Funding opportunities for industry

Bold, ambitious research collaborations often require significant financial resources, and by partnering with us, you can access a range of government schemes. So, if you have a new idea or a pressing challenge to solve, we can help you find a researcher and funding support.

We work with industry, government, community and not-for-profit organisations to solve their big challenges.

Government industry grants and schemes enable high-impact collaborative research and development. Partnering with us to leverage funding allows you to not only bring new ideas and discoveries into market, but also create new industries, grow jobs and strengthen the economy.

Our team of experts can help you identify and develop winning research-partnered funding proposals.

Discover how partner funding opportunities can support your research and development needs.

These incentives support collaborative research and development (R&D) projects across a range of fields.

Health and Medical Innovation

  • Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF)

    The Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) was established in 2015 to provide a sustainable source of funding for health and medical research that can help improve the health of Australians.

    The $A20 billion investment provides ongoing funding for a range of initiatives and programs, including world-class medical research, development of new treatments and technologies, and training of the next generation of medical researchers.

    The fund also supports innovative projects and collaborations between researchers, healthcare providers and industry partners, with the goal of translating research discoveries into better health outcomes for patients.

    Funding rounds are announced on a rolling basis aligned with funding priorities.

    Contact industry enquiries for more information.

  • National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Partnership Projects

    NHMRC Partnership Projects funding supports high-quality, collaborative research projects that address important health and medical research questions as well as driving the potential to deliver significant health benefits for Australians.

    These projects create partnerships between researchers, end-users and other stakeholders, including healthcare providers, industry and community organisations. Bringing together diverse perspectives, knowledge and resources creates a comprehensive and effective approach to addressing complex health problems – enabling the interpretation and application of research.

    Contact industry enquiries for more information.

  • NHMRC Development Grants

    NHMRC Development Grants support the early stages of health and medical research projects, at the proof-of-concept stage.

    Development Grants provide researchers with the resources they need to develop their ideas towards a commercial outcome in the foreseeable future. They support innovative, high-quality health and medical research with the potential to have a significant impact on public health.

    The eligibility criteria, funding amount and application process for NHMRC Development Grants may vary from year to year, so interested researchers should check the NHMRC website for the most up-to-date information.

    Contact industry enquiries for more information.

  • Victorian Medical Research Acceleration Fund

    The Victorian government is committed to supporting the state’s world-class health and medical research community through investments in cutting-edge research which drives growth, creates jobs, and supports breakthrough treatment and care.

    The Victorian Medical Research Acceleration Fund has been accelerating health and medical research since 2017 with annual funding focused on priority areas.

    Contact industry enquiries for more information.

Industry-Reseach collaboration solving sector challenges

  • Industrial Transformation Research Hubs (ITRH)

    Industrial Transformation Research Hubs (ITRH) bring together researchers and industry to work on a collaborative five-year program of cutting-edge research to help to address the major challenges facing Australia’s priority industries and reduce the technical barriers to growth of these sectors and enhance Australia’s economic growth and competitiveness.

    Contact industry enquiries for more information.

  • ARC Industrial Transformation Training Centres (ITTC)

    The Industrial Transformation Training Centres (ITTC) scheme provides funding for partnerships between university-based researchers and industry, to collaborate on a five-year research training program that addresses the skills and workforce limitations in Australia’s priority industries and contributes to Australia's economic growth and global competitiveness.

    Contact industry enquiries for more information.

  • Cooperative Research Centres (CRC)

    Cooperative Research Centres (CRCs) bring together researchers and industry to collaborate through medium-to-long term industry-led research enterprises.

    CRCs aim to solve industry-identified problems and improve the competitiveness, productivity and sustainability of Australian industries. They create new products and services, as well as advancing emerging industries across areas like agriculture, manufacturing, information technology and mining.

    They provide a platform for researchers to work on applied research to address the needs and challenges of their industry partners and provide a mechanism for knowledge transfer, commercialisation, and technology development.

    Contact industry enquiries for more information.

  • Cooperative Research Centre Projects (CRC-P)

    Cooperative Research Centre Projects (CRC-P) support short-term (up to three years), industry-led research collaborations to develop a product, service or process that will solve problems for industry partners and deliver real outcomes, in line with Government priorities. The projects can include education and training activities and should deliver benefit to small-to-medium enterprises (SMEs).

    Contact industry enquiries for more information.

  • Industry Fellowships Program

    The Industry Fellowships Program lies within the broader ARC Linkage Program remit of promoting research-industry partnerships.

    The program aims to develop two-way mobility by helping academic researchers develop career pathways into industry as well as providing industry-based researchers with opportunities to work in university settings.

    There are three levels to the program which collectively seeks to drive research collaboration, translation, and commercialisation outcomes.

    1. Early Career Industry Fellowships
    2. Mid-Career Industry Fellowships
    3. Industry Laureate Fellowships

    Contact industry enquiries for more information.

  • Linkage Projects

    Linkage Projects support long-term, strategic alliances between universities and other organisations – both national and international – including industry partners, government agencies and community organisations.

    The scheme supports research that applies advanced knowledge to challenges, provides practical benefits to the wider community and encourages the transfer of skills, knowledge and ideas.

    Contact industry enquiries for more information.

  • National Industry PhD Program

    The Australian Government has funded the National Industry PhD program to build research talent which is skilled in university-industry collaboration through PhD projects that apply to industry. Research projects are co-designed for increased translation and commercialisation outcomes, and to support the development of sectors of the future.

    Contact industry enquiries for more information.

Translation and commercialisation in priority sectors

  • Breakthrough Victoria

    Breakthrough Victoria is an independent company which manages a $A2 billion investment fund established by the Victorian Government.

    The aim is to commercialise innovative ideas and technologies which solve significant problems, create new industries, improve health and wellbeing, as well as deliver prosperity and positive returns.

    The fund’s mandate is to respond to challenges in health and life sciences, clean economy, advanced manufacturing, agri-food and digital economy. It brings together companies, research institutions, governments and investors and invests patient capital across the capital lifecycle to spark ideas and commercialise innovations.

    Contact industry enquiries for more information.

  • National Reconstruction Fund

    The Australian Government has committed $A15 billion to establish the National Reconstruction Fund to diversify and transform Australia’s industry and economy to achieve secure and sustainable growth.

    As an independent financier operating to deliver positive returns, it will apply a range of finance options and invest in projects aligned with national priority areas that leverage competitive strengths in:

    • Renewables and low emission technologies
    • Medical science
    • Transport
    • Value-add in agriculture, forestry, and fisheries
    • Value-add in resources
    • Defence capabilities
    • Enabling capabilities.

    Contact industry enquiries for more information

  • Australian Renewable Energy Agency

    The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) supports the global transition to net zero emissions by accelerating the pace of pre-commercial innovation.

    ARENA has been funding projects since 2012 and brings deep expertise of the renewable energy sector to support pathways to commercialisation for new technologies. They offer a range of funding opportunities spanning discovery research through to large-scale implementation.

    Contact industry enquiries for more information

  • Australia’s Economic Accelerator (AEA)

    Australia’s Economic Accelerator is a competitive grant program designed to bridge the gap between world-class research and commercialisation.

    Commencing in 2023, the stage-gated funding program will develop a pipeline from discovery through to commercialisation to enable research to translate into real-world innovations and productivity gains.

    The fund will support projects with high commercial potential aligned with areas of national priority including:

    • Renewables and low emission technology
    • Medical science including medical devices, medicines and vaccines
    • Value-add in agriculture, forestry and fisheries
    • Value-add in mining resources.

    Contact industry enquiries for more information

Small and Medium-Sized Enterprise (SME) Innovation

  • Innovation Connections

    Innovation Connections is a key aspect of the Government’s Entrepreneurs Programme which aims to drive the growth and competitiveness of SMEs by supporting research collaboration in targeted growth sectors.

    Innovation Connections forms part of a program suite which aims to increase the funding for commercialisation of novel products, processes and services. SMEs operating in the following growth sectors can apply for funding which helps them access research expertise in:

    • Advanced manufacturing
    • Food and agribusiness
    • Medical technologies and pharmaceuticals
    • Mining equipment, technology and services
    • Oil, gas and energy resources.

    Contact industry enquiries for more information.

  • Accelerating Commercialisation

    Part of the government’s Entrepreneurs Programme, Accelerating Commercialisation is targeted at businesses, start-ups and researchers who have a novel product, process or service ready to scale up and commercialise in global markets.

    Accelerating Commercialisation provides expert guidance and funding to help progress a project from prototype to commercialisation.

    Contact industry enquiries for more information.

Contact us

Contact industry enquiries to find out the most appropriate funding opportunity for your project. Our team will discuss your needs with you and provide advice.