EATP background

The Program aims to expand employment in the aviation sector, improve supply chain and market efficiency, and improve connections with regional, remote and First Nations communities.

The Program will also contribute to the digital transformation of Australian businesses, increased business efficiency, and reduced carbon emissions through new technology.

The Department is responsible for administering the Program as well as working with industry partners to deliver pilot projects, including through:

Coordination and consultation with Commonwealth, state and local government agencies;
Advice and assistance with navigation of regulatory processes;
Development and testing of new policies and regulations where required to support the project; and
Provision of funding to support project implementation (operational and capital expenditure).

Focus areas

Under Round One of the Program, the Department has partnered with industry to test emerging aviation technology through pilot projects across five focus areas.

For Round Two of the Program, these focus areas have been adjusted to enhance emphasis on addressing regulatory barriers and the application of renewable, sustainable, low emission propulsion systems in emerging aviation technology. The five focus areas for Round Two are:

Growing manufacturing in emerging aviation technology;
Digital farming;
Regional connectivity and supply chains;
Improving outcomes for regional and remote Indigenous communities; and
Addressing regulatory barriers.

Funding

Funding under the Program will be used flexibly to support a range of activities that contribute to project delivery including direct payments to industry partners and, where agreed between the government and industry partners, may also include provision of a range of other funding for procurement related activities to support the delivery of projects.

Funding will be administered in accordance with the Commonwealth resource management framework, including the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013, the Commonwealth Grants Rules and Guidelines 2017 (CGRGs), the Commonwealth Procurement Rules and the Department's Accountable Authority Instructions.

Key principles for grants administration

Program design and administration will be consistent with the following key principles for grants administration (as per clause 6.2 of the CGRGs):

Robust planning and design;
Collaboration and partnership;
Proportionality;
An outcomes orientation;
Achieving value with relevant money;
Governance and accountability; and
Probity and transparency.

The EATP Round One Grant Opportunity, was released on 20 December 2021 and closed on 31 March 2022.

The EATP Round Two Grant Opportunity was released on 15 May 2023 and closed on 27 July 2023.

Applications under both Rounds were assessed on a competitive basis against a number of selection criteria and the comparative merits of other applications.

Program Background

Focus areas

Funding

Key principles for grants administration