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Important statistics

2/3 businesses

created intellectual property

98% of businesses

introduced new or improved products or processes

88% of businesses

accessed (or are expecting to access) new markets

3/4 businesses

noted an improvement (or expected improvement) in the skills of their workforce

Examples of Food and Agribusinesses we've supported 

Kenon Corp

Sweet opportunity for Australian exotic mushroom growers.

Lowes TC

We linked Australian company Lowes TC with researchers from the University of Technology Sydney to design a ground-breaking new tissue culture (TC) system prototype to bring stronger, disease-resistant plant varieties to growers sooner.

AB Biotek

Global wine ingredients business, AB Biotek, teamed up with the Australian Wine Research Institute (AWRI) to develop and commercialise AWRI’s new yeast strain with the help of an AusIndustry Innovation Connections grant, facilitated by CSIRO SME Connect.

Coffee Roasters Australia

Coffee Roasters Australia wanted validate their postbiotic coffee blend by undertaking independent research with Griffith University.

HE Silos

CSIRO’s SME Connect team worked alongside HE Silos to validate the efficiency of their insect fumigation system and enhance the longevity of grain storage by facilitating a research project with Charles Sturt University.

Hunter Heritage Gourmet Foods

With the support of a Federal Government Innovation Connections grant, facilitated by CSIRO SME Connect, Heritage Hunter Gourmet Foods developed Christmas puddings that caters for consumers expanding dietary requirements.

KAGOME Australia

Echuca based KAGOME accessed an Innovation Connections grant to support a collaborative research project with CSIRO into the use of carrot pulp by-product, NinjinFibre®, in meat patties.

Lallemand Australia

We assisted Lallemand Australia to secure funding support and research expertise to help define and Australian Sauvignon Blanc wine style exhibiting similar characteristics of the popular New Zealand version.

Neutrog Australia

CSIRO SME Connect assisted Neutrog Australia to access funding support to develop novel, imaginative and innovative biological fertiliser in collaboration with the University of Adelaide and Western Sydney University.

Skybury

We facilitated the connection between Australia's largest papaya grower, Skybury, with research expertise at RMIT and Queensland's Department of Agriculture and Fisheries to better understand the risk of disease and opportunities for improved biosecurity, while also investigating potential 'value-add' to waste by-products.

Murrumbidgee Irrigation

Murrumbidgee Irrigation wanted to find a better way to manage their complex data points of their irrigation network through the development of a digital twin.

NineSquared

CSIRO's SME Connect team worked with NineSquared to develop an economic feasibility model to support the use of seaweed and shellfish production for environmental offsets by facilitating a research project with the University of the Sunshine Coast.

Popplewell Composites

We helped Popplewell Composites find funding support for a research collaboration with the University of Adelaide to turn their cattle DNA sample and cattle performance records into a world-first evaluation and benchmarking system.

SCAE: Improving sustainability

With assistance from CSIRO SME Connect, and funding support from the Australian Government's Entrepreneurs' Programme, we helped SCAE collaborate with the University of Queensland to create a 'Carbon Footprint Model' to calculate greenhouse gas emissions of wheat crops.

TasFoods

To better understand the nutritional benefits of wasabi, Shima Wasabi engaged a CSIRO Senior Research Scientist following a referral through CSIRO's SME Connect team.

The Green Group

The Green Group is a grower, miller and packer of rice for retail markets. Faced with new business challenges in relation to assuring reliable supply, Green Group were looking for solutions to future-proof their business.

Yolngu Business Enterprises

CSIRO helped small business Yolngu Business Enterprises (YBE2) develop the capability to control destructive ant infestations for Rio Tinto Alcan.

Other sectors we support

Food and Agribusiness success stories

Innovation Connections is a facilitated service to assist small and medium-sized-businesses in establishing research priorities, locating researchers and providing access to funding to fast-track R&D projects in food and agribusiness.

Advanced manufacturing success stories

Innovation Connections is a facilitated service to assist small and medium-sized-businesses in establishing research priorities, locating researchers and providing access to funding to fast-track R&D projects. One of the sectors we support through this program is advanced manufacturing.

Medical Technologies and Pharmaceuticals success stories

Innovation Connections is a facilitated service to assist small and medium-sized-businesses in establishing research priorities, locating researchers and providing access to funding to fast-track R&D projects. One of the sectors we support through this program is medical technologies and pharmaceuticals.

Mining equipment, technology and services success stories

Innovation Connections is a facilitated service to assist small and medium-sized-businesses in establishing research priorities, locating researchers and providing access to funding to fast-track R&D projects in mining equipment, technology and services.

Oil, gas, and energy resources success stories

Innovation Connections is a facilitated service to assist small and medium-sized-businesses in establishing research priorities, locating researchers and providing access to funding to fast-track R&D projects. One of the sectors we support through this program is oil, gas, and energy resources.

More information

Innovation Connections

Innovation Connections is a free one-on-one facilitated service to assist small and medium-sized businesses by establishing research priorities, locating researchers and providing access to funding to fast-track R&D projects.

Programs for SMEs

Whether you’re a start-up or small to medium sized business, there’s an R&D opportunity for you.

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