Free CSIRO course to support SMEs in the energy sector

The CSIRO’s ‘Innovate to Grow’ program has been running for two years and helped over 300 businesses.

Applications are now open for this year’s 10-week program, which is dedicated to small to medium enterprises (SMEs) working on solutions in the energy sector to explore how research and development (R&D) can advance their project or ideas.

Key program outcomes include personalised support, confidential feedback, mentorship and network and key contact building.

Dr George Feast, Deputy Director of CSIRO’s SME Connect team, said R&D is a crucial stepping stone for SMEs looking to advance their ideas:

“Even though we know R&D drives innovation, it can be an expensive undertaking for businesses, risky and time consuming for those without the right guidance and support”, Feast said. 

“Through this program, participants will be given help to refine a new idea they want to explore and better understand their ideas scientific viability.”

“They will also be exposed to industry knowledge, hear from innovation and industry experts, and work with an R&D mentor”.

According to former Innovate to Grow participant Hamish Shaw, this program equips SMEs with the resources necessary to propel their business venture forwards:

“Nobody know their product/markets and how to improve them like SMEs, they just don’t have the resources to develop them. This course taps into that knowledge rich base and links them with the resources”.

The program will be delivered to SMEs across Australia by the team at the CSIRO’s Lindfield Collaboration Hub, just across the Lane Cove River from Macquarie Park. The award-winning incubator is an affiliate Connect MPID member.

The CSIRO awards places to businesses based on the strength of the application, and a clear interest and capacity to pursue R&D. They also strive to include participants from a variety of industry sub-sectors and regions.

Applications close 10 April 2023. The program commences May 4.