Posted on
$150 million in grant funding available to universities and their industry partners to take Australia’s world-leading research off the page and make it a reality.
Australia’s Economic Accelerator (AEA) has opened the second round of both the Ignite and Innovate programs.
The grant streams available provide funding up to $500,000 for proof-of-concept Ignite grants and up to $5 million for proof-of-scale Innovate grants.
The first rounds of both AEA Ignite and Innovate demonstrated exciting projects that will boost Australia’s productivity and grow our economy through research commercialisation and translation.
More than $93 million was awarded to 39 research commercialisation projects under AEA Innovate Round 1 with more than $59 million of funding awarded to 155 research grants in AEA Ignite Round 1.
AEA grants support the Australian Government identified priority areas for the economy (outlined in the National Reconstruction Fund Corporation (Priority Areas) Declaration 2023) and Future Made in Australia policy to scale up priority industries that will help diversify and grow Australia’s economy and workforce.
The second round of both programs aligns with an updated set of focus areas that reflect the program’s growth.
The eight focus areas are:
- critical and strategic minerals processing
- sustainable fuels
- agriculture and food technology
- quantum
- artificial intelligence (AI)
- advanced manufacturing
- space
- renewable energy.
As outlined in the AEA Advisory Board’s Annual Investment Plan 2025-26, the focus areas directly contribute towards areas of national priority and will capitalise on important opportunities in areas of Australian economic advantage.
Submissions for Ignite applications close 5:00pm AEST Wednesday 3 September 2025.
Expressions of Interest for AEA Innovate close 5:00pm AEST Friday 29 August 2025. Further details on the application process will be available following the closure of the EOIs.
Head to AEA grants for more information on the grants and how to apply.