NSW Housing Innovation Network Grant Program

Total program funding of up to $1.8 million is available.
Grants of up to $250,000, excluding GST, are available per pilot project.
Matched funding is not required to be eligible. Applicants may contribute their own funding to running pilots.
Funded projects will pilot solutions for up to 12 months.
Activities are expected to run from Q4 2026 to Q4 2027.
Applications close: September 9 2026

The Housing Innovation Network Grant Program is a $1.8 million competitive grants initiative designed to increase innovation adoption in the delivery of social, affordable and sustainable housing. The program supports NSW-based small-to-medium enterprises to pilot practical and innovative solutions in collaboration with Homes NSW. Grants of up to $250,000, excluding GST, are available for pilot projects that address key housing challenges and support improved delivery of social and affordable housing.

Funded projects will be delivered in the NSW public housing environment over a period of up to 12 months. The program aims to support commercialisation and scaling of new solutions that address challenges such as affordability, supply, speed of delivery, construction productivity and sustainability of homes.

Key Requirements

Support NSW-based SMEs to pilot and demonstrate innovative solutions: Projects must address challenges faced by Homes NSW and support the delivery of social and affordable housing.
Enable commercialisation and scale-up: The program aims to support new solutions that address affordability, supply, speed of delivery, construction productivity and sustainability of homes.
Improve NSW Government awareness of innovation solutions: Projects should help identify solutions that enable efficiencies in the management and delivery of social and affordable housing.
Address an identified housing challenge: Eligible projects must respond to one of the identified challenge statements and directly relate to piloting or demonstrating the solution in the NSW government housing sector.
Demonstrate readiness for pilot testing: Solutions must be at Technology Readiness Level 6 or higher, meaning a prototype has been tested in a relevant environment and is ready for demonstration in an operational setting.
Demonstrate merit against competitive criteria: Applications are assessed on challenge fit, measurable value, deliverability, commercial viability, scale-up potential and financial viability

What is eligible for funding?

Building and providing units of the solution for the pilot.
Engaging professional expertise, including technical specialists, business development specialists or commercialisation experts.
Training Homes NSW personnel as part of the pilot.
Integrating technology with NSW Government ICT platforms.
Undertaking data analysis and data management activities.
Capital expenditure directly related to the pilot.
Piloting or demonstrating eligible solutions within the NSW government housing sector.

What companies are eligible for funding?

Companies incorporated under the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth), including companies limited by guarantee.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Corporations registered under the Corporations (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) Act 2006 (Cth).
NSW Universities or other NSW-based Publicly Funded Research Organisations applying through the appropriate technology transfer office, Chief Executive Officer or equivalent, where a separate entity will be created before entering into a funding agreement.
Applicants must be SMEs, demonstrated by aggregate turnover of less than $50 million for each of the three financial years before application, and/or fewer than 200 full-time equivalent employees.
Applicants must have an active ABN, be headquartered in NSW, hold an account with an Authorised Deposit-taking Institution, and hold the relevant Intellectual Property or rights to commercialise the solution.
Companies can apply if they meet the entity type, SME, NSW headquarters, ABN, banking, IP and solution readiness requirements

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.

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