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If government grants are part of your 2025 strategy, take note of the available quarter one funding opportunities. With increasing inflationary pressures, government grants can be an essential alternative funding source for businesses with critical investment projects.
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If government grants are part of your 2025 strategy, take note of the available quarter one funding opportunities. With increasing inflationary pressures, government grants can be an essential alternative funding source for businesses with critical investment projects.
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If government grants are part of your 2025 strategy, take note of the available quarter one funding opportunities.
Contents
With increasing inflationary pressures, government grants can be an essential alternative funding source for businesses with critical investment projects.
Immediate opportunities
Some notable grants closing soon include:
Made in Queensland – closing 24 January 2025
Quad Clean Energy – closing 10 February 2025
NSW Regional Economic Development and Community Investment Program – closing 20 February 2025
Upcoming elections
There are two elections on the horizon in 2025: the Western Australian state election (March 2025) and Federal Election (any time between now and May 2025). If you are seeking government funding from these jurisdictions, there may be some challenges to navigate.
Federal government grants
With 2025 being a federal election year, federal government programs might be delayed or closed depending on the election outcome. Despite this uncertainty, current available grant programs are offering generous funding opportunities – particularly if you have a project within a priority sector aligned with the Future Made in Australia mission. If you are seeking federal funding in 2025, it’s worthwhile carefully considering your business needs against the external funding environment.
Aim: To help SMEs undertake innovative commercialisation and/or growth projects within the priority areas of the Australian Government’s National Reconstruction Fund (NRF), thereby building Australia's manufacturing capability for the future.
Timing: Ongoing – but may be impacted by 2025 Federal election. Apply now.
Funding:
Early-Stage Commercialisation Grants: $50,000 to $250,000
Commercialisation and Growth Grants: $100,000 to $5m
Eligible Projects:
Projects that introduce new technologies or processes
Initiatives that significantly improve industry standards
Projects with a clear plan for scalability and impact
Aim: To support consortia in developing quantum technology solutions or components that address critical challenges in biosecurity, health, transport, and energy networks.
Timing: Open now, closing 26 February 2025
Funding Available:
Stage 1 feasibility grants: $100,000 to $500,000
Stage 2 demonstrator grants: Up to $5m (for successful Stage 1 projects)
Eligible Projects:
Projects that enhance biosecurity outcomes by improving detection of invasive pests or diseases
Initiatives that improve health outcomes and access to health technology for First Nations peoples
Projects that optimize transport routes, logistics, and supply chain operations
Solutions that enhance the performance, sustainability, and security of energy networks
Target Applicants: Consortia that include at least one Australian industry-based partner and one Australian research organisation.
Aim: To support joint projects between Australian and Indo-Pacific organizations that enhance the resilience and efficiency of solar PV, hydrogen electrolyser, and battery supply chains.
Timing: Open now, closing 10 February 2025
Funding Available: Grants between $100,000 to $2.5m, covering up to 95 per cent of eligible expenditure.
Eligible Projects:
Research and development projects targeting innovative technologies, processes, or solutions to improve efficiencies, lower manufacturing costs, or reduce material dependencies.
Feasibility studies supporting business case development for prospective clean energy-related processing, manufacturing, and recycling facilities in the Indo-Pacific.
Target Applicants: Australian businesses partnering with eligible Indo-Pacific organisations.
Aim: To support SMEs in developing and delivering programs aligned with the Sovereign Defence Industrial Priorities (SDIPs) described in the Defence Industry Development Strategy.
Sovereign Industrial Priorities Stream – batch closing 28 February 2025
Funding: Up to $1,000,000 (covers up to 50 per cent of eligible expenditure)
Eligible Projects: Purchase of manufacturing plant and equipment for developing/delivering SDIP-aligned programs
Skilling Stream – batch closing 31 January 2025
Funding: Up to $250,000 (covers up to 50 per cent of eligible expenditure)
Eligible Projects: Upskilling and training in priority trade, technical, and professional skillsets
Exports Stream – batch closing 31 January 2025
Funding: Up to $250,000 (covers up to 50 per cent of eligible expenditure)
Eligible Projects: Overcoming export barriers and building scale/competitiveness in defence capability priority areas
Security Stream – batch closing 28 February 2025
Funding: Up to $100,000 (covers up to 50 per cent of eligible expenditure)
Eligible Projects: Enhancing security measures and capabilities
Aim: To invest in research infrastructure that ensures Australian researchers can find innovative solutions to complex health problems.
Timing: Open now, closing 31 March 2025
Funding & Eligible Projects:
Stream 1: Innovation enablers – up to $3m for development and expansion of research enablers such as biobanks, tissue repositories, and secure health data environments
Stream 2: Digitisation of health care – up to $3m development of digital therapeutics, AI-enabled health interventions, and clinical practice applications
Stream 3: Co-Investment Partnerships – up to $7m for co-investment in significant research infrastructure to support capacity and capability in areas of unmet medical need
Stream 4: mRNA technology enablers – up to $4m for enhancement of mRNA technologies, platforms, and equipment for vaccine and therapeutic development
After a major funding allocation from the 2024-25 Federal Budget, the Australian Renewable Energy Agency offers grant funding towards renewable energy projects spanning the entire innovation chain. Some notable programs include the Solar Sunshot program and the soon to open Battery Breakthrough Initiative.
Solar Sunshot
Aim: To drive innovation in solar PV manufacturing, strengthen supply chains, and support Australia's transition to a renewable energy future.
Timing:
Round 1A Due: 30 April 2025
Round 1B Due: 12 November 2025
Funding and Eligible Projects: Up to $1b total funding allocation
Round 1A: $500m for Solar PV Manufacturing Innovation (modules, inputs to modules, deployment systems)
Round 1B: $50m for Solar PV Manufacturing Studies (feasibility and engineering studies)
Battery Breakthrough Initiative
Aim: To commercialise battery manufacturing technology and processes, provide clean energy opportunities for Australia’s workforce, and enhance supply chain resilience.
Timing: Opening January 2025
Funding: $2m to $200m. The total funding pool is $532m.
Eligible Projects:
Production of active materials
Battery cell manufacturing
Battery pack assembly
Projects that demonstrate significant potential for scalability and impact
Following a lengthy pause and a refreshed Regional Development Roadmap, NSW has released a new major regional grant program, focused on projects that benefit regional and rural communities.
Assessment of applications to a key clean energy grant program, the Net Zero Manufacturing Initiative, is ongoing. We’re excited to see successful applicants announced, and opportunities for future rounds under this program.
Aim: To support projects that enhance regional economic growth, community connection, and capacity building, aligned with the Regional Development Trust’s key focus areas.
Timing: Open now, Closing 20 February 2025
Funding Available: Grants between $250,000 to $5,000,000.
Eligible Projects:
Infrastructure Projects: Development of community infrastructure to enhance regional living and working conditions.
Services and Program Delivery: Initiatives that improve service delivery, support Aboriginal economic development, and build sustainable regional industries.
Target Applicants:
Companies incorporated in Australia
Incorporated associations or co-operatives
Local Government organizations
NSW Joint Organizations of Councils or Regional Organizations of Councils
Regional Development Australia Committees
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Corporations
Local Aboriginal Land Councils
Australian universities
Target Engine and Emerging Industries:
Agribusiness and forestry; resources and mining; tourism and hospitality; tertiary education and skills; health and residential care; freight and logistics; defence.
Western Australia is also heading to the polls in early March 2025. As the state gears up towards its election, one final grant program is on offer.
Aim: To fund feasibility studies, pilot projects, and capital works that help avoid, reduce, or offset carbon emissions from heavy industry processes, focusing on innovative technologies for carbon abatement and sequestration.
Timing: Closing 28 February 2025
Funding Available:
Feasibility Studies: $50,000 to $500,000 (up to 50 per cent of eligible project costs)
Pilot Projects and Capital Works: $100,000 to $1.5m (up to 25 per cent of eligible project costs)
Eligible Projects:
Feasibility studies for innovative carbon abatement and sequestration technologies
Pilot projects demonstrating new carbon reduction methods
Capital works that implement advanced carbon reduction technologies
Target Applicants: Western Australian heavy industries and organisations involved in carbon reduction initiatives.
The new state government has announced continuing support into the legacy Made in Queensland grant program, supporting the state’s small to medium-sized manufacturers.
Continuing funding programs such as the Industry Partnership Program and Invested in Queensland schemes are also available for larger investment projects with long-term economic benefits to the state.
Aim: To assist SME manufacturers to increase international competitiveness, productivity, and innovation via the adoption of new technologies, and to generate high-skilled jobs for the future.
Timing: Open now, closing 24 January 2025
Funding Available: Grants between $50k to $2.5m (1:1 co-contribution basis). Total funding pool of $20m.
Eligible Projects:
Involve the introduction of equipment, a process, or technology not currently used by the applicant that is industry-leading (best practice) such as:
Implementing advanced robotics/advanced industry 4.0 / 5.0 equipment
Implementing a sector-relevant system or process
The development of a plan or strategy
Be designed to achieve significant business transformation, embracing Industry 4.0 and/or 5.0 (digitisation, interconnected factory, big data analytics, etc.)
Have a project site address in Queensland
Target Applicants: Small to medium sized Queensland manufacturers
From time to time, other industry grants (not offered by a government body) are also available. For example, the Coles Nurture Fund is an attractive opportunity for the nation’s agriculture and F&B businesses. Established in 2015, Coles has supported SME businesses in Australia’s food and grocery sector over 12 previous rounds.
Aim: supports businesses to develop new market-leading products, technologies, systems and processes; drive innovative and sustainable practices, differentiation, extended growing seasons and reduce imports.
Timing: Opens 20 January 2025 and closing 14 February 2025
Funding Available: Grants up to $500,000 (with no matched funding requirement).
Eligible Projects: Unique project, driving innovative and sustainable practices and provides sustainability benefits.
Target Applicants: SME businesses (turnover less than $25m and fewer than 50 FTE) in the food and grocery sector (e.g. areas such as fresh produce, food processing, grocery, energy efficiency, logistics/transport, IT and packaging)
There are thousands of government grant programs open at any one point, and we’ve only listed a handful of them. If any of these programs are of interest, please contact us to discuss.
Looking for other government grant funding?
The grant landscape is constantly shifting, impacted by political cycles, government budgets, program timelines and different priority focuses. To maximise your chances of success, it’s crucial to understand which grant program best matches your business needs, thereby focusing your time and energy.
At Grant Thornton, we support small, mid-sized and large businesses to understand and access government grant funding matched to your business growth strategy. There may be specific opportunities if your investment projects fall within priority sectors such as agriculture, defence, energy, food & beverage, health, medtech and life sciences, mining, renewables and low emissions technologies, resources and critical minerals, or space.
If you have an investment project and are looking for other government funding, please reach out to us for a no-obligation discussion. Connect with Simone Barker on LinkedIn to keep on top of the evolving grants landscape.
Learn more about how our Government grants services can help you
Stay informed about key updates impacting payroll and employment taxes, including the end of the FBT exemption for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, new pay-day superannuation rules, and FBT year-end compliance tips. Learn how to navigate these changes effectively.
Updates to Foreign Resident Capital Gains Withholding (FRCGW) rules effective 1 January 2025 increase the withholding tax rate to 15% and remove the $750,000 threshold, applying to all Taxable Australian Property transactions. These changes aim to boost tax compliance for property deals. Find out more how to manage your obligations and avoid penalties.
Congratulations to Kojonup Feeds on its successful grant application in the latest round of Western Australia’s Value Add Investment Grants (VAIG) program.
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