Labelling Scheme for Smart Devices (Australia)

Objectives

• The objectives of the program are to:
  • Co-design and implement an industry-led and internationally aligned voluntary labelling scheme for consumer-grade smart devices in Australia.
  • Increase consumer awareness of the Government’s proposed mandatory minimum standard for consumer-grade smart devices in Australia.

Funding Information

• The Australian Government has announced a total of $1.7 million over 2 years for the program.
• The grant amount will be up to 100 per cent of eligible expenditure.
• They will award one grant up to a maximum of $1.7 million.
• You must complete your project by 31 March 2027. It is anticipated the project will take approximately 18 months to complete.

Eligible Activities

• To be eligible your project must:
  • Be aimed at co-designing and implementing an industry-led and internationally aligned voluntary labelling scheme for consumer-grade smart devices in Australia.
• Eligible activities must directly relate to the project and include the following:
  • Co-designing the labelling scheme with Home Affairs and in consultation with industry representatives and other government agencies, and the utilisation of research conducted by the Behavioural Economics Team of the Australian Government (BETA). The co-design must consider alignment to similar schemes in other international jurisdictions
  • Developing and delivering training for relevant entities within the smart device supply chain, including manufacturers, supplies, retailers, and consumers
  • Rolling-out the labelling scheme, which will involve a transition period for smart devices with previous packaging still being sold at Australian retailers. The roll-out is expected to be phased, must be agreed by Home Affairs and BETA, and will likely incorporate additional opportunities to conduct research to optimise the effectiveness of the scheme.

Eligible Costs

• To be eligible, expenditure must:
  • Be a direct cost of the project
  • Be incurred by you for required project audit activities

Ineligible Costs

• Expenditure items that are not eligible are:
  • Payments to third parties to relating the to the IP of the project
  • Payments to standards-making bodies

Expected Outcomes

• The intended outcomes of the program are:
  • Increased consumer understanding and awareness of the security of products available in the Australian market
  • Enable consumers to make informed decisions about the level of security when purchasing smart devices
  • Align the Australian smart device market more closely with international best practice
  • Greater adoption of security and privacy protections (secure-by-design features) by manufacturers of smart devices

Eligibility Criteria

• To be eligible you must:
  • Have an Australian Business Number (ABN)
  • Be registered for the Goods and Services Tax (GST)
  • Have an account with an Australian financial institution
  • Be one of the following entities:
  • An entity, incorporated in Australia
• Additional Eligibility Requirements
  • They can only accept applications:
    • From an Internet of Things (IoT) peak body
    • Where you provide evidence of support from the board, CEO or equivalent. Where the CEO or equivalent submits the application, they will accept this as evidence of support.
    • They cannot waive the eligibility criteria under any circumstances.

Ineligibility Criteria

• You are not eligible to apply if you are:
  • An individual
  • A partnership
  • A Regional Development Australia Committee
  • An unincorporated association
  • A trust (however, a trustee may apply on behalf of a trust, where other eligibility criteria are met) a Commonwealth, state, territory or local government body (including government business enterprises)
  • A non-corporate Commonwealth entity

Application Requirements

• You must provide the following documents with your application:
  • A project plan
  • A detailed project budget including any financial contributions you make to the project
  • Evidence of your cash contribution (if you are making a financial contribution to the project)
  • A risk management plan
  • Attach evidence that supports assessment criteria responses (where applicable) evidence of support from the board, CEO or equivalent (template provided on business.gov.au and GrantConnect). Where the CEO or equivalent submits the application, they will accept this as evidence of support
  • Trust deed (where applicable)

For more information, visit Australian Government.