Current High-Value Grants for R&D in Australia (Federal & State Rounds)

1. Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF)

Backed by a $24 billion fund, MRFF remains Australia's largest source of medical research financing. It typically supports R&D in areas like brain cancer, dementia, and stem cell therapies. Although up to $1.05 billion could be distributed in 2025–26, only $650 million has been budgeted–highlighting a pressing opportunity for research institutes to act fast.

2. Export Market Development Grants (EMDG)

This established federal program has expanded in 2025 to include emerging sectors like creative tech and agri‑food. Ideal for innovators looking to scale their R&D into overseas markets.

3. Federal Budget 2025–26: Industry & Clean Energy Grants

The latest federal budget introduced several high-value programs under the "Build Australia’s Future" initiative:

• $2 billion over 19 years for clean aluminium smelter production credits
• $1 billion over seven years for the Green Iron Investment Fund
• $2 billion recapitalisation for the Clean Energy Finance Corporation to support low‑emission technologies
  Plus, notable funding for First Nations business support, apprenticeships, and disaster resilience programs.
  

4. State Manufacturing & Defence Grants

States continue offering targeted grants. For instance, Victoria’s Industry Development Fund and federal Defence Industry Development Grants (Sovereign Stream) support innovation in manufacturing, especially in defence technology.

5. Australian Research Council (ARC) Competitive Grants

The ARC’s National Competitive Grants Program (NCGP) includes high-value Discovery and Linkage grants. These support collaborations and the formation of ARC Centres of Excellence–fostering long-term R&D in areas like synthetic biology and sustainable tech.

6. Cooperative Research Centres (CRCs) Program

Despite reform pressures, CRCs remain indispensable. These focused partnerships between academia, government, and industry continue to deliver strong economic return–estimated at $32.5 billion by 2025.

7. Where to Find More Opportunities

Use these tools to discover live and forecasted grants:

• GrantConnect – official portal listing all federal government grant opportunities and their closing dates
• Business.gov.au Grants & Programs Finder – filter grants by location, industry, business stage, and more
  

Final Thought

From multi-billion-dollar federal initiatives to targeted state-level innovation programs, 2025 offers a rich landscape of R&D grant opportunities. Keeping updated on deadlines, eligibility, and sectors can make a significant difference in your funding strategy.