Barton Gold (ASX: BGD) (OTCQB: BGDFF) has received a cash refund of approximately $520,000 under the Federal Government’s research and development (R&D) Tax Incentive Program for the year ended 30 June 2025.
The funding has lifted the company’s unrestricted cash balance to approximately $13.5 million, excluding around $4.5m held as security for rehabilitation bank guarantees.
The refund follows a series of R&D work programs focused on advancing exploration methodologies and geological modelling across the company’s South Australian gold projects.
The programs targeted areas surrounding the Tarcoola and Tunkillia gold projects and remain partially ongoing, with completion expected across the 2026 and 2027 financial years.
These efforts contributed to increased exploration efficiency and activity in what the company describes as an emerging gold province.
Government Support Accelerates Outcomes
The R&D Tax Incentive Program, alongside funding from the South Australian government’s Accelerated Discovery Initiative, has supported the acceleration of Barton’s technical programs.
This support enabled testing of a new structural model at the Tarcoola goldfield and the development of predictive models for alteration zones along the Yarlbrinda Shear Zone.
The company also validated multiple predicted structures and alteration zones, improving targeting confidence across its project areas.
The application of these models contributed to the targeting and identification of the Tolmer gold and silver discoveries during 2024 and 2025, with reported results from Tolmer including grades of up to 17,600 grams per tonne silver and 83.6g/t gold.
These outcomes highlight the role of ongoing R&D programs in supporting discovery success and refining exploration strategies.
Enabling Technical Innovation
Managing director Alexander Scanlon said the Federal Government’s R&D Tax Incentive Program plays a key role in enabling technical innovation.
“The federal government’s R&D Tax Incentive Program is a highly beneficial initiative that supports smaller companies to pursue technical innovation across a wide range of Australian industries.
“Barton’s participation in this program has enabled us to undertake a wide range of large-scale R&D programs that might otherwise not be possible, and has contributed to multiple significant technical outcomes.
“We are very grateful for the federal government’s consistent support of our long-term regional efforts, and look forward to continuing these programs in pursuit of further contributions to regional technical development.”
