Grant to help Balcatta company RF Innovations to develop a radio modem

17/8/99
A Balcatta company, RF Innovations, has been awarded a $50,000 State Government grant to help develop a radio modem to transmit large amounts of data at high speed.
RF Innovations was one of nine companies to receive Western Australian Innovation Support Scheme (WAISS) grants totalling almost $440,000, announced today by Commerce and Trade Minister Hendy Cowan.
"The company intends spending about $133,000 to develop a radio modem capable of transmitting four million bits of information per second," Mr Cowan said.
"If it is successful this will be a first for Australia and will enhance the capacity and performance of the information technology and telecommunication industry in Western Australia.
"Furthermore it would be cheaper and easier to operate than any other high speed radio modem in the world.
"This is very much the kind of project WAISS grants are designed to assist and could bring economic benefits to Western Australia as well as help to enhance our reputation as an innovative and inventive State.
"We wish RF Innovations the best of luck and hope that the Government's WAISS grant will help them succeed."
Since 1993, WAISS grants totalling $3,821,906 have helped 83 small WA companies to develop new products and processes.
For this latest round of grants there were 45 applicants and they were all subjected to rigorous evaluation by an independent advisory panel of six people experienced in turning good ideas into commercial products.
"The nine projects funded show great initiative and creativity, with an astonishing range of ideas -- from a detector capable of finding non-metallic land mines, to an underwater cage that could enable the aquaculture industry to expand from sheltered waters out into the open ocean," Mr Cowan said.
Two rounds of WAISS grants are awarded each year to help offset the risks involved in research. Winners are required to complete their research in 12 months and meet agreed targets along the way.
Applicants must fund at least half their costs and the maximum grant is $50,000.
Information on WAISS is available from the Business Assistance Gateway at the Department of Commerce and Trade (08) 9481 2525, or Country freecall 1800 199 251.
Media Contact: Peter Jackson 9222 9595