The federal government on Wednesday announced $3.6 million in funding for a range of projects under the commercialising emerging technology grants scheme (COMET).
Keep in Touch Australia was one of 57 companies awarded $64,000 each to help bring their new technologies to market.
Warren Douglas Bradey of Keep in Touch Australia said the grant would allow the NSW company to trial its system in aged care facilities.
"The idea is that for aged people who don't know anything about computers, when they use this device all they see on the screen is photos of their family and friends which they can simply touch and send or receive voice messages," Bradey said.
"The COMET grant allows us to move to the next stage of doing trials in aged care facilities to explore the most appropriate business models and see how people react to the system."
Among other recipients, Blade Electric Technology in Victoria received a COMET grant to help market its electric car conversion kits.
Queensland's Quantum BioEnergy Limited won a grant to commercialise a new process for extracting biogas from waste sites for use in electricity generation.
Federal Innovation Minister Kim Carr said he is pleased to see so many companies taking advantage of the scheme.
"Australia has an outstanding record in innovation," he said in a statement.
"Research and development is critical to our future, and it is pleasing to see so many businesses taking advantage of COMET funding to help bring their innovative projects to the marketplace."
