Queensland Manufacturing AI Uplift Trial Program

Stage One, Expression of Interest
Stage Two, AI Roadmap: AI Roadmap services are provided without a matched funding requirement. Participating manufacturers must provide relevant staff to support development of the roadmap.
Stage Three, Flagship Project: Queensland Government support ranges from $150,000 to $250,000 per project, representing 80 per cent of the total project value.
Applicant contribution: A 20 per cent matched cash contribution is required for a Flagship Project.
Maximum government contribution: $250,000, with a company cash contribution of $62,500 and a total project value of $312,500.
Minimum government contribution: $150,000, with a company cash contribution of $37,500 and a total project value of $187,500.
Project timing: Projects are expected to commence in March 2027 and should generally be completed within six months of executing the Services Agreement
EOI application close October 30th, 2026

The Queensland Manufacturing AI Uplift Trial Program supports eligible Queensland manufacturers to implement clearly defined, high-return AI use cases. It is intended for manufacturers that are ready to deploy AI rather than businesses seeking exploratory support. The program has three stages. Eligible manufacturers first submit an expression of interest. Shortlisted businesses then work with ARM Hub to develop an AI Roadmap that identifies and prioritises an AI use case, assesses return on investment and readiness, and develops a draft project plan.

Selected businesses may then compete to become Flagship Companies and receive AI implementation services valued between $150,000 and $250,000. Flagship Projects require a 20 per cent matched cash contribution from the participating business. Projects must seek measurable improvements in productivity, competitiveness, sustainability or workforce capability. Successful businesses must also act as exemplars and share project outcomes and lessons with other manufacturers and industry stakeholders.

Key Requirements

AI readiness: Applicants must have a clear AI use case and an immediate pathway to implementation rather than an exploratory interest in AI.
Manufacturing impact: Projects must implement AI in Queensland manufacturing operations and generate measurable productivity, competitiveness or sustainability benefits.
Business readiness: Applicants must demonstrate committed leadership, appropriate internal staff, data access, financial capacity and readiness to scale the proposed solution.
Demonstrated outcomes: Applications should identify measurable use-case outcomes such as hours saved, improved quoting speed, reduced rework, reduced downtime, improved throughput, lower compliance effort or improved forecasting accuracy.
Regional impact: Applicants should identify benefits such as jobs supported or created, local suppliers engaged, regional capability uplift and involvement with regional manufacturing networks.
Workforce capability: Proposed projects should explain how staff will be engaged, trained and supported to adopt new processes and AI capabilities.
Competitiveness and growth: Applicants should demonstrate anticipated improvements such as increased production capacity, margin improvement, export readiness, faster tender responses, new contracts or improved customer responsiveness.
Knowledge transfer: Successful Flagship Companies must support case studies, industry engagement and knowledge-sharing activities that demonstrate the outcomes and lessons from their AI implementation.
Applicant contribution: Stage Three participants must provide a 20 per cent matched cash contribution and relevant staff to support implementation.
Data and implementation support: Successful Flagship Companies receive a private workspace on a sovereign Australian cloud-based AI platform, with data isolation, governance, lineage and operational support.

What is eligible for funding?

Implementing AI use cases that improve business productivity, competitiveness or sustainability.
Establishing data infrastructure required to implement the approved AI use case.
Prioritising a high-value AI use case.
Conducting return-on-investment assessments.
Undertaking AI readiness diagnostics.
Demonstrating or testing potential AI solutions where appropriate.
Developing an AI Roadmap and draft project plan.
Implementing AI solutions through the services provided by ARM Hub.
Training staff and building workforce capability directly connected with implementation.
Measuring project outcomes such as time savings, throughput, quoting speed, forecasting accuracy, rework reduction, downtime, compliance effort or sales conversion

What companies are eligible for funding?

Eligible applicants must:

Be a manufacturing entity whose principal activity and majority turnover are derived from manufacturing under Division C of ANZSIC 2006.
Employ between 5 and 500 full-time equivalent employees.
Employ at least 50 per cent of their total full-time equivalent workforce in Queensland.
Have no more than 500 full-time equivalent employees across the entire corporate group, joint venture or related group of entities.
Be registered for GST.
Hold an active ABN.
Have a project site in Queensland.
Have an existing manufacturing presence in Queensland when applying.
Have operated in Queensland for at least two consecutive years before applying.
Demonstrate the financial capacity and standing required to complete the project.
Accept the applicable terms and conditions through the application form.
Not be insolvent and have no owners or directors who are undischarged bankrupts.
Not receive other local, state or federal government funding for the same proposed project.
Agree to act as an exemplar Flagship Company.

Applicants may be subject to corporate, ownership, director, financial viability, bankruptcy, court, regulatory and adverse media checks.

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 a professional government grant writer consultant. Avant Group is Australia’s largest independent grants advisory firm. Find out more about our government grant writing and consulting service here.

How can I get help understanding if I’m eligible for this grant? 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.

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