Insights Lab

Australia has long grappled with the so-called "commercialisation gap”, a persistent disconnect between the quality of our research and the extent to which it’s translated into economic impact. A new report from CSIRO provides an up to date picture of what outcomes can (and can’t) be expected from government programs designed to support it.

From the $22.7B Future Made in Australia agenda to the promise of new funding for innovation, manufacturing, and SMEs, the re-election of the Albanese Labor government is expected to see a raft of programs and policies implemented to support Australian businesses. We've summarised what the next term has in store with a focus on the already announced support for its national industry priorities, as well as policies and programs that might further R&D and innovation.

The R&D Tax Incentive expressly excludes certain activities from qualifying as ‘core R&D activities’. However, these excluded activities can still qualify as supporting R&D activities if a sufficient nexus to the conduct of the core R&D activity can be established. A recent Administrative Review Tribunal ruling has helpfully clarified that medical and health related research, even when involving behavioural aspects, is not excluded and is capable of being registered as an eligible core R&D activity.

The end of the financial year is once again here, and it brings with it some important considerations. If you’re planning to lodge an R&D Tax Incentive claim for FY25, now is the time to check in with your advisors and ensure you're across a few key issues before 30 June.

The Export Market Development Grants (EMDG) Program continues to empower Australian SMEs by providing 50:50 matched funding for export promotion and marketing development. Austrade has recently released data summarising key trends from previous completed rounds of the program highlighting how EMDG funding has helped Australian businesses expand internationally.

Intellect Labs’ R&D Tax Facts is a summary of important developments in the world of the R&D Tax Incentive (R&DTI) over the last 3 months.