QLD SEQ Innovation Economy Fund Round 2

Funding range: $500,000 to $5,212,840 (excluding GST).
Funding stream: Minor capital projects, including refurbishments and acquisition and installation of plant and equipment.
Matched funding: 50% cash co-contribution of the total grant funding requested is required. In-kind contributions are not eligible for the co-contribution calculation.
Applications close: June 25 2026

The QLD SEQ Innovation Economy Fund Round 2 supports minor capital projects that establish or improve infrastructure within existing innovation precincts across South East Queensland. Funding is intended to lift precinct capability, increase innovation activity, and support innovation-focused priority industries and growth sectors. Projects must show how the investment will contribute to more high value, knowledge-intensive jobs, and how the infrastructure will strengthen the precinct’s capacity to deliver broader economic, environmental, or social outcomes.

Eligible projects include refurbishments to existing buildings and the acquisition, installation and commissioning of plant and equipment that enables innovative activity within an existing precinct. Applicants must provide a 50% cash co-contribution of the grant funding requested, confirmed at the time of application, and projects are expected to be completed by 30 June 2028.

Key Requirements

Deliver infrastructure outcomes in an existing innovation precinct that increase innovation activity and precinct capability.
Demonstrate how the project will lead to more high value, knowledge-intensive jobs.
Show alignment to one or more innovation priority investment areas, including priority industries and innovation growth sectors.
Provide a leveraged cash co-contribution commitment of at least 50% of the grant funding sought, from the applicant and or project partners, excluding other Queensland or Australian Government grant funding.
Complete the minor capital project by 30 June 2028.

What is eligible for funding?

Refurbishment of existing buildings that forms part of the approved capital project.
Acquisition, installation and commissioning of fixed plant and equipment that supports the project infrastructure outcome.
Construction costs, including site works, construction-related labour, materials and equipment hire required to deliver the infrastructure.
Costs required to fully commission the project infrastructure.
Project management costs directly related to managing construction of the approved infrastructure, including technical or professional staff costs, excluding executive duties and overhead charges.
Costs associated with acknowledging the Australian and Queensland Government funding contributions.

What companies are eligible for funding?

Eligible applicants include:

Eligible SEQ Local Government bodies that are members of the Council of Mayors (SEQ).
Queensland Government statutory bodies, including hospital and health services.
Queensland Government owned corporations.
Queensland-based universities.
Queensland-based research institutes.
Not-for-profit entities.
Private or public sector entities acting as a trustee for a trust

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.

This grant is open

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