NATA’s $712M impact could unlock market entry for startups

For early-stage ventures, the hardest part isn’t always building the product — it’s earning trust. New data from the University of Technology Sydney shows that accreditation by Australia’s peak testing authority, NATA, unlocks up to $182 million a year in market-entry value for businesses and allows them to charge a $62 million annual price premium. In a funding environment where VCs demand clear paths to regulated markets, that’s a signal startups can’t afford to ignore.

A new report from the University of Technology Sydney reveals that the National Association of Testing Authorities (NATA), Australia’s peak accreditation body, contributes up to $712 million annually to the national economy — equivalent to nearly $2 million per day. The figure, unveiled on Tuesday, represents a near doubling from the 2018 estimate of $315 million to $421 million, underscoring the rapidly growing value of trusted testing and certification in an increasingly complex global supply chain. The study, titled Beyond Compliance, is based on surveys of 165 member organisations and 181 technical assessors, coupled with economic modelling produced by UTS researchers. It identifies two primary drivers of economic impact: the ability of accredited businesses to enter new markets, generating up to $182 million a year, and the price premium those businesses can command, worth up to $62 million annually. These figures highlight how an invisible layer of quality assurance — covering everything from drinking water and pathology results to electric toasters — directly fuels business growth and consumer confidence.

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The figure, unveiled on Tuesday, represents a near doubling from the 2018 estimate of $315 million to $421 million, underscoring the rapidly growing value of trusted testing and certification in an increasingly complex global supply chain.

NATA’s role as the sole national accreditation body means it oversees more than 4,400 facilities and tests over 3,400 products across diverse sectors, including healthcare, construction, food safety, and manufacturing. The accreditation process involves rigorous assessments of technical competence and impartiality, ensuring that test results and certifications are reliable. For businesses, this translates into a competitive edge: accreditation signals to domestic and international buyers that their products meet high standards, easing entry into regulated markets and reducing the friction of cross-border trade. The $182 million market-access benefit is particularly telling — it demonstrates that accreditation functions as a non-tariff facilitator, effectively lowering barriers for Australian exporters. Meanwhile, the $62 million price premium reflects the consumer and business willingness to pay more for verified quality, a dynamic that rewards companies investing in compliance.

The report’s findings come at a time when global supply chains are under scrutiny for resilience and transparency. Recent disruptions, from the pandemic to geopolitical tensions, have amplified the need for trustworthy testing infrastructure. NATA’s work, often unseen, underpins everyday safety: as CEO Jennifer Evans noted, Australians expect safe food, accurate blood tests, and electrical devices that don’t cause harm, without considering the accreditation system that makes it possible. This trust, once established, becomes an economic asset. The near doubling of NATA’s estimated contribution since 2018 suggests that the value of this trust-brokering function is increasing, likely due to growing regulatory complexity and higher consumer expectations.

For Australian businesses, particularly small and medium enterprises, accreditation can be a strategic lever. The report highlights that the economic benefit is not just captured by large corporations; smaller accredited firms also gain access to niche markets and can charge premium prices. However, the cost and effort of achieving and maintaining accreditation can be a barrier for startups and new entrants, raising questions about how to support broader participation. The UTS study itself doesn’t delve deeply into the distribution of benefits, but the high-end estimate of $712 million implies a substantial return on investment for the wider economy relative to NATA’s operational funding.