Acknowledging the take up of two Government funding offers Innovation Minister Senator Kim Carr said the Government’s New Car Plan for a Greener Future was helping small to medium sized companies innovate to give Australian manufacturing a greener future.
"The Gillard Labor Government understands the value of investing in Australian manufacturing. That is why we have provided over $2 million to Brisbane’s Very Small Particle Company and over $3 million to Melbourne company Nissan Casting, helping them turn their innovative ideas into green manufacturing solutions," Senator Carr said.
"The Very Small Particle Company will develop better materials for electric car batteries and Nissan Casting will manufacture inverter cases, which will be a key component for the next model of Nissan’s LEAF zero emission electric vehicle.
"I am pleased that GCIF funding is creating high-skill high-wage jobs and commercialising leading-edge technology."
These projects are being funded under the Green Car Innovation Fund, part of the New Car Plan for a Greener Future. While the Fund was closed to new applications in January this year to help fund flood recovery, it will continue to generate approximately $2 billion in total project investment in the manufacturing sector.
In February, Prime Minister Julia Gillard and Senator Carr confirmed the Government’s commitment to all other elements of the $5.4 billion New Car Plan, the key element of which is the $3.4 billion Automotive Transformation Scheme.
Other elements of the Plan include, the Automotive Industry Structural Adjustment Program, the Automotive Supply Chain Development Program, the Automotive Market Access Program and the Automotive Industry Innovation Council.
This commitment underwrites high-skilled, high-tech manufacturing jobs and a more productive economy.
The Government’s New Car Plan is introducing new technologies in Australia at a very rapid rate.
For more information on the New Car Plan, visit www.innovation.gov.au and www.ausindustry.gov.au, phone 13 28 46, or email [email protected].
