AEA Innovate

AEA Innovate Round 2

Connects research teams and institutions for AEA Innovate in artificial intelligence, agriculture innovation, and materials science.

Australia's Economic Accelerator Innovate program, administered by the Department of Education, provides competitive grants of up to AUD 5 million per project for a maximum period of 24 months to advance research from proven laboratory proof-of-concept to proof-of-scale. The program targets projects commencing at Technology Readiness Level 5, 6, or 7 — prototypes and pilots being tested in industry-relevant environments — and applicants are not required to have previously received AEA Ignite funding; direct entry at TRL 5 or above is permitted. Round 1 delivered AUD 93 million across 39 research commercialisation projects, announced on 4 July 2025. Round 2 opened on 23 July 2025; a combined AEA Ignite and Innovate Round 2 pool of AUD 150 million was cited in program materials, with the Innovate share not separately disclosed. Round 2 close date was not confirmed in available sources as of May 2026.

Eligibility is limited to Australian Table A, Table B, and University College institutions. A mandatory industry contribution of at least 50 percent of the total project budget — in cash, in-kind, or a combination — is a hard gate requirement, not a preference. Contributions are accepted from participating industry partner organizations, not from the university itself. Projects must align with National Reconstruction Fund Corporation priority areas including advanced manufacturing, critical minerals, agritech, space, renewable energy, quantum, AI, medical science, and defence capability. AEA uses the Department of Defence TRL scale for all assessments.

Innovate is the scale-up tier of the AEA pathway, designed for teams that have already demonstrated a working proof-of-concept and need funding to validate it at pilot or prototype scale with a committed industry partner. Applications are submitted through aea.gov.au. A competitive Innovate submission names a specific industry partner, quantifies their contribution, and presents a credible commercial plan beyond the grant period that does not depend on further public subsidy.