Call for Applications: Industry Research Projects – Australia

The program targets high quality research projects where research outcomes lead to new products, processes, or services through activities focussed on progressing the innovation within Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 5 to 9 toward commercial readiness and future investment.

Investment is targeted within the priority investment areas and support for high quality research and industry collaborative projects.

The objectives of the program are to:

• Increase partnerships between research and industry partners, improve research and business collaboration
• Translate research outcomes into new innovative services and products
• Increase expenditure on innovative research and development
• Increase opportunities for commercialisation as part of growing the innovation economy.

Priority Investment Areas

The proposed project must address at least one of the following priority investment areas:

• using the following innovative technology to advance industry:
  • autonomous systems
  • robotics and artificial intelligence
  • nanotechnology
  • synthetic biology technologies including mRNA
  • quantum technologies
• innovation in cybertechnology, defence industries and space industries
• innovating the tourism industry innovation in methods to drive sporting and sporting event success (Sports Tech)
• using innovative methods to improve agriculture and food including novel proteins and low emissions production systems
• using innovative methods to achieve a sustainable future in a decarbonising economy by:
  • developing environmentally responsible mining practices including innovative methods to accelerate new economy/critical minerals industry
  • managing Queensland’s waste and pollution and developing the circular economy
  • mitigating and preventing climate change
  • developing sustainable energy solutions including technology supporting green hydrogen
  • developing sustainable energy storage solutions
  • developing sustainable water solutions
• building resilience against:
  • future potential pandemic crises
  • natural disasters e.g., droughts, floods, cyclones and bushfires.

Funding Information

There are 2 tiers of funding available:

• Tier 1 – f or applicants located in South East Queensland, grants of $500,000 – $1.5 million (excluding GST) are available, where projects have a matched funding (1:1) ratio from the applicant/partners.
• Tier 2 – for applicants located in regional Queensland, grants of $250,000 – $1.5 million (excluding GST) are available, where projects have 25% matched funding from the applicant/partners.

Eligibility Criteria

• To be eligible for funding, applicant organisations must, at the time of application:
  • be a Queensland-based organisation. This means the business must be operating in a physical location in Queensland, which must be maintained for the duration of the project.
  • be GST registered, with an ABN.
• To be eligible for funding, projects must:
  • include collaboration between:
    • at least one Queensland-based research organisation; and
    • at least one Queensland-based private or not-for-profit organisation
    • partnering organisations must be separate entities
  • include a cash contribution from the applicant and/or partner organisation(s)
  • address at least one of the identified priority investment areas
  • not currently be receiving funding from another Queensland Government department for the proposed project activities at the time of application and not be fully funded from other funding sources.

For more information, visit Queensland Government.