If you’re considering working collaboratively with other businesses to achieve a combined outcome or objective, NSW Trade & Investment Business Cluster program can help.
Business Clusters bring together businesses and supporting organisations to work collaboratively to achieve business objectives that in the long term aid the economic growth of New South Wales.
A cluster can include businesses with similar capability or who are working with the same supply/value chain, from the same local area or broader to incorporate members across the whole State.
A cluster can also include organisations that support these businesses such as industry associations, knowledge providers (universities and research institutions), local government or services such as accounting, legal, business planning or marketing.
Benefits of clustering
Collaborating on a project can help increase referrals within the industry, increase your brand awareness and allow you to share the resources required to achieve a project outcome.
What type of cluster activities will be funded?
Activities that achieve competitive advantage for cluster members will be supported, such as:
- Strategic planning and facilitation
- Joint business feasibility and strategic cluster marketing plans
- Collaborative marketing, tendering or showcasing to gain and maintain competitive advantage
- Sponsoring specific skills development
- Domestic and international trade activities (excluding travel)
- Developing links with academia, research and development organisations.
Do you have a cluster?
A cluster contains at least three businesses as members. Ideally it must have majority of businesses residing in New South Wales to gain strong economic development outcomes for the State.
The cluster needs to have a coordinator that may or may not be one of the members. This coordinator or lead organisation must be able to demonstrate financial viability, possess an ABN and employ staff.
A Cluster may be a viable option for an industry association or business network looking to unite members to work on specific outcomes collaboratively.
What support is available?
NSW Trade & Investment (formerly Industry & Investment NSW) supports cluster development to help clusters achieve competitive advantage through their nominated objectives. It also provides an opportunity to become aware of additional services available through government programs that apply specifically to a cluster.
Cluster - Up to $10,000 in matched funding to establish or develop a business cluster and baseline activities.
Cluster Project - Up to $30,000 in matched funding to established business clusters for targeted projects to increase employment, improve productivity and competition and/or promote innovation.
For more information and to express and interest in the program contact:
Program Manager, Business Clusters
NSW Trade & Investment
GPO Box 5477 Sydney NSW 2001
Email: clusters@business.nsw.gov.au
Phone: 1300 134 359