Almost $100 million has been allocated to 39 university-led projects through the Innovate stream of the Australian Economic Accelerator program, with the highest-funded initiatives focused on commercialising research in critical technologies.
The $93.1 million in grants bring the total value of grants through the $1.6 billion initiative designed to turn research into real-world solutions to more than $178 million, according to the Department of Education.
“These investments allow our world-class universities and researchers to work on game-changing projects that are good for our economy and good for Australia,” Education Minister Jason Clare said on Friday.
“This is a strategic investment that will help to deliver the solutions we need for the challenges ahead.”
Victoria secured the largest share of funding in the latest round, receiving $35.6 million — 36 per cent of the total — followed by New South Wales ($22.7 million) and South Australia ($21.2 million). Queensland received $9 million, while Western Australia and the ACT were allocated $2.7 million and $1.9 million, respectively.
Of the universities, the University of Adelaide received the highest level of funding at $19.1 million. RMIT University followed with $13.6 million, while the University of Sydney, La Trobe University, and the University of NSW received $9 million, $8.1 million and $7.9 million.
While the government has highlighted individual projects in areas like new antibiotics and clean energy, the top 15 projects, by dollar value, reflect national priorities in advanced and emerging industries.
Among the 15 highest-funded projects, several are focused on national priorities such as advanced manufacturing, artificial intelligence, quantum technologies and critical and strategic minerals processing.
These include a $4.99 million plastics recycling initiative at UNSW, a $4.96 million quantum sensing platform led by the University of Adelaide, a $4.94 million AI-powered turbine optimisation project at RMIT, and a $4.87 million value-added aluminium manufacturing effort by the Queensland University of Technology.
Advanced manufacturing, AI, quantum technologies and critical minerals collectively accounted for a large proportion of the highest-funded initiatives.
The next round of the AEA’s Ignite and Innovate grants will open on 23 July, making an additional $150 million available to projects with potential to deliver the next wave of breakthroughs.
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