Grants in Research & Development

The Collaborative Research Grant (CRG) is a competitive funding initiative co-funded by the Western Australian Government and the Defence Science and Technology Group (DSTG). It supports cross-disciplinary collaboration between WA-based industry and academic institutions to develop technologies that are relevant to Defence and aligned with national strategic priorities.

The Rural Financial Counselling Service (RFCS) offers free and independent financial counselling to eligible farmers, fishers, foresters, and small rural enterprises who are experiencing, or at risk of, financial hardship. The program is designed to support individuals and businesses in navigating financial challenges and building long-term resilience. Its core objective is to help clients transition out of immediate financial crisis, assess the viability of their business to make informed decisions about its future, and improve overall financial wellbeing. This is achieved through financial education, skill-building, and referrals to relevant professional services.

CRC-P Grants facilitate short-term research collaborations led by industry, effectively bridging the gap between researchers and industry. The initiative focuses on driving research and development efforts towards viable commercial applications.

ARENA is continuing its support for research and development (R&D) and commercialisation of Australian solar PV, with a new $60 million funding round to push innovation and take solar to ultra low-cost levels.

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

Offers up to $500,000 in funding for later-stage projects that are closer to market and require support to scale or commercialise.

NSW MVP (Minimum Viable Product) Ventures Program is committed to supporting startups and innovative small and medium enterprises (SMEs) across the product lifecycle, bridging the gap between early-stage research and mature investment opportunities. The program offers grants designed to accelerate the commercialisation of highly innovative products or processes. The Program aims to: support businesses in increasing the commercialisation of innovative products and processes in NSW, and attract and retain commercialisation activities within the state. The Department of Enterprise, Investment and Trade will allocate up to $3 million annually for the Program until June 30, 2027.

The Investment Attraction Fund (IAF) supports WA-based projects in new energies sectors—including green iron and steel, critical minerals (battery and processing), renewable hydrogen, and carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS)—to diversify the economy, scale up local businesses, and create local jobs.

The Industrial Transformation Stream (ITS) is designed to support the decarbonisation of existing industrial facilities located in regional Australia. Through targeted funding, the program enables projects that reduce Scope 1 and/or Scope 2 greenhouse gas emissions. This can be achieved through a range of approaches, including electrification, energy efficiency improvements, the integration of renewable energy technologies, fuel switching, and the development of enabling infrastructure such as energy storage and demand management systems.