australian products and services across a range of industries, including tourism.

While it’s been around for over 40 years, the EMDG has recently received a $60M boost by the Federal Government, meaning it’s a great time to take advantage of the funding. The EMDG program also changed to an upfront eligibility-based grant program ,

The biggest change to the EMDG program is that it is now a forward-funding, upfront eligibility-based grant program, as opposed to a retrospective program. This means that applicants apply for the grant based upon the forecasted promotional costs of their business over the next 2-3 years.

The maximum export grant amount in any year is $150,000. A business can claim the EMDG 8 times.

The EMDG allows you to double your marketing budget

Expenses you can receive a grant for include:

  • Advertising and marketing
  • Travel
  • Marketing consultants
  • IP protection and insurance
  • Overseas representatives
  • Trade fairs, seminars and in-store promotions
  • Bringing buyers to Australia
  • Free samples
  • Patent and trademark lawyers’ fees
  • Print and TV media
  • Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram marketing
  • Exhibition booths

How to access the EMDG scheme

BlueRock can help you to prepare a claim and submit it to AusTrade. We’ll then support you through the AusTrade audit process to ensure you get the best result.

The total funding for the EMDG program is $157.9 million per year, provided to eligible entities with a turnover of less than $20 million. Access to grants is capped at $770,000 per applicant, broken up into 3 tiers over an 8-year period, with each tier offering a different level of support for SMEs.

This is the second year of the new forecast-based program , and Austrade has outlined the expected grant amounts per tier, based on the prior year's demand:

  • Tier 1 – expected amount is $15,000 per FY (capped at $40,000 per FY for up to 2 years)
  • Tier 2 – expected amount is $23,000 per FY (capped at $80,000 per FY for up to 3 years)
  • Tier 3 – expected amount is $35,000 per FY (capped at $150,000 per FY for up to 3 years)
  • Representative bodies – expect up to $90,000 per FY (capped at $150,000 per FY up to 3 years)

EMDG applications open on 15 March 2023 for 4 weeks. Final grant amounts will be determined based on the demand for funding after all EMDG applications are submitted.

Every year our experienced Grants and Incentives team helps to deliver millions of dollars to growing businesses . If you want to explore the EMDG program and other grant opportunities available to your business, our experts can guide you through the whole process, saving you from sinking into the abyss of eligibility, applications and compliance. Reach out to our grants and incentives consultants to find out more!

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