The free eight-week research and development (R&D) training program will guide businesses through developing and implementing R&D strategies with support from experienced researchers and industry mentors – with a focus on collaborations with regional universities. 

Innovate to Grow Queensland is open to Queensland-based SMEs working on innovative technologies or solutions across a range of sectors, including:  

• Agriculture and food  
• Digital technology and AI  
• Environmental sciences  
• Health and biomedical sciences  
• Indigenous science  
• Manufacturing  
• Mining and mining equipment, technology, and services  
• Renewables and low emissions technologies  
• Space and defence  
• Transport

Queensland Chief Scientist, Professor Kerrie Wilson, said this training will equip SMEs with the tools to build partnerships with regional universities to commercialise their innovative ideas and drive economic growth.

RUIC Program Facilitator, Dr Brendan Kidd, added the program addresses a critical need in Queensland’s innovation ecosystem.  

“One of the biggest challenges for SMEs is knowing how to effectively engage with the research sector,” Dr Kidd said. “CSIRO’s Innovate to Grow bridges that gap by teaching businesses how to speak the language of R&D, identify the right research partners, and structure their projects in ways that attract both research interest and potential funding opportunities.”  

CSIRO noted that more than one-third of the 650 participants from CSIRO’s Innovate to Grow program have been from regional Australia.

Innovate to Grow Queensland is delivered as part of the Regional University Industry Collaboration (RUIC), a program funded by the Queensland Government and delivered by CSIRO. Partner universities are James Cook University, Central Queensland University, University of Southern Queensland and University of the Sunshine Coast. 

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Delivered in partnership with Deakin University’s Recycling and Clean Energy Commercialisation Hub (REACH), which is supported by the Australian government’s Trailblazer Universities Program, the eight-week program will be spearheaded by experienced researchers and will help participants examine technical challenges, explore research and development (R&D) opportunities, and develop actionable business and funding plans for their R&D ideas. 

CSIRO’s Ending Plastic Waste Research Lead Dr Deborah Lau stated that it is critical to bring science and industry together so we can create circular pathways for plastics and other recyclable waste.   

“Over 9.5 billion tonnes of plastic waste have been produced globally since 1950, with only nine per cent recycled each year. This is commercially and environmentally unsustainable,” Lau said. “Working with SMEs is essential to unlocking R&D opportunities that accelerate breakthroughs in science and technology. Through this program, we aim to spark innovation that will shape a sustainable circular ecosystem for plastics and waste through recycling, redesign and reuse.”  

Innovate to Grow: Recycling and Circular Economy program is open to SMEs working in the following sub-sectors:  

• Organic and inorganic recycling  
• Sustainable manufacturing  
• Clean energy production and storage  
• Supply chain waste reduction  
• Waste to energy (bioenergy)  
• Fibre and textiles waste  
• Sustainable construction materials  
• Other  

Amy Hunter, Deakin REACH Executive Director, said that SMEs and the start-up sector have a tremendous opportunity to play a key role in developing greener supply chains in Australia.  

“Supporting CSIRO’s Innovate to Grow Recycling and Circular Economy program connects more businesses to Deakin through our REACH ecosystem, so we can support them to drive innovation and solve problems that will develop greener supply chains in Australia,” Hunter said.  

CSIRO’s Innovate to Grow was first launched in 2020 and has equipped over 600 SMEs with the knowledge and tools required to progress their R&D opportunities.  

Applications for this year’s ‘Innovate to Grow: Recycling and Circular Economy’ close on 16 February 2025.  

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The review will consider opportunities to drive greater R&D investment and promote more R&D initiatives nationwide, according to a joint statement from the Minister of Industry and Science, Ed Husic, and Minister for Education, Jason Clare.

“It’s been almost 20 years since we asked the hard questions about our R&D performance, despite the alarming slide over the last decade,” said Ed Husic, Minister for Industry and Science. “This review is designed to give us an evidence-based pathway to stronger growth.”

According to the statement, an independent panel will consider opportunities to:

•    Maximise the value of existing investment in R&D

•    Strengthen linkages between research and industry

•    Support the achievement of national priorities

•    Drive greater R&D investment

•    Uplift Australia’s overall R&D intensity

What’s the significance for small businesses?

More support for R&D – including grants and tax refunds – is a key concern for small businesses and start-ups. Business coach Peter Cheel has seen many small businesses struggle to innovate due to lacking R&D funds.

“Limited margins make it hard to invest in R&D,” said Cheel. “Unlike large enterprises or government agencies, SMEs often lack the deep financial resources needed for sustained innovation.”

“Funding is only available to researchers to run clinical trials, but there is no funding or support available to start-ups,” said Saara Jamieson, small-business founder of Cool Beans Underwear.

A review of the system could potentially lead to more grant opportunities and innovation programs for small businesses and start-ups, though specifics won’t be known until the results of the review are released. This will be “by the end of 2025”, according to the statement from Husic and Clare.

Terms of reference for the examination are available at www.industry.gov.au/StrategicR&D. 

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Though the pursuit of innovation is often associated with substantial resources and deep pockets, the truth is there are many ways that innovative products can be developed, and some of them don’t require generous budgets or an abundance of manpower.

Here are my top tips to help businesses develop innovative products using limited resources:

Identify market gaps

Innovative products can spark from anywhere, a conversation with a friend, scientific research, or a first-hand experience, to name a few. But the key to turning that innovation into a success is understanding which customer needs are currently unfulfilled (or underserved) by existing services or products, and how your new product or service will improve on that.

At Biogency, our Synext supplements were sparked by the biomedical discovery that the right combination of nutritional supplements could slow down the ageing process, revitalise cellular energy and improve digestive, nervous and immune functions. Given that health-conscious consumers have long been looking for ways to counteract the effect of extended working hours, poor work-life balance and other environmental stressors, we knew there was a market for a product that could help them live healthier lives.

Create a professional network

Navigating the journey of taking an innovative product to market is challenging at the best of times, but building a network of mentors and like-minded entrepreneurs can provide significant value by helping you see around corners and anticipate risks. For example, as university graduates, we cultivated strong relationships with professors and researchers, which helped my team and I to gain access to valuable industry insights that we then used to tailor our products to the needs of the market, and improve efficacy in line with the latest scientific research. This belief in the value of collaboration, community and knowledge sharing has continued on, and is part of the foundation of how we run our global team.

In addition to guidance and support, making connections with people in industries relevant to your product can provide an invaluable opportunity to showcase your products, spread positive word of mouth, and grow your business with minimal investment into traditional marketing efforts.

Innovation is a marathon, not a sprint

Creating innovative products doesn’t stop once a product is in the market. In fact, businesses that want to remain competitive should engage in a cycle of perpetual innovation. After the success of our Synext product, copycat products emerged, which had the potential to negatively impact our market share. However, by continually looking at the latest scientific data and customer feedback we were able to refine our formula and solidify our position as industry leaders.

Taking a proactive approach to perpetual innovation can serve as a powerful retention strategy. By consistently refining and advancing products based on the latest insights, businesses can build on their initial success and fortify their relationship with existing customers so that they are less likely to be swayed by copycats or competitors.

Ultimately, while it’s easy to believe that innovation is reserved purely for businesses with ample resources, stories like ours prove that the right mindset and community can help you go a long way. I truly believe that identifying market gaps, building a professional network, and committing to perpetual innovation, can greatly contribute to the success of innovative products, regardless of the number of resources that a business has.

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The program has been expanded with an increase in eligibility to include businesses with a turnover of up to $10 million, from the previous requirement for businesses to have a turnover of up to $1.5 million. 

The CSIRO Kick-Start program offers facilitation and dollar-matched funding for businesses, allowing them to access CSIRO’s research expertise and capabilities for their R&D projects. Through the program, SMEs are able to receive assistance from facilitation to help refine the research question, connecting them with relevant CSIRO researcher expertise and capability, and providing dollar-matched funding support to improve the affordability or expand the scope of R&D services.

Since its inception in 2017, the program has helped launch over 260 small business projects, contributing just under $24 million in R&D activities. Collectively, these companies now hold a market value exceeding $2 billion. 

CSIRO Chief Executive Dr Doug Hilton said that the expansion of the program underscored CSIRO’s commitment to create benefits for Australia by supporting Australian entrepreneurship and innovation.  

“CSIRO can absolutely play a role in supporting SMEs to embrace research and in stimulating entrepreneurship among our scientists and others in the community,” Dr Hilton said. “Expanding the eligibility of the CSIRO Kick-Start program means we can offer more Australian businesses, more Australian innovators [and] more Australian entrepreneurs access to the resources, knowledge, and support they need to flourish.”

Dr Megan Sebben, CSIRO’s Kick-Start Program Manager, explained that today’s rapidly evolving business landscape means that “innovation is the lifeblood of success”. Dr Sebben poined out that many start-ups and SMEs face barriers, such as limited expertise and insufficient funding, that hinder R&D access.

“Our program serves as a driver for change, providing comprehensive facilitation to overcome these challenges,” Dr Sebben concluded.

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The new R&D facility will serve as the new home base where Samsara Eco can scale its scientific research on infinite recycling with its patented enzymatic capabilities as it aims to recycle 1.5 million tonnes of plastic per annum by 2030.

“You can’t solve the climate crisis unless you solve the plastics crisis,” Paul Riley, CEO and Founder of Samsara Eco, said. “Plastic is one of the greatest inventions of the 20th century and provides enormous utility because of its durability, flexibility and strength. Yet, it’s also an environmental disaster with almost every piece of the nine billion tonnes ever made still on the planet.”

But while the move will see Samsara Eco’s R&D move out of the research laboratories at the Australian National University (ANU), the start-up will continue to partner with ANU as it works to scale up its world-leading technology ready for commercialisation.  

“We’ve had fantastic growth out of our ANU lab so far, but the plastic problem is growing fast,” Riley added. “As we gear up towards commercialisation, access to our first R&D facility will enable us to accelerate the capabilities of infinite recycling and scale our solution which breaks down plastics in minutes, not centuries.”

Samsara Eco’s plastic waste solution involves taking the plastic that already exists and infinitely recycles it with the help of its patented enzyme technology instead of mining for fossil fuels to create new plastic or relying on current recycling methods that result in less than 10 per cent of plastic waste actually being recycled.

Currently, the start-up’s enzymatic library can tackle challenging plastics including coloured, multi-layered, mixed plastics and textiles such as polyester and nylon 66. The company stated that the R&D facility will be pivotal to expanding its enzymatic library. 

Samsara Eco is also working with Poplars, the Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional Council and the local community in the development of the infinite recycling R&D facility.

Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional Council Mayor, Cr Kenrick Winchester, said that securing Samsara Eco as a key anchor tenant of the Poplars Innovation Precinct was a great step toward achieving the vision for the precinct.

“Samsara Eco’s innovative technology has the potential to put Queanbeyan and Jerrabomberra on the international stage as countries all over the world look for ways to reduce waste and work toward net-zero carbon emissions,” Cr Winchester said. “We hope that securing Samsara Eco is the first of many new and exciting initiatives for the precinct and we look forward to the employment opportunities the precinct will provide.”   

David Maxwell, Director Poplars Developments, pointed out that Poplars Innovation Precinct is located in Queanbeyan on the doorstep of the  Australian Capital Territory which will support employment and investment opportunities.

“With an expanding network of connections to a range of Universities and growth in the scientific research and high-technology industries, the precinct will be uniquely positioned to accelerate Samsara Eco’s next phase of growth,” Maxwell said.

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The 10-week Innovate to Grow Mining/METS program is open for eligible SMEs that are in the early stages of engaging in R&D or pursuing a new idea in the mining/METS space, with experienced researchers and innovation experts who will guide participants in handling technical or business challenges, exploring R&D opportunities, and developing actionable business and funding plans.

Upon completion of the program, participants may be able to access facilitation support, through CSIRO, to connect to research expertise nationally, and may be eligible for dollar-matched R&D funding.

Monika Szabo, SME Collaboration Manager for CSIRO, said the Innovate to Grow program was designed to help SMEs understand how to engage in R&D by showing them pathways to access funding, mentoring, and a highly connected network through research organisations and their own sector.

“The Innovate to Grow program is aimed at Australian companies with less than 200 employees, and currently is offered at no cost to participants,” Szabo said. “In doing so we hope to remove some of the barriers that smaller enterprises face when they have an idea they would like to pursue.

“At the completion of the program participants will have received assistance in defining their goals, developing a business case for R&D from a university or CSIRO, and even prepare a funding proposal,” Szabo added. “Their professional networks will also receive a boost as they will connect with peers in their cohort, sector-specific mentors, and with CSIRO, which has the largest mineral resources R&D capability in the world.”

CSIRO’s Innovate to Grow: Mining/METS program will accept up to 20-25 SME participants. Applications are open until 13 February and the program will commence on Monday 9 March.

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CSIRO’s Innovate to Grow: Defence Victoria program, supported by the Defence Science Institute, is a free 10-week virtual program that will give Victorian businesses the skills and knowledge to pursue specific R&D opportunities in the aforementioned fields.

Deputy Director of CSIRO’s SME Connect, Dr George Feast, said SMEs played a big role in driving innovation in the defence sector, such as the creation of new advanced materials, drones or AI technologies.

“Even though we know R&D underpins innovation, it can be an expensive undertaking for businesses, as well as being risky and time-consuming for those without the right guidance and support,” Dr Feast said. “Through this course, we make the process less daunting for companies to navigate, so they feel empowered to pursue R&D with a research institution and ultimately have a big impact on the defence sector and company growth.”

Under the program, businesses will receive help to refine a specific idea and learn about how to partner with a research organisation, as well as build connections and opportunities with other businesses in the program, as well as gain exposure to industry knowledge, hear from innovation and defence experts, and work with a R&D mentor.

Previous participants of the Innovate to Grow Defence program have included SMEs working on a range of different innovations, such as the development of smart soldier suits, advanced communications, which translate foreign conversation in real-time, as well as the application of advanced materials.

Upon completion of the program, participants may be able to access facilitation support, through CSIRO, to connect to research expertise nationally, along with dollar-matched R&D funding.

The Defence Science Industry’s Industry Engagement Manager Craig Butler said SMEs played a key role in contributing.

“We’ve had alumni of the program go on to CSIRO Kick-Start projects, apply for state-based funding programs, and create connections with fellow participants to collaborate on a new project,” Butler said. “Victorian SMEs have been consistent contributors of new ideas to the local and international defence sectors, often developing dual-use technology. However, many of these great ideas fail to proceed to commercial success because of innovation realisation challenges.”

Dr Feast emphasised the importance of collaboration in driving good R&D outcomes, saying, “We know collaboration leads to much better results for businesses, however, research we released last year found that less than 15 per cent of Australian businesses engage universities or research institutions when they are thinking of exploring new innovation opportunities – our goal is to up that percentage.”

CSIRO’s Innovate to Grow: Defence Victoria program, one of a number of initiatives by the agency to foster innovation across different sectors, is open to all Victorian companies, regardless of sector, who have innovative ideas that could be relevant for the defence industry. Applications are open until Monday 3 October, with the program commencing Monday 17 October.

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SMEs working on new advanced manufacturing solutions can sign up for the free 10-week online Innovate to Grow program with 25 spots being offered. The program is open to all companies, regardless of sector, who incorporate, or would like to incorporate, advanced manufacturing to improve their existing business operations.

Upon completion of the program, participants will be able to access facilitation support, through CSIRO, to connect to research expertise nationally, along with dollar-matched R&D funding.

The program aims to boost Australia’s advanced manufacturing capability through the development of R&D knowledge among SMEs. According to CSIRO’s Director of Manufacturing, Marcus Zipper, global supply chain disruptions highlighted the need to build Australia’s advanced manufacturing capability.

“Advanced manufacturing plays an important role in so many sectors, with manufacturing contributing about six per cent of Australia’s GDP, from biomedical manufacturing to smart robotics and automation,” Zipper said. “Building Australia’s advanced manufacturing capability is a key part of Australia’s recovery from the COVID-19 crisis, and much of this capability will be driven by SMEs, which make up 99.8 per cent of all businesses in Australia.

Deputy Director of CSIRO’s SME Connect team, Dr George Feast, said that to help businesses take their products or services to the next level, R&D was essential to better understand what opportunities might be presented to them.

“Even though we know R&D drives innovation, it can be an expensive undertaking for businesses, risky and time-consuming for those without the right guidance and support,” Dr Feast said. “Through this program, participants will be given help to refine a new idea they want to explore and better understand their idea’s business and scientific viability. They will also be exposed to industry knowledge, hear from innovation and industry experts, and work with an R&D mentor.

“Even though collaboration is key in driving good R&D outcomes, research we released last year found that less than 15 per cent of Australian businesses engage universities or research institutions when they are thinking of exploring new innovation opportunities – our goal through this program is to up that percentage,” Dr Feast added.

CSIRO’s Innovate to Grow: Advanced Manufacturing program, commences on 6 September and is available for up to 25 SMEs. Applications close on 22 August.

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Even before COVID the government paid over $50 billion in grants annually through over 1000 programs. Now there are nearly 2000 grants available worth $80 billion.

Grants encourage specific industries or targeted business activities. If your business is not in an industry deemed significant, it may be conducting a supported activity.

Industries include manufacturing, medical, energy, mining, food and agribusiness, etc.

Activities include innovation, export, manufacturing, start-up, employment, sustainability, marketing, training and more.

This is where you expect to read the top five or 10 grants or maybe a list of the current 2000 grants. Sorry not in this article.

Imagine you are driving from Sydney to Brisbane and you hear petrol is being given away for free in Adelaide – it is not worth going there to get it. Grants are similar. It is important that the grant supports the current or planned activities and direction of the business to be of value.

How do you lodge a successful grant claim?

1. Identify grants

There are a range of sites that provide grant search capabilities. The predominant free sites include www.business.gov.au, www.grants.gov.au and www.grants.com.au. While relevant grants can be identified, the downside is considerable time could be spent in preparing an unsuccessful application.

2. Read the guidelines

The best application will be unsuccessful if it doesn’t meet the grant criteria. It is critical to fully understand the eligibility and the grant objectives before commencing an application. A NSW Minimum Viable Product application described their software as a service rather than a product which was ineligible. The change of that one word resulted in a $25,000 grant.

3. Relevance

Does the grant objective match the business operations, market and skills? Manufacturing sanitiser could be diversification for a business making spirits but not for medical equipment producer. Utilise your existing expertise rather than just chase grant funding.

4. The application

Ensure the application provides the specific information requested. After completing your response, re-read the questions and highlight the text that addresses the information response. Any sentence not containing highlighting should then be evaluated for relevance or deleted.

5. Grants specialist

Still unsure? Engage a grants specialist that works exclusively in grants like Pattens Group. As experienced experts with over 35 years’ experience they secure grants for businesses from the full range of grants. Backing their skills and expertise they work for a success fee based on the grant paid. They provide a free report on the relevant grants for your business and can improve any existing claims.

6. Grant Reporting

Some grants are subject to review, audit or reporting. It is critical that this is done correctly or all the hard work can be wasted. A grants specialist can be invaluable to ensure you claim and keep the grant. The ATO has clawed back over $200m from previously approved R&D claims that were not prepared by grants specialists. Much was repaid unnecessarily.

Contact Pattens today for experienced, professional grants management by email at grants@pattens.com or call 1800 GRANTS.

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