Business bulletin: 27 July 2023

A business consortium led by Larrikin Interactive and Paspaley Pearls Properties called the Array, will deliver the Territory’s first digital games and esport development centre situated in Darwin’s CBD.

In 2022, the Northern Territory Government issued an innovation challenge to businesses to design and deliver the Territory’s first co-located digital games and esport development centre.

The challenge required participants to design and deliver a permanent space that provides Territorians, and especially youth, with a space to build digital skills, develop and commercialise digital products and establish start-ups.

Expressions of interest from 17 local, national and international businesses wanting to participate in the challenge were received.

The Array was selected as the winning design and will become the Territory’s centre of digital entertainment, education and innovation commercialisation.

Dylan Bennett, Director of Larrikin Interactive said “this is a remarkable opportunity for this consortium of inspirational organisations to collectively take a leadership role in shaping the Territory’s digital landscape.”

With The Array, we’re blending creativity, technology and education to ignite innovation and create an international digital hub right here in the heart of Darwin.”

It is estimated that globally, video games and esport revenue totalled US$215.6 billion in 2021. The Asia Pacific generated about half of the global revenue in 2021.

The global industry is forecast to grow at 8.5% per annum to US$323.5 billion by 2026.

Developing a Darwin based digital games and esport development centre establishes a launch pad for Territorians into one of the world’s fastest growing industries.

The Array is scheduled to open in early September.

Ideas and proposals are being sought for projects that will increase the recycling rates for hard to recycle plastic under a new Australian Government circular economy grant program.

The Recycling Modernisation Fund (RMF) Plastic Technology (PT) grant program is the next step in the Australian Government’s plan to address critical gaps in the nation’s recycling infrastructure.

The RMF PT program is designed to address plastic recycling rates and pollution by supporting innovative projects that target hard-to recycle plastics.

Eligible activities include:

• commercialisation or scaling-up of emerging technology targeting hard to recycle plastics
• infrastructure upgrades and technology to extract and process plastic contained within products.
• new plastic recovery facilities with sorting, separating and de-contamination technology
• advanced recycling projects targeting mixed, multi-layer, flexible or contaminated plastics
• end-to-end solutions and circularity in our plastic supply chain.

Grants of between $1 million and $20 million are available for approved projects. Project proponents must contribute to at least 50% of the eligible project financial cost.

Proponents must send their ideas and proposal to the Department of Industry, Tourism and Trade. The department will then work with project proponents to develop their application.

Successful projects will be submitted to the Australian Government to be considered for funding under the RMF PT stream.

Applications close 13 November 2023.

For further information, go to the Northern Territory Government website.

A new report by the Northern Territory (NT) Seafood Council has found there are significant opportunities to develop seafood processing capability and capacity within the Territory.

Territory seafood is known for being sourced from pristine waters and abundant fish stocks, and is high quality. However, a substantial portion of our Territory seafood is currently sent interstate for processing, leading to loss of value for the NT.

Through recent industry research and industry workshops, it has been revealed that there is tremendous potential within the Territory seafood industry to develop capacity and capability for seafood processing locally.

Expanding the Territory’s processing capacity has the potential to grow local businesses, create jobs, maximise the value of Territory seafood and improve access to other markets.”

Chief Executive Officer Katherine Winchester said “The NT seafood industry has the potential to contribute to real economic growth and value-add by transforming the way NT seafood is processed, benefitting both the Territory and Australia.”

“While there is considerable potential there are also several challenges that need to be overcome. We have captured industry and stakeholder knowledge to develop key actions and initiatives for a constructive way forward.”

Industry in collaboration with the NT Government supports sustainable fishing and aquaculture management ensuring that Territorians have access to local seafood that supports the industry and the environment.

To access the report, Establishing a common direction - Darwin seafood processing capability and capacity, go to the Northern Territory Seafood Council website.

Darwin, Alice Springs and Ayres Rock airports can now apply for funding to support the development of its aviation services.

The Territory Aviation Attraction Scheme is designed to support the growth of commercial aviation services to and from the Northern Territory (NT), to create jobs, increase visitor numbers and improve consumer choice and air fair competition.

Grants are available to eligible airports to support the creation of new routes and provide extra capacity on existing routes and, to provide extra capacity on existing routes to Alice Springs and Alice Springs and Ayres Rock airports.

The airports have the opportunity to apply for a share of $10 million in government funding, to be matched dollar-for-dollar by the applicant as co-contribution, bringing the full value of the scheme to $20 million.

The grants will enable the NT to compete with larger jurisdictions for new routes and more frequent services as well as providing more options for tourist to travel by plane.

Developing ongoing aviation access to and within the Territory is one of the 6 key priorities in the tourism industry strategy 2030, and also increases opportunities for locals.

To find out more you can reach out to the team by email at tourism.development@nt.gov.au.

Territory tourism businesses can now access support to help increase their product offerings in distribution.

The Tourism Distribution Grant Program is designed to increase online book-ability and actively connect with distribution partners to enhance relationships with domestic and international partners.

The program offers flexibility to best support Territory tourism businesses specific needs and their focus area for distribution growth.

Examples of projects and activity considered for support include:

• development of market specific content in language, including translation
• expert advice to determine domestic and/or international market potential
• implementing a recognised booking system approved by Tourism NT
• funding towards attendance at approved tourism related 2023/24 events and exhibitions as a first time attendee or returning to market after a significant pause, such as Tourism Australia, Tourism NT or regional tourism organisation led structured events.

Program closing date is 30 April 2024 or when funds are exhausted.

To view grants available for businesses in the NT, go to the Tourism NT website.

For further information email distribution.tourismnt@nt.gov.au or phone 08 8999 3921.