Grant funding up to $3 million for development of new technology or products

The Federal Government is inviting eligible applicants to apply for up to $3 million, covering up to 50% of eligible expenses, including allowable in-kind contributions.

The CRC-P grant program supports industry-led collaborative projects, with an SME lead applicant being the main driver of the project, with projects including at least two partners including at least one other Australian industry partner and at least one Australian research organisation partner.

The objectives of the program are to:

• Improve the competitiveness, productivity and sustainability of Australian industries, especially where Australia has a competitive strength, and are aligned with Government priorities

• Foster high quality research to solve industry-identified problems

• Encourage and facilitate SME participation in collaborative research

Eligiblity Criteria: Lead applicants must

• Be an SME

• Have an ABN

• Be incorporated in Australia and be a trading corporation (this does not mean you must be making sales)

Projects must have at least $200,000 in total eligible project expenditure and eligible activities must include at least one of the following:

• New research

• Proof of Concept activities

• Pre-commercialisation of research outcomes

• Industry-focused education & training activities e.g. internships and/or secondments between industry entities and research organisations

• Conferences, workshops and/or symposia related to the joint research

• Information sharing and communication initiatives related to the joint research

Assessment Criteria: The application has four assessment criteria, all of which are equally weighted and include:

1. Project alignment with the program objectives including how you project addresses the industry identified problem, improves the competitiveness productivity and sustainability of Australian industries and the extent of alignment with Government priorities and how the project will foster high quality collaborative research partnerships

2. Project quality including a description of the project methodologies, the role of project partners, how the research addresses teh industry problem, and the education and training opportunities offered by the project

3. Capacity, capability and resources to deliver your project including how the project will managed and monitored, how you will manage project risks and the access to required resources including personnel, funding, security, infrastructure, technology and IP

4. Impact of the grant funding on your project including explaining how the grant will impact the project in terms of scale and timing, the total investment the grant will leverage and why Australian Government funding should be invested, how the project will have a positive impact for communities and businesses in regional and remote Australia, and the commercial potential of the project including expected commercial outputs, new products, processes or services, spill over benefits and plans beyond the project

Government Priorities include:

• Robotics and automation

• National Reconstruction Fund Priority Areas (see here)

• National Science and Research Priorities including:

  • Transitioning to a net zero future

  • Supporting healthy and thriving communities

  • Elevating Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander knowledge systems

  • Protecting and restoring Australia’s environment

  • Building a secure and resilient nation

Applications must be submitted by 5:00pm AEDT on Tuesday 7th October 2025.

Need help with your application, contact GrantSmart here.

For more information including access to the program guidelines and online application form click here.