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Government of South Australia - Department of State Development

    Global Expansion Program

    The Global Expansion Program is designed to help eligible South Australian businesses grow international sales by overcoming export barriers, building export capability and implementing practical export growth activities.

    Delivered by the Department of State Development, the program supports export-ready businesses with scalable products, services and technologies to expand into new markets, strengthen their international capability and accelerate export growth.

    Through a combination of grant funding, independent business reviews and tailored export support, the program helps businesses strengthen their export capability, enter new markets and increase export sales.

    Who should apply?

    The program is designed for high-growth, export-ready South Australian businesses that are committed to growing their international presence and achieving export outcomes within the next 12 to 18 months.

    Eligible businesses must have an exportable product or service, be currently exporting or able to demonstrate export readiness, and be able to show how participation in the program will contribute to increased export capability, market access and export sales.

    Successful applicants may receive funding of up to $50,000 (excluding GST).

    What support is available?

    Successful applicants receive a package of support designed to help identify export opportunities and accelerate international growth, including:

    • An independent business review to assess export capability, capacity and growth opportunities.
    • A tailored action plan identifying priority activities to support export growth.
    • Access to grant funding for approved export development activities.
    • Ongoing guidance from a dedicated Case Manager.
    • Connections to export support services, networks and international market opportunities.

    How the program works

    The Program is delivered through competitive funding rounds.

    1. Businesses apply through the Department of State Development's grants portal.
    2. Applications are assessed against eligibility requirements and program criteria.
    3. Shortlisted applicants undergo an independent assessment and financial review.
    4. Successful applicants then participate in a business review process, conducted by an independent consultant and supported by a DSD Case Manager.
    5. Together, they develop an action plan that identifies export priorities, recommended activities and service providers.
    6. Following approval of the action plan, successful businesses enter into a grant agreement and begin implementing approved activities.

    What can funding be used for?

    Funding may support activities that address export barriers and contribute to export growth, including:

    • Export strategy development and market entry planning.
    • International market research and validation.
    • Export advisory services.
    • Branding, marketing and communications for international markets.
    • Digital marketing, eCommerce development and localisation.
    • Intellectual property, legal and regulatory advice.
    • Business matching, partner identification and distributor development.
    • International trade exhibitions and promotional activities.
    • Product adaptation and market-specific compliance requirements.

    All activities must be approved by the Department of State Development and included in an approved action plan.

    Apply now

    Program details

    Silentium Defence experiences rapid growth following Global Expansion Program funding

    Headquartered in Gepps Cross, Silentium Defence successfully used funding from the Global Expansion Program to develop its Export Control Compliance Program and has since grown from two co-founders to over 130 highly skilled staff in less than five years.

    The company, which has developed rapidly deployable passive radar systems that provide surveillance across sea, land, air, and space.

    The company’s revolutionary radar technology is being adopted around the world after their participation in the Global Expansion Program.

    Silentium Defence employs over 130 staff across three facilities, and the company has ambitions to expand to 200 hi-tech jobs in the next 12 months.

    The company is also continuing to expand its presence in the United States (US) and United Kingdom (UK), strengthening its ability to support allied defence priorities and optimise opportunities emerging through AUKUS.

    “We were thrilled to receive the State Government’s Global Expansion Program grant to help develop our Export Control Compliance Program, which is a critical foundation for understanding and managing international export governance,” said Dr James Palmer, Global CEO at Silentium Defence.

    “As global interest in our passive radar systems has grown, that capability has helped position us to fulfil export orders and support significant growth in skilled staff and customers over the past 18 to 24 months.”