AgriFutures Agritech Event Sponsorship Program

About AgriFutures Agritech Event Sponsorship Program

The AgriFutures Agritech Event Sponsorship Program is an initiative designed to support and enhance the Australian agrifood and innovation sector. With a focus on promoting Australian agritech and agricultural innovation, this program seeks to foster commercialisation opportunities, attract investment, and elevate the profile of Australian agritech enterprises. By connecting agritech developers, end users, investors, and research and development organisations, the program will help to build a world-class agritech ecosystem that drives adoption and propels the industry forward. The program will do this by:

• Providing opportunities to promote Australian agritech and agricultural innovation, and connect agritech developers with their end users and investors.
• Foster creation of commercialisation opportunities to help drive adoption of Australian agritech.
• Support extension of Australian agritech to attract domestic and international investment and interest.
• Raise the profile of Australian agritech enterprises.

Supported by the Australian Government’s Support Regional Trade Events measure, the AgriFutures Agritech Event Sponsorship Program serves as a catalyst for regional agricultural events that showcase horticulture, agricultural innovation, and trade opportunities.

• Round one: $275,000 to administer for events running between 30 September – 31 March 2024. Applications will open on Monday, 17 August 2023. This has been completed.
• Round two: $625,000 to administer for events running between 1 April 2024 and 31 October 2024. Applications will open in January 2024.
• Round three: $600,000 to administer for events running between 1 November 2024 and 30 June 2025. Applications will open Monday, 15 July.

AgriFutures Australia is the administrator of this grant process, grant payments and reporting only. Successful recipients will be connected with the Australian Government in order to deliver on the terms and conditions such as speaking opportunities etc.

By participating in the AgriFutures Agritech Event Sponsorship Program, event organisers, agritech developers, and research and development organisations can showcase their innovations, connect with stakeholders, and accelerate the adoption of Australian agritech solutions.

Current grant round:

In round three of the Agritech Events Sponsorship, $600,000 will be administered in the following grant categories:

• $400,000 will be administered to event organisers in regional* Australia that are hosting agricultural events with an agritech and/or agricultural innovation focus. Grant applicants can nominate for a $25,000 or $50,000 grant.
• $100,000 will be administered to agritech developers to host functions to showcase their innovations and technology to end users and/or investors. There will be four grants available of $25,000 each.
• $100,000 will be administered to research and development organisations to host functions to showcase their innovations and technology to end users and/or investors.

Application requirements

• Sponsored events must be delivered between 1 November 2024 and 30 June 2025.
• Events that have already received funding from the Supporting Regional Trade Events measure are not eligible to receive this grant, however sideline events that will run separately to the overarching event may be considered.
• Events that have already received funding from round one and/or two of the AgriFutures Agritech Events Sponsorship are eligible to receive funding in future rounds, however preference will be given to events that have not received funding from the Agritech Events Sponsorship previously.
• Applicants must provide opportunities for the Australian Government’s involvement as outlined in the terms and conditions of the sponsorship program.
• Applicants must commit to submitting a milestone report to AgriFutures Australia no later than 30 days post-event. The report should detail the outcomes, impact, and any commercialisation opportunities that have arisen from the event as well as how the grant funds were spent.*Grant funding cannot be used to pay internal employees.
• *Grant funding must be used to run the grant recipients own event/workshop. Example: Grant funding cannot be used to fund an exhibition stall at event such as evoke^AG., Field Days, or SXSW.
• Applicants must agree to all terms and conditions outlined in the separate terms and conditions document.

How to apply

Applications for AgriFutures Agritech Event Sponsorship Program round three opens Monday, 15 July.

Click here to apply

Selection criteria

1. Relevance to Australian agrifood innovation: The event must have a clear focus on agritech and/or agricultural innovation and contribute to the advancement of the Australian agritech industry.
2. Potential for commercialisation: The event should demonstrate the potential to drive adoption and commercialisation of Australian agritech. It should provide opportunities for agritech developers, end users, and investors to connect, fostering the creation of business and investment opportunities.
3. Regional impact: Events should be hosted in regional areas of Australia, contributing to the economic benefits of regional communities.
4. Indigenous involvement: Applicants must consider indigenous involvement in their events and report on how they have achieved engagement with indigenous communities and/or elements at their events.
5. Organisational capacity: The event organiser should demonstrate the ability to successfully plan and execute the event within the specified timeline. This includes the necessary resources, expertise, and experience to ensure a high-quality event.

Timeline

• Monday, 15 July 2024: Grant applications open
• Sunday, 18 August 2024: Grant applications close
• Friday, 30 August 2024: Selection of grant recipients finalised, recipients advised and agreement process to begin.

Definitions

*Regional Australia: Refers to everything beyond the major capital cities of Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide and Canberra – from remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities to inland and coastal towns and bustling regional hubs. Agritech developers and research and development organisations may be eligible to run events in a metro area if they can demonstrate the event represents value for money in delivering against the priorities of the program.

*An event and/or function refers to a planned gathering or occasion that focuses on agritech and/or agricultural innovation. It involves activities such as conferences, seminars, workshops, exhibitions, trade shows, field demonstrations, or similar initiatives that aim to promote and showcase advancements, research, technologies, or practices in the agritech industry. The event should provide opportunities for agritech developers, end users, investors, researchers, and other stakeholders to connect, collaborate, and exchange knowledge, fostering the growth and commercialisation of Australian agritech solutions. Events and/or functions need to have a minimum of 50 participants to qualify.

Contact

For any questions, please contact:

Dallas Pearce
Manager, evoke^AG.