Access grants of up to $250K

ACU Collaborate Plus has launched Challenge Three of the Innovation Districts COVID-19 R&D Challenges in partnership with the NSW Government.

We want to identify businesses that intend to accelerate the commercialisation of research products and services that address the many disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. ACU is one of 12 partnering institutions in NSW delivering three rounds of challenges with grants of up to $250,000 available in each round.

ACU researchers are called to work with Collaborate Plus to identify partners to respond to these challenges.

Challenge Three is now open

The theme for Innovation Districts Challenge Three is Entrepreneurship. The NSW Government is seeking R&D solutions that strengthen the entrepreneurship capability of the state for a post-COVID-19 economy.

Proposed projects might:

• be scalable and research-based technology products or services
• help sectors pivot to high-growth technology solutions
• strengthen Australia’s sovereign capability and local supply chains
• implement a sustainable and novel solution to an area in need of reform, such as aged care or food security
• address the workforce gap created by international closures (students, reduced migration)
• champion Indigenous entrepreneurs.

Expressions of interest close 11.59pm AEDT 3 September 2021. The challenge is open to any NSW-based businesses that have a relationship with ACU or are located in the areas in which ACU has a campus and that meet the eligibility criteria below.

To be eligible, businesses must have:

• an ABN registered in NSW and be based in NSW
• fewer than 200 employees
• been trading for at least 12 months, based on date of ABN
• at least $75,000 in sales revenue or expenditure within the last 12 months or previous financial year
• a product or service (which may still be in development) that it intends to market within 12 months that directly addresses the impact of COVID-19
• ownership that is at least 75 per cent Australian and is not more than 50 per cent owned by another business.

Read more about the Innovation District COVID-19 R&D Challenge.

Challenge Two winner

Challenge Two winners Studymove

Studymove was recently awarded a $10,000 grant as a local winner in the Innovation Districts Challenge Two.

Studymove Pty Ltd specialises in the development of data-reporting solutions for education institutions globally. They believe in the power of data and strive to make key education industry data more accessible via timely, insightful and dynamic data reporting. Their work is widely recognised for its analytical excellence and innovation.

Studymove applied for the grant after receiving information about the challenge from their local government, Blacktown City Council. This is a testament to the relationship Collaborate Plus has built with the thriving small business community in the Blacktown area.