Government Support

South Australia's economic performance has never been stronger – with defence, clean technology and mining attracting international investment and attention.

The South Australian Government provides assistance for businesses wanting
to invest or expand in the State - helping potential investors identify opportunities and expediting approvals on projects.

South Australia is particularly keen on attracting businesses that will help the State meet its world-leading energy targets. The Cleantech Strategy outlines funding programs to help companies that are developing sustainable businesses.

For assistance and information on investing in South Australia's major projects visit the case management program information page.

For more information on how to invest in South Australia's key growth industries email: investinginsa@state.sa.gov.au. 

The following funding options may also be available to your business:

• Renewable Energy Fund
• Strategic Industry Support Fund (SISF)
• Industrial & Commercial Premises Scheme (Premises SA)
• Clean Energy Initiative
• R&D Tax Concession

Renewable Energy Fund

Created to attract capital investment into South Australia’s expanding renewable energy sector, the Renewable Energy Fund offers financial assistance in four broad areas:

• Providing information required by potential investors
• Generating advice needed to inform new policies
• Assistance in bid preparation, access to research and development, and feasibility studies for key projects
• Supporting early development of technologies not covered by Federal Government programs.

Guidelines for applications can be found in the Renewable Energy Fund factsheet.

There are no minimum or maximum funding limits in relation to individual projects. At this stage, proposals for funding will not be considered after March 2011.

Strategic Industry Support Fund (SISF)

Financial assistance is available for projects of strategic significance to South Australia through the Strategic Industry Support Fund (SISF) including:

• Customised training and initiatives in relation to workforce development for companies planning to start new operations or expand existing operations in South Australia.
• General investment opportunities including business relocation and expansion.

Industrial & Commercial Premises Scheme (Premises SA)

The Industrial & Commercial Premises Scheme (Premises SA) provides support for the development of new factory and commercial properties, and the management of established factories and commercial properties as part of the South Australian Government’s program for assisting industry.

Read more about Premises SA

Clean Energy Initiative

The Clean Energy Initiative (CEI) consists of:

• The Carbon Capture and Storage Flagships Program that supports the construction and demonstration of large scale integrated carbon capture and storage projects in Australia, which may include gasification, post-combustion capture, oxy-firing, transport and storage technologies.
• The Solar Flagships Program, which supports the construction and demonstration of large scale, grid connected solar power stations in Australia, which may include solar thermal, photovoltaic and energy storage technologies.
• The Australian Centre for Renewable Energy (ACRE), which promotes the development, commercialisation and deployment of renewable technologies through a commercial investment approach. ACRE also manages grants awarded under the following programs: 
  • The Renewable Energy Demonstration Program
  • The Second Generation Biofuels Research and Development Program
  • The Geothermal Drilling Program
  • The Wind Energy Forecasting Capability
  • The Advanced Electricity Storage Technologies Program
  • The Renewable Energy Equity Fund

Read more about the Clean Energy Initiative

R&D Tax Concession

The R&D Tax Concession is the principal Australian Government initiative to increase the amount of research and development (R&D) undertaken in Australia. The aim is to encourage innovative, competitive and export-oriented Australian industries.
The concession is available to all Australian companies and offers:

• a tax deduction of up to 125 per cent of expenditure incurred on R&D activities
• an R&D Incremental (175% Premium) Tax Concession for those companies increasing their R&D expenditure and who have a three-year history of registering and claiming the 125% Tax Concession, or of receiving grants for R&D projects under Innovation Australia’s R&D Start and Commercial Ready programs
• an R&D Tax Offset for companies with group turnover under $5 million and a grouped expenditure of up to $1 million for the year
• an R&D Incremental (175% International Premium) Tax Concession for those companies belonging to a multinational enterprise group for additional R&D expenditure on behalf of a grouped foreign company above a rolling three-year average of expenditure

Read more about the R&D Tax Concession