Export Market Development Grants (EMDG) program

The Export Market Development Grants (EMDG) program provides matched funding to eligible Australian small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and representative bodies at different points in their export journey. Grants are to support marketing and promotional activities and training that help create, develop, expand and diversify to foreign markets for Australian products and services.

Types of grants for exporters

EMDG can provide support depending on the business goals, export status and ability to meet eligibility requirements for the following tiers: 

• Tier 1 – businesses ready to export
• Tier 2 – businesses exporting within existing markets
• Tier 3 – businesses exporting to new markets

Maximum grant amounts for each tier per financial year, 2025–26 and 2026–27, are:

• Tier 1 – businesses ready to export. This is $20,000 up to $30,000 per financial year.
• Tier 2 – businesses exporting within existing markets. This is $20,000 up to $50,000 per financial year.
• Tier 3 – businesses exporting to new key markets. This is $20,000 up to $80,000 per financial year.

To be eligible, you need to be an eligible Australian person and have eligible products and expenses as defined in the EMDG Rules. The EMDG Guidelines provide a simple description of the eligibility requirements.

Eligibility requirements include to:

• have a valid Australian Business Number (ABN)
• have conducted your business under the same ABN for at least 2 years
• meet a minimum annual turnover (that differs for each tier) but is less than $20 million
• have the capacity to spend at least $20,000 per financial year, exclusive of the grant amount. This is your own money. This cannot be funding from other Commonwealth, state, territory or local government
• have a high-quality plan to market that is specific to your business. It must not be copied from another business, another EMDG application or a generic marketing plan
• be tax compliant and fit to receive a grant
• meet all other eligibility requirements. Refer to the EMDG Guidelines.

Applications for Tier 1, 2 and 3 open 10:00 am, AEDT Tuesday 12 November 2024.

The grant round will close once the grant funds have been fully allocated in each tier with some allowance for ineligible or withdrawn applications or non-acceptance of grant agreements.

In Round 4, successful applicants will be offered grant agreements for up to 2 financial years for planned expenditure to be incurred in 2025-26 to 2026-27.  

Austrade will not accept late or incomplete applications.