Deadline Date: January 30, 2026
The Department of Energy and Economic Diversification is accepting applications for its New Industries and Innovation Fund to strengthen Western Australia’s innovation ecosystem by supporting accelerator programs and targeted education initiatives for entrepreneurs and investors.
The grant aims to build capability across the startup and innovative SME community while also improving investor knowledge, ultimately driving increased private investment and business growth in the state.
The objective of the grant is to support accelerator programs as a core mechanism for scaling early-stage and growth-focused businesses, alongside entrepreneurial and investor education programs. By improving commercialisation skills and investment readiness, the initiative helps entrepreneurs better position their businesses for scale, while enabling current and potential investors to make more informed decisions and actively participate in the local innovation economy.
This funding is delivered through the Innovation Pathways Program, a competitive Western Australian Government grant funded under the $40 million New Industries and Innovation Fund for the 2025–2029 period. The program is administered by the Department of Energy and Economic Diversification, which is seeking applications across three distinct funding streams.
Under Stream A, funding of up to $300,000 is available to support accelerator programs designed for startups, innovative SMEs, and scaleups. These programs must focus on helping participants become investment ready, with a clear pathway to attracting capital and scaling their operations.
Stream B provides up to $200,000 for entrepreneur education programs that are not accelerators but are specifically designed to improve the investment readiness of startups, innovative SMEs, or scaleups. These programs may focus on skills such as commercialisation, governance, financial readiness, or strategic growth.
Stream C also offers up to $200,000 to support investor education programs. These initiatives are intended to educate, develop, and encourage investors across all classes, including corporate investors, with the goal of increasing the level of investment in innovative ventures across Western Australia.
Together, these funding streams aim to create a more connected, capable, and investment-ready innovation ecosystem, supporting long-term economic diversification and growth in Western Australia.
For more information, visit Government of Western Australia.
