GO Program Pilot Round Cancelled

11 Mar 08

The Department of Innovation, Industry, Science and Research (DIIRS) has advised applicants to the Global Opportunities Program (GO Program), that the pilot round has been cancelled.

The Global Opportunities Program was an initiative of the former Howard Government's industry policies and was intended to assist industry groups to form 'industry capability teams' and tap into global supply chains and major projects.

The newly formed Department has contacted all applicants to keep them informed of the changes to the Go Program. However, at this stage it is not yet clear how the GO Program will proceed. The GO Program itself has not been cancelled altogether, but will proceed under a different set of guidelines and objectives.

The aim of the review of the Federal Government's industry assistance programs is to streamline industry initiatives, avoid duplication of initiatives and deliver better programs for industry. The new programs are expected to assist industry to foster innovation at all levels aimed at successfully competing in the new, globalized market.

Another Howard Government initiative to feel the axe of the new Rudd Government policies has been the Industry Action Agendas. Senator the Hon Kim Carr has put the brakes on all Industry Action Agenda programs while they conduct a review of what is believed to be more than 169 separate programs aimed at assisting industry and the manufacturing sector.

Unfortunately one such program ManufactureLink has been closely associated with - the development of the new Medical Devices Industry Capability Directory, is one such program that has been canceled. ManufactureLink is currently working with industry associations and medical device industry stakeholders to develop an alternative solution to the capability directory.

By George Pofandt, Managing Director, ManufactureLink Pty Ltd