Australian Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research, Senator the Hon Kim Carr, has announced the national Enterprise Connect Clean Energy Innovation Centre (CEIC) to assist commercialisation of clean energy technology for small-to-medium enterprises in Australia.

A new Federal Innovation Centre has been announced by Senator the Hon Kim Carr, Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research. The national Enterprise Connect Clean Energy Innovation Centre (CEIC) will be a major boost for the commercialisation of clean energy technology for small-to-medium enterprises.

The Australian Government has committed $20 million to the CEIC, which will be hosted by Newcastle Innovation (the commercial arm of the University of Newcastle) and will be delivered in partnership with partnership the Australian Institute for Commercialisation and the Western Australia Sustainable Energy Association to deliver hands-on assistance to small and medium enterprises operating in the clean energy sector.

Central to its services are free onsite business reviews, conducted by expert business advisers, for eligible businesses in the clean energy sector. Businesses can then apply for matching grants of up to $20,000 to make improvements identified in the review.

WA SEA, Western Australia's largest peak body for enterprises across the sustainable energy sector, will be expanding its operations to deliver the CEIC services for Western Australia.

WA SEA CEO Dr Ray Wills said the Centre will offer a range of business improvement services to help small and medium sized clean energy companies find and adapt the latest research and technology to improve products and manufacturing processes to grow their commercial activities.

WA Sustainable Energy Association Inc. (WA SEA) Media Release - 20 February 2009

Media Contact:
Dr Ray Wills 0430 365 607

Editors notes:
1. Australian Government announcement
http://minister.ret.gov.au/TheHonMartinFergusonMP/Pages/CLEANENERGYGETS$20MILLIONBOOSTWITHNEWCASTLECENTRE.aspx
2. CEIC details:
http://www.enterpriseconnect.gov.au/Innovation/Pages/CleanEnergy.aspx
3. Partners:
http://www.newcastle.edu.au/
http://www.ausicom.com/
4. The Western Australian Sustainable Energy Association Inc. (WA SEA) is a chamber of businesses that are providing the commercial solution to climate change through their products and services, or that simply aspire to be more sustainable in their own energy use. WA SEA is supported by a growing membership of more than 215 industry members that includes the majority of the key energy players in Western Australia. www.wasea.com.au.