Minister for Jobs and Industry Natalie Hutchins visited the Hanwha Defence Australia stand at the 2024 Land Forces International Land Defence Exposition to announce the successful recipients of rounds 3 and 4 of the Supply Chain Uplift Program (SCUP).
Funding of $827,000 has been awarded to 13* Victorian businesses to help them better compete for and win projects as part of the supply chain for Hanwha Defence Australia (HDA) and other major defence businesses – creating new jobs, export opportunities, and attracting investment to Victoria.
The successful companies in these two rounds includes:
1. Amiga Engineering P/L
2. Anywise Consulting
3. Brockman Engineering
4. Copamate
5. Corvus Technology Solutions
6. Diamond Defence
7. Electric Motor Power
8. NanoCube
9. Parish Engineering
10. Secure Bits
11. Sutton Tools
12. Tickford Racing
“The Supply Chain Uplift Program is giving our local manufacturers the best shot at securing new contracts – creating new jobs for Victorians and boosting our economy,” Minister Hutchins said.
The matched co-funded grants of up to $100,000 will support manufacturers to undertake business improvement projects, such as systems or facility upgrades, obtaining necessary industry accreditations, and further research and product development programs.
“Working with the Victorian Government to support our two key defence programs means that these SMEs are able to work with us and also on other defence programs, truly uplifting the capabilities and capacities of the sector to complete both here and in Australia,” HDA Acting Managing Director Dean Michie said.
Since 2021, the Victorian Government’s $10 million Victorian Land Systems Fund and Supply Chain Uplift Program have funded business improvement projects at 22 small and medium sized Victorian businesses.
“The support provided by the Victorian Government through SCUP has enabled Diamond Defence to establish a world leading capability in Australia for the Australian defence industry,” Dr Steven Trpkovski Managing Director, Diamond Defence, said.
So far, over $1.3 million has been awarded to enable companies to engage in activities such as modernising manufacturing processes, purchasing equipment and gaining certifications and accreditations to work in the defence sector.
Victoria’s capabilities in advanced manufacturing, workforce talent and defence-related research and development contributes around $8.4 billion annually to the Victorian economy and employs over 24,300 workers.
“The support from the Victorian Government to help uplift its Defence industry has been a massive help to our efforts here in Australia,” Mr Michie said. “The opening of the Hanwha Armoured Vehicle Centre of Excellence (H-ACE) in August this year demonstrates our commitment to Victoria, the Department of Defence and our supply chain partners.”
For more information on the SCUP grant program, head to business.vic.gov.au/grants-and-programs/victorian-land-systems-fund-supply-chain-uplift-program.
* one company has requested not to be named.