Status: There are no grant rounds currently open for applications. New rules are expected to apply to Round 4 of EMDG. Round 4 is likely to open in late 2024 or early 2025. The EMDG information on this website applies to Rounds 1, 2 and 3. It may not apply to Round 4. We will communicate all changes when the program details, including guidelines, are finalised and released.
Austrade’s Export Market Development Grants (EMDG) program helps Australian businesses grow their exports in international markets. These grants encourage small to medium enterprises to market and promote their goods and services globally.
We administer the EMDG program for the Australian Government.
Since 1974, EMDG has assisted more than 51,000 unique small and medium size Australian businesses (SME) promote and market their products and services to more than 180 countries world-wide. Most of those SMEs received multiple grants across the years for up to 8 years.
EMDG is an eligibility-based, demand-driven program. This means all eligible applicants receive a grant from the available funds. We do not base grants on the maximum grant tier caps. The grant amount depends on the:
More about eligibility.
Grants are for eligible promotional activities undertaken by small to medium sized exporters and representative bodies. Small to medium enterprise (SME) exporters can apply for grants over 8 years in total (not necessarily consecutively). Representative bodies have no maximum grant years. Grants for businesses are available in 3 tiers with each providing a different level of support for SMEs as they grow their export markets. The tiers are:
Businesses don’t have to start at Tier 1 and progress to Tier 2 and 3. They can apply for any grant tier at any time depending on the business need.
The lengths of these grants reflect the different stages of an exporter’s journey.
Grant agreement terms are offered in each round subject to:
Read more about the 3 tiers and grants for representative bodies at Types of grants.
The EMDG program bases criteria on eligibility, not competition. All eligible applicants receive a grant. The process is as follows:
More about How to apply.
We set the timing of grant payments by your grant agreement. Your grant agreement will state when you should submit your milestone report.
Before we process a payment, we check payment information to ensure bank details are valid.
More about Grant payments.
EMDG is an eligibility-based, demand-driven program. This means all eligible applicants will receive a grant from the available funds. Austrade will calculate how much funding will be given to all eligible applications based on the demand in that round. Each eligible applicant will receive a grant agreement with the approved grant amount.
You must match the dollar value of the grant monies you receive. This means you must spend double the grant amount to receive the grant.
More about Grant amounts.
The current eligibility-based, demand-driven program replaced the previous EMDG reimbursement scheme. The previous scheme closed permanently on 30 June 2022.
Applicants or agents in the previous scheme can check their historical application details using the EMDG online portal. For enquiries, contact EMDG.help@austrade.gov.au.
Round 4 will likely open for applications after we complete the program’s strategic refocus, including:
We will communicate the opening dates for applications when they are confirmed. To get regular updates, subscribe to the EMDG Update newsletter.
We will be working towards Round 4 grantee payments to start from July 2025. Payments may start earlier, subject to funding availability.
As of 31 December 2023, for Round 3 we have:
Round 3 grant agreements are for:
We will make payments to Round 3 grantees. We do this after we receive and assess milestone reports for the relevant expenditure year.
Grant agreements outline reporting and payment schedules.
Read more about accepting a grant agreement.
View these videos to learn more:
Read more about these grants in the EMDG Round 3 Information session (DOCX357KB) held on 1 March 2023 for new and returning applicants.
Changes in Round 3 include the following:
Milestone reports for Round 1 and Round 2 grantees for expenditure incurred in the 2022-23 financial year were due by 31 October 2023.
We must assess your milestone report before we can pay you. We assess milestone reports in the order we receive them. Inaccurate bank account details cause payment delays. To avoid delays, please ensure your details are accurate and up to date.
All grantees must submit a milestone report. If you had already received a grant payment for expenditure incurred in 2022-23, you were still required to submit your milestone report.
As at 31 December 2023, more than 2,400 Round 2 grantees were paid $45.6 million in total. This is for expenses incurred in 2022-23.
The remaining Round 2 grantees, who have met milestone requirements, will be paid in coming months.
Round 1 and Round 2 milestone reports for expenditure incurred during the 2022-23 financial year were due by 31 October 2023.
We must assess your milestone report before we can pay you. We assess milestone reports in the order we receive them. Inaccurate bank account details cause payment delays. To avoid delays, please ensure your details are accurate and up to date.
All grantees must submit a milestone report. If you had already received a grant payment for expenditure incurred in 2022-23, you were still required to submit your milestone report by 31 October 2023.
As at 31 December 2023, more than 4,700 Round 1 grantees were paid $229.6 million in total. This was $120.8 million for expenses incurred in 2021-22 and $109.2 million for expenses in 2022-23.
The remaining Round 1 grantees, who have met milestone requirements, will be paid in coming months.