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Industry support and attraction incentives
Discover how the Queensland Government and Australian Government support biomedical businesses through grants, incentives, and introductions to independent mentors and scientific partners.
| Program | About the program | Type | Business stage | Level of government |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engaging Science Grants | Up to $20,000 (ex GST) is available to support recipients deliver events, activities or projects for up to 12 months. Designed to support teachers, scientists, organisations, citizen science groups and community groups to deliver STEM-based events or educational and engagement activities or projects. Go to the link for more information and eligibility. | Funding | Develop | Queensland Government |
| Australian Business Growth Fund | The Australian Business Growth Fund (ABGF) provides growth capital for small to medium-sized Australian businesses looking to expand, grow and scale.ABGF can provide $5-$15 million of capital into growth-ready businesses for a minority stake of up to 49%. | Funding | Launch / Growth | Australian Government |
| Australia’s Economic Accelerator | Australia’s Economic Accelerator (AEA) supports industry-university research translation through grants designed to drive research into commercial outcomes. AEA Ignite provides funding of up to $500,000 for proof-of-concept projects and AEA Innovate provides up to $5 million for proof-of-scale projects. | Funding | Develop/Commercialise | Australian Government |
| Therapeutic Innovation Australia – Pipeline Accelerator | TIA has developed a Pipeline Accelerator voucher scheme to facilitate and encourage access to one or more TIA facilities. This scheme is intended to further reduce the cost of access to a specific capability for therapeutic development projects, by providing up to $50,000 with at least 50% matching funding (co-investment) by applicants. | Funding | Develop | Australian Government |
| Industry Growth Program | The Australian Government’s $392.4 million Industry Growth Program provides an Advisory Service for startups and small and medium enterprises (SMEs) undertaking innovative commercialisation and/or growth projects that are within the priority areas of the Australian Government’s National Reconstruction Fund (NRF) and help build Australia’s manufacturing capability for the future. Funds of between $50,000 and $250,000 are available to support early-stage commercialisation projects and grants of between $100,000 to $5 million to support commercialisation and growth projects. | Funding | Commercialise | Australian Government |
| National Reconstruction Fund (NRF) | The National Reconstruction Fund (NRF) provides finance for projects that diversify and transform Australia’s industry and economy. The NRF will finance projects in priority areas, including medical science, to leverage Australia’s natural and competitive strengths. The NRF provides a range of finance options including loans, equity investment and guarantees. | Funding | All | Australian Government |
| Queensland Biomedical Business Attraction Program | This program is a key initiative of the Queensland Biomedical 10-Year Roadmap and Action Plan. It's designed to attract interstate and international biomedical industry to access Queensland’s biomedical capabilities. | Funding | All | Queensland Government |
| National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) | The NHMRC provides funding for research through grant programs with a transparent peer-review process to determine how funding is allocated. | Funding | Develop | Australian Government |
| Department of Industry, Science and Resources: Business innovation grants and initiatives | Boosting innovation in Australian businesses and building competitive industries through supporting research, entrepreneurship and commercialisation. | Funding | All | Australian Government |
| CSIRO Innovate to Grow: Health and Medical Technology | Innovate to Grow is a free 8-week virtual, self-paced learning program for Small to Medium Enterprises (SMEs) to investigate new R&D opportunities related to the Health and Medical Technology (medtech) sectors. | Services | Develop | Australian Government |
| Investment Support Scheme | The Investment Support Scheme is a rebate program for payroll tax and other state-managed taxes, designed to incentivise international and interstate businesses, with proven capability, to invest in Queensland through a transfer or expansion of operations. It is also open to Queensland-based companies considering reinvestment with a contestable investment decision. | Funding | Launch | Queensland Government |
| Strategic Investment Scheme - Queensland Treasury | The Strategic Investment Scheme is designed to provide tailored assistance packages to Queensland based, interstate and internationally based business to support large-scale projects that result in significant economic benefits in terms of new jobs and wider supply chain and industry benefits. | Funding | Launch | Queensland Government |
| Industry Partnership Program | The Industry Partnership Program is a $415.5 million transformational industry development program that provides tailored assistance packages to develop projects that will strengthen local supply chains, strengthen sovereign capabilitiesand grow the footprint of Queensland’s industries, while creating jobs. | Funding | Launch | Queensland Government |
| Made in Queensland | The Made in Queensland program under the Queensland Government’s Advanced Manufacturing 10-Year Roadmap and Action Plan supports Queensland’s SMEs in the traditional manufacturing sector to become more internationally competitive and adopt innovative processes and technologies. | Funding | Launch | Queensland Government |
| Enterprise Acceleration Fund |
The Queensland Government will make $24 million in seed funding available to start-ups operating in the sunshine state through a newly created Enterprise Acceleration Fund. The $24 million fund will invest between $500,000 and $2.5 million in “innovative, early-stage” companies with the majority of their employees based in Queensland. | Funding | Develop | Queensland Government |
| Advance Queensland – Industry Research Fellowships | The Advanced Queensland Industry Research Fellowships program supports Queensland based PhD qualified researchers partnering with industry to complete original research. The program is focused on establishing and/or maintaining meaningful collaboration between researchers and industry as a way to fast-track research from the lab to commercialisation. | Funding | Develop | Queensland Government |
| Export Market Development Grant (EMDG) | The EMDG scheme is a key Australian Government financial assistance program for aspiring and current exporters. Administered by Austrade, the scheme supports a wide range of industries to grow their exports in international markets. The scheme supports small and medium sized enterprises. | Funding | Launch | Australian Government |
| Australian Government Venture Capital programs | Access information on Australian Government venture capital programs developed for fund managers, investors or start-ups to early stage businesses seeking venture capital. Programs and resources include support on how to prepare and pitch for investment, access tax incentives and funds, and learn about available partnerships. | Funding/Services | Commercialise | Australian Government |
| Queensland Venture Capital Development Fund | The Venture Capital Development Fund (VCDF) managed by Queensland Investment Corporation (QIC) seeks to accelerate, develop and enhance the venture capital industry in Queensland by providing matched funding into appointed venture capital funds, funding accelerator programs and supporting appointed funds and accelerators through the VCDF Development Program. | Funding | Commercialise | Queensland Government |
| Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) | The Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) is an ongoing research fund set up by the Australian Government in 2015. Every year, the Government uses some of the net interest from this investment to pay for medical research initiatives. In December 2023, the fund grew to $22 billion. | Funding | Develop/ Launch/ Commercialise | Australian Government |
| Brandon BioCatalyst | Managed by Brandon Capital, Brandon BioCatalyst supports the development and commercialisation of early-stage biomedical discoveries originating from Australian and New Zealand member research organisations, providing both capital and expertise to guide the successful development of new therapies. | Funding | Commercialise | Australian Government |
| Cooperative Research Centres Projects (CRC-P) | CRC-P Grants provide funding for short-term industry-led research collaborations developing a product, service or process. Projects must solve problems for industry, benefit small to medium enterprises (SMEs) and include an education or training component. | Funding | Develop | Australian Government |
| Business Investment Fund | The Business Investment Fund (BIF) invests in innovative Queensland based small and medium-sized businesses with a proven product or offering and an established market presence to drive further growth and create new jobs. Funding is available between 2.5 million and 10 million. | Funding | Growth | Queensland Government |
| Biomedical Translation Fund | The Biomedical Translation Fund provides companies with venture capital through licensed private sector fund managers. This helps develop biomedical discoveries into tangible products, services and outcomes. | Funding | Commercialise | Australian Government |
| Advance Queensland - Ignite Ideas Fund | The Ignite Ideas Fund supports Queensland based small to medium businesses that have high-growth potential to undertake commercialisation projects that will: strengthen key industries in Queensland: diversify the Queensland economy: compete in domestic and global markets; engage and/or benefit regional Queensland: create new jobs, now and into the future. | Funding | Commercialise | Queensland Government |
| Australian Research Council (ARC) Linkage Grants | The Australian Research Council’s (ARC) Linkage Projects scheme promotes national and international research partnerships between researchers and business, industry, community organisations and other publicly funded research agencies. By supporting the development of partnerships, the ARC encourages the transfer of skills, knowledge and ideas as a basis for securing commercial and other benefits of research. | Funding | Develop | Australian Government |
| R&D Tax Incentive | Biomedical businesses may be eligible for the R&D Tax Incentive which provides a tax offset for some of the costs of eligible R&D activities. | Funding | Develop | Australian Government |
| National Foundation for Medical Research and Innovation | The National Foundation for Medical Research and Innovation (NFMRI) partners with biomedical researchers and donors to identify, evaluate and support innovative and high-quality research projects with identified impact objectives. | Services | Develop | Australian Government |
| CUREator | Aimed at supporting the development of Australian biomedical innovations, CUREator is a nationwide program offering grant funding for a select number of preclinical medical research and medical innovation projects, and clinical stage novel therapeutics, as well as providing expert support. | Funding | Develop | Australian Government |
| Female Founders Co-Investment Fund | The Female Founders Co-Investment Fund is a pilot program which aims to support eligible businesses to leverage funding and secure new investment to build business capacity, and will: support Queensland female founders to grow their innovative businesses across a wide range of industries; increase the number of female founders participating in the Queensland innovation ecosystem. Provides grants of between $50,000 and $200,000 (excl. GST). | Funding | Develop | Queensland Government |
| Trade & Investment Queensland (TIQ) | TIQ can assist biomedical businesses harness investment opportunities, buy Queensland goods and services, and take advantage of export opportunities in markets around the world. Online resources and a network of trade advisers are available to support Queensland businesses to launch into the market. | Services | Launch | Queensland Government |
| Workplace Health and Safety Queensland – Small Business Program | Workplace Health and Safety Queensland provides resources and services to help small businesses stay safe, healthy and productive. | Services | Launch | Queensland Government |
| Department of State Development, Infrastructure & Planning - Regional Office Network | Biomedical businesses looking for investment support or looking to grow a business can obtain assistance through the Department of State Development, Infrastructure and Planning regional offices. | Services | Launch | Queensland Government |
| Department of State Development, Infrastructure and Planning - Project Facilitation | Officers can assist in providing a coordinated approach across all levels of government to do with project facilitation and investment facilitation. | Services | Launch | Queensland Government |
| TAFE Queensland - Small Business Solutions | To assist in building your biomedical business, TAFE Queensland has a Small Business Solutions team dedicated to helping businesses design and implement ideas that businesses may have through a series of workshops and one-on-one mentoring. | Services | Launch | Queensland Government |
| Business Queensland | Business Queensland provides information and support services to help Queensland businesses start, grow and employ. Events and workshops are regularly held throughout the state to help biomedical businesses boost their business by learning the skills required for business growth and preparing for market and investment. | Services | Commercialise | Queensland Government |
| Mentoring for Growth program (M4G) | Enables businesses to access volunteer business experts who provide insights and suggestions relating to challenges and opportunities through the Mentoring for Growth program. | Services | Commercialise | Queensland Government |
| Queensland Clinical Trials Portal | For pre-clinical and clinical trials, Queensland’s expertise and strength in this area can help accelerate the delivery of products for testing. Experienced Queensland service providers can conduct clinical trials to produce significant business value on costs and time, generating data that is acceptable in North America, Europe and Asia. | Services | Develop | Queensland Government |
| Business Queensland - Intellectual Property Info Kit | To help protect your biomedical innovation, the Queensland Government’s Intellectual Property Info Kit and online tools will help you understand Australia’s intellectual property system and how to identify, protect and commercialise intellectual property. IP Australia’s online services portal will help you apply, register, renew and pay for intellectual property rights for biomedical patents, trademarks and designs. | Services | Develop | Queensland Government |
| Export Finance Australia | Export Finance Australia (EFA) provides finance expertise and solutions to small-to-medium businesses, corporates and governments to take on export-related opportunities. EFA is Australia’s export credit agency and can provide loans, bonds, and/or guarantees to businesses taking on global contracts or setting up international operations. | Services/Funding | Launch | Australian Government |
| Australian Small Business Advisory Services - Digital Solutions | Australian Small Business Advisory Services – Digital Solutions provides low-cost digital advisory services for small businesses to increase capability in digital marketing, social media, websites and selling online, business software and cybersecurity. | Services | Launch | Australian Government |
| Australian Landing Pads | Australian Landing Pads program provides market-ready start-ups and scale-ups the opportunity to land and expand in global innovation hubs through tailored advice and in-market experiences. | Services | Launch | Australian Government |
| TradeStart | The TradeStart network assists small and medium sized exporters to achieve long term success in international markets. It offers exporters the combined resources of Austrade and partner organisations from export markets, providing local assistance and a direct link to Austrade’s services and overseas network. | Services | Launch | Australian Government |
| Export Council of Australia (ECA) - ECA Skills | ECA Skills provides self paced online training courses (including on Freight, Logistics & Supply Chain, and Market Research and Entry Strategies) to enhance skills and abilities in exporting. | Services | Launch | Australian Government |
| Australian Trusted Trader | ATT provides Australian businesses involved in importing and exporting with an accreditation which enables them to streamline and simplify customs processes. | Services | Launch | Australian Government |
| Australian Business and Licence Information Service (ABLIS) | ABLIS is the Australian Government’s online search tool and will provide information about licences, registrations and permits you need to run your business. | Services | Launch/Commercialise | Australian Government |
| Industry Capability Network (ICN) | ICN is a business network that helps Australian and New Zealand companies grow through an online database and a network of regional consultants with access to large and small projects, partnership opportunities and supply chain development and channels to promote company capabilities to the business network. Contact ICN Queensland (QLD) at info@icnqld.org.au for information on Queensland products and services. | Services | Commercialise | Australian Government |
| Therapeutic Goods Administration - SME Assist | The biomedical industry within Australia is underpinned by a high-quality and robust regulatory system and standards for the development of therapeutic and medical devices. The Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) regulates and monitors therapeutic goods to ensure the commercial supply of products and services meet the highest international standards. The SME Assist hub is designed to help companies and R&D groups developing new medicines and medical devices (including apps) understand their obligations. | Services | Develop | Australian Government |
| Office of Drug Control | Office of Drug Control regulates and provides advice on the import, export and manufacture of controlled drugs to support Australia’s obligations under international drug conventions. | Services | Develop | Australian Government |
| Medical Device Partnering Program (MDPP) | The Medical Device Partnering Program fosters collaborations between researchers, industry, end-users and government and develops medical technologies with global market potential. The Program provides a mechanism to develop proof of concept, prototyping, clinical evaluation and commercialisation planning. | Services | Develop | Australian Government |
| Office of the Gene Technology Regulator | The Office of the Gene Technology Regulator identifies risks posed by or as a result of gene technology and manages those risks by regulating certain dealings with genetically modified organisms. | Services | Develop | Australian Government |
| DMTC Ltd – Medical Countermeasures Program | The DMTC Ltd Medical Countermeasures Program is supported by CSIRO and the Department of Defence to advance the Australian development of technologies and products that will protect military and civilian personnel against a range of threats, emerging infectious diseases and pandemics. | Services | Develop | Australian Government |
| Advance Queensland - Private Sector Pathways Program | The Private Sector Pathways (PSP) Program supports innovative small-to-medium enterprises (SMEs) based in Queensland to collaborate with corporate partners to develop commercialisation opportunities. This is to increase partnerships between small-to-medium enterprises and corporate businesses/large organisations to solve problems and build commercial opportunities for Queensland. Corporates or large organisations set a business challenge and invite solutions from SMEs. Selected applicants can receive co-funding of up to $200,000 from Advance Queensland and the corporate partner to trial their solutions for 6–12 months. | Support/Funding | Growth/Commercialise | Queensland Government |
| Advance Queensland - SEQ Innovation Economy Fund | The SEQ Innovation Economy Fund is part of the $1.8 billion SEQ partnership between the Australian Government, Queensland Government and Council of Mayors (SEQ), which aims to improve the accessibility, prosperity and liveability of the region. Eligible local governments, industry, public and private entities can now apply for funding for capital projects that will deliver new and improved innovation infrastructure in SEQ and help grow high-value, knowledge-intensive jobs across the region. | Funding | Growth | Australian and Queensland Government |
| CSIRO Kick-Start | CSIRO's Kick-Start program helps start-ups and small businesses overcome barriers to pursue R&D activities by providing end-to-end facilitation services, including matched funding of between $10,000 and $50,000 | Funding/Services | Develop | Australian Government |
| CUREator + | CUREator+ is a national program focused on accelerating the research translation and commercialisation of early-stage Australian medical research and medical innovations with commercial potential. Selected by the Federal Government’s Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) through a competitive process, Brandon BioCatalyst, managed by Brandon Capital, and ANDHealth will deliver CUREator+ through the $50 million 2021 MRFF BioMedTech Incubator (BMTI) program. CUREator+ will provide small-to-medium enterprises (SMEs) with access to investment capital, commercial guidance, international expert networks, and hands-on support and mentorship to drive the translation and commercialisation of therapeutics (novel and repurposed), devices, diagnostics and digital technologies. In addition to program oversight, SMEs will be supported to secure follow-on funding and facilitate their continued development to ultimately improve patient outcomes and generate jobs and income for the sector. | Funding | Commercialise | Australian Government |
| MRFF_GHFM_2024 Genomics Health Futures Grant Opportunity | The Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) – Genomics Health Futures Mission (GHFM) - 2024 Genomics Health Futures Grant Opportunity will provide grants of financial assistance to support medical research and medical innovation projects from six targeted research and incubation streams (full details on the link). Grants available up to $3M. Applications must satisfy all the requirements set out in the Medical Research Future Fund – Genomics Health Futures Mission – 2024 Genomics Health Futures Grant Opportunity Guidelines. | Funding | Develop | Australian Government |
| MTPConnect | MTPConnect is Australia's Life Sciences Innovation Accelerator – an independent, not-for-profit organisation established by the Australian Government to champion the continuing growth of Australia's vibrant medical products sector. MTPConnect forges connections between research and industry to help maximize opportunities for Australians to not only make scientific and technological breakthroughs, but to see them developed through the proof-of-concept stage and successfully translated and commercialised. MTPConnect achieves these outcomes with a focus on improving collaboration and commercialisation, funding cutting-edge innovations, improving management and workforce skills, optimising the regulatory and policy environment and improving access to global supply chains and strategic international markets. MTPConnect also operates accelerator programs to support the development of cutting-edge medical technology, biotechnology and pharmaceutical innovations, with more than A$180 million invested so far in 200 projects. | Services/Funding | Commercialise | Australian Government |
| National Health and Medical Research Council - 2024 International Clinical Trial Collaborations | The Clinical Trials Activity Initiative aims to improve the evidence base supporting clinical care, help patients access trials relevant to their health circumstances, enable researchers to bring international trails to Australian patients. | Funding | Growth | Australian Government |
| National Health and Medical Research Council - 2024 Clinical Trials Activity | The objective of this grant opportunity is to provide grants of financial assistance to support medical research and medical innovation projects under one of the 4 Streams of research. | Funding | Develop | Australian Government |
| National Intelligence Discovery Grants (NIDG) | The NIDG Program supports excellent innovative research that deepens understanding of emerging science and technology that addresses intelligence and national security interests. The grant program will facilitate innovation and develop national security and intelligence capacity. It will also enable Australia’s National Intelligence Community to systematically engage with Australia’s research and technology community. Through alignment with identified priority areas, the National Intelligence Community can better leverage emerging science and technology through engagement with the research and innovation sectors, including emerging biological and material science exploitation, data-driven and real-time analytical challenges. | Funding | Develop | Australian Government |
| Queensland Health Clinical Research Fellowships program | The Queensland Health Clinical Research Fellowships program supports Queensland Health clinician researchers to undertake research linked to their practice. The program recognises that clinician researchers (including doctors, nurses, dentists, allied health practitioners and clinical scientists) are uniquely placed to identify clinical issues that can benefit from further research, lead patient-focused research discoveries, and facilitate improved patient care through research translation. | Funding | Develop/Growth | Queensland Government |
| Queensland Health Targeted Clinical Research Fellowship | The Fellowships program supports Queensland Health clinicians (including medical, nursing, dental, allied health professionals and clinical scientists) to undertake research linked to their practice. The Targeted Clinical Research Fellowships program is designed to support researchers and their high-impact research projects within the following 5 streams: Novice Researcher (regional, rural and remote), Rural and Remote, First Nations, Women and Girls' Health, Genomics. | Funding | Develop | Queensland Government |
| Queensland Science Collaboration Gateway | This is not a funding program, but rather a streamlined process that facilitates the presentation of major research funding proposals to senior government decision-makers comprising the Interdepartmental Science Committee, whose members include Deputy Directors-General and other executives across the Queensland Government who have an interest in progressing Queensland’s scientific capacity, standing and merit. The Interdepartmental Science Committee is chaired by the Queensland Chief Scientist. | Services | Grow | Queensland Government |
| Regional Precincts and Partnerships Program | The Australian Government's $400 million regional Precincts and Partnerships Program (rPPP) is now open for applications. The rPPP seeks to support transformative investment in regional, rural and remote Australia based on the principles of unifying regional places, growing economies and serving communities. The rPPP focuses on a partnership approach, bringing together governments and communities to deliver regional precincts that are tailored to local needs and have a shared vision for how that precinct connects to the region. The rPPP is an always open funding opportunity supporting both precinct development proposals and the delivery of construction-ready precinct projects. | Funding | Growth, Commercialise | Australian Government |
| Science into Industry Initiative: Investment Assistance Program | The Investment Assistance Program (IAP) aims to raise the quantity and success rate of Queensland university and research institute applications to eligible Australian Government funding programs for significant projects over $5 million with a strong industry engagement component, and increase Queensland's share of Australian government grant funding and strengthen the translation of its world-class research and development activities. IAP is open to applicants until funding is exhausted, with the exception of a program close period between 2 December 2024 and 27 February 2025 to allow for overall program review. Up to $100,000 of funding per approved proposal is available for approved eligible applicants. | Funding | Develop | Queensland Government |
| SIEF Ross Metcalf STEM+ Business Fellowship | The SIEF Ross Metcalf STEM+ Business Fellowship program enables SMEs to build on existing successful collaborative projects by providing funding support for the placement of early career researchers (ECR) from Australia's research organisations into their business to develop and implement new ideas with commercial potential. | Funding | Develop | Australian Government |
| Targeted Translation Research Accelerator (TTRA) | TTRA Drugs and Devices can provide up to $1.5 million to help eligible Australian start-ups, spin-outs and SMEs develop innovative preventative, diagnostic, therapeutic and/or disease management drugs and devices for cardiovascular disease and the complications of diabetes (type 1 and type 2). TTRA Drugs and Devices is offered through two streams: stream 1 - drugs, and stream 2 - devices. | Funding | Commercialise | Australian Government |
| The SIEF Experimental Development Program | The SIEF Experimental Development Program (EDP) was designed to address a significant gap in current funding options available for progressing technology development to a stage suitable for attracting commercial investment and market uptake. The EDP was an important addition to the overall SIEF Portfolio, complimenting current SIEF programs and activities. | Funding | Commercialise | Australian Government |
| Urban Precincts and Partnerships Program | The Australian Government’s $150 million urban Precincts and Partnerships Program (uPPP) is now open for applications. The uPPP seeks to support transformative investment in urban precincts based on the principles of unifying urban places, growing economies and serving communities. The program focuses on a partnership approach, bringing together governments, businesses and communities to deliver multi-purpose urban precincts that are place-based, tailored to local needs and positioned around a shared vision, need or theme. The uPPP is an always open, non-competitive funding opportunity, supporting both precinct development proposals and the delivery of construction-ready precinct projects. | Funding | Growth, Commercialise | Australian Government |
Disclaimer
Information is correct as of July 2023. Some programs may not currently be open for applications. This is not an exhaustive list, and applicants are encouraged to refer to administering organisations and funding bodies for further information.
Last updated: 27 Nov 2024