Funding opportunities

We offer our research partners access to our world-class resources and research expertise with financial support through government incentives and funding schemes that promote collaboration between researchers and industry.

Available funding

See below for a summary of funding schemes designed to support researcher and industry engagement.

The ARC Linkage Projects scheme promotes national and international collaboration and research partnerships between key stakeholders in research and innovation including higher education institutions, government, business, industry and end-users. Research and development is undertaken to apply advanced knowledge to problems, acquire new knowledge and as a basis for securing commercial and other benefits of research.

ARC will provide funding from $50,000 to $300,000 per annum for two to five years. Partner Organisation(s) are required make a cash / in-kind contribution that matches the total funding requested from the ARC.

Large Project / Competitive / University Led

The Australian Research Council (ARC) Industrial Transformation Research Program (ITRP) offers the following two funding opportunities. The ARC identifies priority research areas (updated round by round) which are consistent with the six high-growth sectors.

The research areas identified for this round are Advanced Manufacturing, Cyber Security, Food and Agribusiness, Medical Technologies & Pharmaceuticals, Mining Equipment, Technology and Services and Oil, Gas and Energy Resources.

Large Projects / Competitive / University led

The ARC Industrial Transformation Training Centre scheme encourages close partnerships between university-based researchers and other research end-users to provide innovative Higher Degree by Research (HDR) and postdoctoral training for the end-user focused research industries vital to Australia's future.

The scheme will provide funding of a minimum $650,000 per year for the first three years and $150,000 for the fourth year (no minimum for the fifth year), with a maximum of up to $1million per year per project. Further guidelines can be found here.

Large Projects / Competitive / University Led

ARC Industrial Transformation Research Hubs scheme provides funding to universities with partners to engage in cutting edge research on new technologies and economic, commercial and social transformation and support the development of research in the Industrial Transformation Priorities.

The Research Hubs scheme will provide funding from $500,000 up to $1million per year for three to five years. Partner Organisation(s) with greater than 100 employees are required make a cash contribution at least 75% of the total funding requested from the ARC. Further guidelines can be found here.

Large Projects / Competitive / University Led

Cooperative Research Centres (CRCs) can be funded for up to 10 years and have no upper funding limit. Applications must have at least one Australian Industry entity and one Australian research provider. Applications must match (cash or in-kind) the requested funding and the successful CRC must become a company limited by guarantee.

Cooperative Research Centres Projects (CRC-P) are short-term (up to three years) collaborations with at least two industry partners, including one SME, and a research organisation. Applications must be submitted by an Industry Participant and match (cash or in-kind) the requested funding.

University application dates can be found here.

Large Projects / Competitive / Industry Led

Dept of Industry, Innovation and Science offers funding and incentives for science and research to support and increase international collaboration and science engagement in Australia.

The Industry Growth Centres initiative is an Industry-led approach driving innovation, productivity and competitiveness by focusing on areas of competitive strength and strategic priority. The Australian Government funds six Growth Centres in sectors of competitive strength and strategic priority.

The Growth Centres are not-for-profit organisations in the following industry sectors:

Industry Sector

Growth Centre

Advanced Manufacturing

The Advanced Manufacturing Growth Centre (AMCG)

Cyber Security

AustCyber

Food and Agribusiness

Food Innovation Australia Ltd (FIAL)

Medical Technologies and Pharmaceuticals

MTPConnect

Mining Equipment, Technology and Services (METS)

METS Ignited

Oil, Gas and Energy Resources

National Energy Resources Australia (NERA)

Innovation Connections assists small and medium sized businesses access expertise and identify growth opportunities. Researcher and Business Placements provide access to up to $50,000 and Graduate placements up to $30,000.

Small Projects / Non-competitive / Industry Led / SME

NHMRC Partnership Projects provides funding and support to create new opportunities for researchers and policy makers to work together in defining research questions, undertaking research, interpreting findings and implementing policy and practice.

The NHMRC will provide a maximum $1.5 million for up to five years.

Large Projects / Competitive / University Led

TechVouchers are designed to increase research collaboration between small-to-medium enterprises (SMEs) and the State’s research and development (R&D) infrastructure, facilitate business expenditure on R&D, and to promote collaborations between industry, the university and public research sector and TAFE.

The grant will provide an eligible SME up to $15,000 to collaborate with a NSW research organisation. All funding must be matched in cash by the SME.

Small Projects / Competitive / Industry Led / SME

Under the R&D Tax Incentive, businesses can offset the cost of eligible R&D that is undertaken by them or through partners such as universities. This could be through eligible expenses in an ARC Linkage Projects grant, contract research, or a Cooperative Research Centre (CRC).

The R&D Tax Incentive provides a tax offset for eligible companies which reduce the cost and risk to businesses of undertaking R&D, increasing the incentive to invest in research and innovation. The University of Newcastle is a registered Research Service Providers (RSPs) for this scheme.

For further details regarding the R&D Tax Incentive scheme, please contact the Newcastle AusIndustry Regional Managers, currently based in the IDC Building at Callaghan Campus.

Small Projects / Large Projects / Non-competitive / Industry Led

STEM+ Business program provides a mechanism for Early Career Researchers (ECRs) in science, technology, engineering and mathematics research areas, to build new skills and relationships with industry.

Facilitators work with SMEs and research organisations to establish projects and facilitate financial assistance of up to $105,000 per year for three to five years. The funding must be matched in cash by the SME.

Large Projects / Non-competitive / SME


Further funding opportunities

Speak to one of KEE’s Business Development Managers to discuss further.

Application Process

Applications for these and other funding opportunities are managed by the Research Office within Research and Innovation Services:

Find out further details on application process and details on funding rounds.