New grants made for sovereign capability

Three small Australian manufacturing businesses have received more than A$2 million in support in the latest round of Sovereign Industrial Capability Priority grants. South Australian companies Axiom Precision Manufacturing and M. & I. Samaras both received grants of A$1 million, while NSW company Jehbco Manufacturing received A$92,340. Axiom has contributed to Australia’s COVID-19 response by producing face shields for health and aged care workers, and recently signed a contract for component supply for the Joint Strike Fighter Program. It is the second Sovereign Industrial Capability Priority grant Axiom has received, and will be used to further develop its precision welding capabilities. “Axiom boasts an already strong track record and this grant boosts their potential to provide high quality welding capabilities to Australia and our partners,” Minister for Defence Industry Melissa Price said. “Our other two awardees, M. & I. Samaras and Jehbco Manufacturing, are on their own journey to provide improved quality and precision capabilities to our ADF. Australian companies have world-leading capabilities and this program ensures companies like Axiom, M. & I. Samaras and Jehbco Manufacturing can continue to grow, avoiding Australian reliance on foreign companies for crucial Defence technologies and components.” The three companies are the most recent of 73 Australian small and medium businesses to benefit from the SICP grants program, to a combined value of A$40 million since November 2018. For Editorial Inquiries Contact: Editor Kym Bergmann at [email protected] For Advertising Inquiries Contact: Director of Sales Graham Joss at [email protected]