EMDG
Austrade’s Export Market Development Grants (EMDG) program aims to help Australian businesses grow their exports sales in international markets. The EMDG program has existed since 1974, and operated as a ‘reimbursement scheme’ for 47 years. From 01 July 2021 (FY22) the ‘reimbursement scheme’ became a ‘grants program’ know by insiders as EMDG 2.0 which is now operates under new Legislation Rules/Regulations and Administrative guidelines. EMDG is intended to encourage small to medium enterprises (SME) to market and promote their products globally. EMDG is a grant for eligible export expenses related promotional activities undertaken by your business.
Leverage our streamlined Step by Step Service, our in-depth industry knowledge, experience and expertise coupled with our unwavering commitment to excellence, to ensure that your Export Market Development Grant journey is seamless and successful.
What is EMDG 2.0
Unlike its predecessor the new EMDG 2.0 Grant program operates as an eligibility-based, demand-driven grants program, providing upfront certainty to grantees regarding the grant they will receive. However, it’s important to note that this certainty is subject to lodging a successful milestone report, as it is a Pre-approval rather than a Pre-payment system. Under EMDG 2.0, grants are awarded annually in designated Rounds. These grant Rounds are offered to businesses across 3 Tiers, as well as representative bodies, with the aim of ensuring upfront grant funding certainty through a grant offer/agreement
(Pre-approval NOT Pre-payment).
WHEN DO LODGEMENTS OPEN
Round 4 GY25 Application OPEN TBA – eligible activity expenses from 01 July 2024 (estimated opening Qtr 3 FY24)
Round 3 GY24 Applications NOW CLOSED – Year 1 Milestone Reporting OPENS July 2024
Round 2 GY23 Applications NOW CLOSED – Year 1 Milestone Reporting OPENS July to October 2023
Round 1 GY22 Applications NOW CLOSED – Year 2 Milestone Reporting OPENS July to October 2023
HOW MUCH WILL MY GRANT BE
EMDG is an eligibility-based, demand-driven program. Grants are for eligible promotional activities undertaken by small to medium sized exporters and representative bodies. Small to medium enterprise (SME) exporters can apply for grants over 8 years in total (not necessarily consecutively). Representative bodies have no maximum grant years. Grants for businesses are available in 3 tiers with each providing a different level of support for SMEs as they grow their export markets. View the TAB table below to view the different grant amounts offered to date. You apply first and Austrade calculates the grant amount for each Tier and Representative Bodies based on the the number of applicants and available funds
The 3 tiers are:
WHO CAN APPLY
Eligibility requirements include the following criteria:
Applicants need to be a representative body, or an Australian individual, a company, an association, or cooperative, a trust, or a partnership, or a body corporate established for a public purpose
have annual turnover of less than $20 million
have an Australian Business Number (ABN).
(Rules apply)
ELIGIBLE PRODUCTS
Eligible products must be of
substantially Australian origin and be:
Goods
Tourism Services
Services
Events
IP or know-how
Software
(Rules apply)
CLAIMABLE EXPENSES
EMDG Grant funds must be used for promotional activities to market eligible products in foreign countries or for training activities to develop skills in marketing for this purpose
maintaining a representative in a foreign country
short trips to a foreign country
engaging a consultant to undertake research or promotional activities
short trips within Australia
foreign buyer visits
soliciting for business in foreign country
providing free samples
producing and providing promotional and advertising material
intellectual property rights
if you are a Tier 1 applicant, obtaining export readiness training
(Rules apply)