NSW RNA Pipeline Grants 2025

  • Grants from $200,000-$3,000,000
  • Applications open until 16th September 2025

The NSW RNA Pipeline Grants (RPG) is a $6M, single round, competitive technology development and commercialisation program supporting RNA therapeutics, vaccines, and tech development.

Key Requirements

The objectives of the RPG program are to:

  • support a pipeline of products that could be manufactured at the NSW RNA Research and Manufacturing Facility
  • progress the development and manufacture of innovative RNA therapeutics, vaccines and related technologies – including applications in health, biosecurity and agriculture – towards commercialisation in NSW
  • improve commercialisation opportunities for NSW-based start-ups and businesses through targeted support for translation and scale-up
  • contribute to a globally competitive RNA ecosystem that delivers long-term economic, scientific, and social/environmental benefits for NSW, including enhanced workforce capability and sovereign manufacturing capacity.

What is eligible for funding?

Eligible Grant Activities

  • Projects should be completed within two years (unless there are exceptional circumstances).
  • Projects will require clear and achievable milestones (e.g. moving from TRL 4 to TRL 5, developing and testing components within a TRL) to support appropriate staging and monitoring
  • Progress an innovation along the commercialisation pathway
  • Have an existing proof-of-concept (demonstrated in vitro) Be TRL 3-6 on the TRL Scale at the time of applying for the RPG
  • Demonstrate why sufficient funding for the entire project cannot be accessed from alternative sources and that the project would not proceed at the proposed scale in NSW without government support

Eligible costs

  • Preclinical and validation studies, including proof-of-concept, safety, efficacy and stability assessments
  • Development and optimisation of RNA constructs, delivery systems, or manufacturing or formulation processes
  • Production of prototype or pilot batches and preparation for GMP manufacturing
  • Application of enabling technologies to improve product performance, manufacturability or cost efficiency
  • Activities supporting regulatory readiness, such as pathway planning, certification or approvals
  • Commercialisation planning, including reimbursement strategy, market testing and feasibility studies
  • Engagement preparation with potential manufacturing partners
  • Development and protection of IP, including patent filings or advice
  • Access to specialist equipment, infrastructure or external expertise essential to project delivery
  • Salaries and project consumables directly related to the delivery of project outcomes

What companies are eligible for funding?

Eligible Applicants:

  • Have an Australian Business Number (ABN)
  • Be registered for the purposes of GST
  • Be headquartered in NSW

Be one of the following:

  • a company incorporated under the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) (including a company limited by guarantee)
  • an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Corporation registered under the Corporations (Aboriginal and /or Torres Strait Islander) Act 2006 (Cth)
  • an individual or partnership who agrees to form a company under the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) so that the Department can enter into a legally binding funding agreement
  • a NSW public research organisation or medical research institute applying through its appropriate technology transfer office or the Chief Executive Officer (or equivalent) of the research organisation that will become a separate entity before entering into a legally binding funding agreement with the Department Hold the IP or have the rights to commercialise the technology/innovation in Australia and major international markets (e.g. the United States and Europe)

The majority of project activities should be based in NSW.

If project partners or locations are outside NSW, the application must explain why (e.g. to access specific capabilities, expertise or technologies not available within NSW)

Be a product that could be produced at the RNA Research and Manufacturing Facility, for example:

  • RNA vaccines – for infectious diseases including influenza, COVID-19 and other emerging health threats
  • RNA therapeutics – including mRNA-based treatments for cancers, genetic disorders and autoimmune conditions
  • plasmid DNA and gene therapy components – used as templates or vectors in cell and gene therapies
  • veterinary and agricultural RNA products – such as RNA-based vaccines or therapeutics for livestock, companion animal diseases and biosecurity
  • RNA delivery systems – including lipid nanoparticle (LNP) formulations to support targeted delivery and stability

Is this grant competitive or entitlement based?

Competitive. Your application will be assessed among other applications by a judging panel.

How can I increase my chances of winning this grant?

By engaging an accredited government grants consultant, such as Avant Group.

Competitive grants often require significant business case development and project analysis to support the application, this may include detailed presentations supporting the project’s merit, projected sales, cost-benefit analysis and more.

As part of your engagement with Avant Group, your account manager will assess the required documents and will provide the following as needed to support your grant submission.

Grant application writeup including a detailed presentation illustrating how the grant funding will contribute to your project, how the funding will contribute to the project’s budget, a project milestone plan, delivery timeline, impact on employment if applicable and a breakdown of the management and leadership team for the project

  • Industry analysis presentation
  • Competitor Analysis Presentation
  • Marketing and Sales Analysis Presentation
  • 3-5 year Cashflow Forecast
  • 3-5 year Balance Sheet Forecast
  • Cost-Benefit Analysis of Grant Funding
  • End-to-end grant application including information collating, analysis and application writing
  • CAPEX (Capital Expenditure) cost-benefit analysis
  • Stakeholder relations and Risk Mitigation Plans
  • Any other relevant forecasting that will support your application

How can I get help with my application? Or know if I’m likely to win funding?

Avant Group offers a no-obligation assessment of your eligibility for funding and will assess your likelihood of a successful grant application.