EMDG Upfront Funding
The Australian Federal Government’s Export Market Development Grant (EMDG) is a venerable program that encourages Australian businesses to expand into foreign markets and achieve more sustainable international sales.
WHAT CAN YOU CLAIM?
Categories of EMDG Upfront expenditure that can be claimed
Overseas Representative
Costs attributed to maintaining one or more overseas representatives. These representatives must act on a long- term basis to promote your business in foreign markets.
An overseas representative can be a sales representative in a foreign country, an overseas team member or a team member that has relocated overseas.
Commissions are included, with a claimable maximum of $200,000 for this category per grant.
Claimable expenses can include:
Salaries
Advertising
Marketing
Communications
Accommodations
Travel
Office rent and office expenses
Marketing Consultants
Costs incurred for engaging consultants who provide market research and development services. This consultant can be located domestically or overseas, however must be unrelated to the applicant.
Marketing activities can include PR, Market entry and advertising on social media (Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Google, etc.).
This category has a claimable maximum of $50,000 per grant.
Eligible activities include:
Export planning work, including marketing and market research strategies
Identification of specific target export markets
Estimation of market size
Analysis of import market data and trends
Identifying distribution channels and potential customers
Analysis of competitors’ performance
Identification of pricing strategies
Trade display participation
Marketing Visits
Costs incurred for any domestic or international marketing visits for promotional purposes.
Approved promotional purposes must be:
Creating, seeking or increasing demand or opportunities in a foreign market
Promoting eligible products
Promoting products sold or intended to be sold as principal
Claimable costs include an allowance of $350 per day while you are overseas to help defray accommodation, entertainment and living expenses (capped at 21 days).
Other eligible expenses include:
Airfares
Taxis
Hire cars
Departure taxes
Travel insurance
Visa fees
Samples and advertising costs
All reasonable expenses incurred for providing free samples for promotional purposes to a person or business that is not a resident of Australia are claimable.
The costs must be in relation to an eligible product of the applicant and is capped at $15,000 per grant.
Claims will be provided to:
Supplied free samples outside of Australia for any of the applicant’s eligible products
Supplied free samples within Australia of eligible products for tourism or overseas promotions
Trade Fairs, Seminars Promotions
The external costs associated with participation in promotional events such as overseas trade fairs, conferences, in-store promotions, international forums and private exhibitions.
The key eligibility requirement for these costs is that an applicant has occurred costs directly related to displaying or promoting products at events. Promotional events do not have to be held outside of Australia.
The expenses can include private or in store promotional events run by the applicant.
Eligible expenses in this category can include:
Participation/registration fees
Costs of stand or booth rental
Cost of freighting materials
Producing demonstration or display equipment
Overseas Buyers
Costs involved with bringing buyers that are not residents of Australia to Australia for promotional purposes.
This is available to existing or potential buyers who are brought to Australia to evaluate the applicant’s goods, services or IP.
This category is capped at $7,500 per buyer with a total of $45,000 per grant (six buyers).
Eligible expenses will be for:
Transport
Accommodation
Meal costs
Eligible intellectual property
Costs associated with registering and maintaining the registration of Intellectual Property (IP) in a foreign country are claimable. This extends to the cost of insurance to protect applicants IP.
This category includes obtaining the IP grant or registration, extension of the term or period of registration and IP insurance.
Eligible registration IP claims exclude New Zealand and North Korea and are capped at $50,000 per grant.
The registration expenses apply to:
Patents
Designs
Trademarks
Plant breeders’ rights (PBRs)
Circuit layout rights
Confidentiality/ trade secrets
Copyright
The EMGD provides generous reimbursements for eligible businesses that spend on overseas marketing. As of July 2021, the program now provides upfront certainty so you can be clear on how much you will receive over the life of your grant agreement. The grant covers 50% of eligible marketing expenses with the maximum grant being between $40,000 and $150,000 per annum depending on the tier you qualify for.
Ready to export
Grants up to $80,000 over two years for eligible businesses who are new to export.
Currently Expanding
Grants up to $240,000 over three years for eligible businesses who plan to expand their marketing activities.
Exporters making a strategic shift.
Grants up to $450,000 over 3 years for established exporters who are making a strategic shift.
EMDG Upfront
Eligibility
Promotional literature and advertising
International components of online marketing
Includes
THIRD-PARTY PROVIDERS
INSTAGRAM MARKETING
FACEBOOK MARKETING
GOOGLE ADS
SEO
Marketing Consultants
Engage third party (domestic & international) consultants to assist with:
– Social media
– Marketing
– PR
– Market Entry (foreign Market)
International and Domestic Travel
Costs associated with travel to meet international clients (for promotional purposes). Flights, daily food & hotel allowance are all claimable expenses.
Overseas Representative
Hiring of FTE overseas employee (or company) to market your product or service internationally.
Training
Costs associated with training for your team to improve their international marketing skills.
Free Samples
Sending free product samples to prospective overseas clients.
Overseas Buyers
Costs associated with bringing overseas buyers to Australia to evaluate your goods, services or IP.
Patents or trademarks
Trademarks and registration of IP in a foreign country.
Trade Fairs
Participating in international trade fair, virtual conferences and forums to promote your product
Grant Help’s service
Grant Help has established a reputation as a trusted source for advice on EMDG government grants. Upfront certainty allows our consultants to directly outline a strategic direction for clients to access and utilise the EMDG.
After providing a free eligibility check, Grant Help will deliver an efficient and personalised approach to identify and implement appropriate grants.
With our no win- no fee service, clients can be comfortable that the process will be maintained supported along every step of the application.
At Grant Help, our focus is you. By removing the complexities around acquiring government grants, our personalised structure has proven successful at accessing clients unrealised benefits.
Following grant approval, our consultants will continue to work with clients to find opportunities for further programs.
Grant Help hopes to establish personal relationships with all clients and initiate on-going income prospects.
We aim to generate 2-3 grants annually per client while also keeping you updated on government grants and financial opportunities.