India Australia RISE Accelerator Program – Round 3 (Australia)

The RISE Accelerator provides support to startups and SMEs who are working on innovative technology and are considering overseas expansion. Round 3 supports Australian startups and SMEs with renewable energy technologies looking to scale into India.

Benefits

• Participating in the RISE Accelerator will help you amplify chances of success in a new market. Startups and SMEs will be able to:
  • get up to $135k non-equity grant, subject to performance milestones and competitive assessment
  • gain valuable market, cultural and regulatory insight
  • fast track connections to the right partners and customers. They will connect you with people who will help you on your journey, including on-the-ground
  • engage with mentors, funders, suppliers, distributors, regulators and researchers
  • grow and scale technology and research overseas
  • pilot, adapt and validate technology for a new market
  • visibility of joint-innovation funds, grants and investors.

Program Period

• Round 3 of the Program for successfully selected Participant Organisations will run from 11 August 2025 to 30 April 2026 or as advised by the Program Delegate. Following this period, an evaluation period of 36 months will commence.
• Participant Organisations must complete all Program Activities by 30 April 2026.

Challenge Statements

• How might they diversify clean energy supply chains and accelerate the energy transition?
• Round 3 seeks applications from Australian startups and SMEs with technologies that address clean and renewable energy manufacturing, storage and management challenges.
• They’re seeking deployable, novel solutions in solar, battery, wind and hydrogen, supporting the two nations to seize economic opportunities of the net zero transition.
• Does your technology or solution address one or more of these challenge statements?
  • Can you advance clean and renewable energy critical mineral and materials processing, recovery and or reuse?
  • Can you advance designs, technologies, components, infrastructure or manufacturing pathways for enhanced performance, durability and lifespans?
  • Can software, hardware and or digital systems enhance the manufacturing, asset management, storage and deployment of clean and renewable energy?

Who is eligible to apply?

• Round 3 (renewable energy) is open to Australian startups and SMEs with innovative technology, typically with a high technology readiness level (e.g. pilot system developed, or actual system proven through successful operations), who are interested in expanding into the alternate market.
• Startups or SMEs considering applying for the RISE Accelerator must also meet the following eligibility criteria:
  • be headquartered or domiciled in Australia
  • be registered for GST
  • be incorporated in Australia with ABN and ACN or an incorporated trustee applying on behalf of a trust
  • have not had revenue of more than A$20 million or equivalent in any of the last three financial years
  • have, or be actively developing, a technology or solution that aligns with one or more of the RISE Accelerator round challenge statements
  • have a solution at TRL 7 or higher. They may consider solutions at TRL 5-6 that have clear potential to rapidly advance through expansion into India or Australia.

Who is not eligible to apply?

• You are not eligible to apply if you are:
  • an individual
  • a partnership
  • an unincorporated association
  • a trust (however, an incorporated trustee may apply on behalf of a trust)
  • a Commonwealth, state, territory or local government agency or body (including government business enterprises)
  • a non-corporate Commonwealth entity
  • an employer of 100 or more employees that has not complied with the Workplace Gender Equality Act (2012)

For more information, visit CSIRO.