Cooperative Research Centres (CRC) Grants

Cooperative Research Centres Grants sit under the Department of Industry, Science and Resources and fund long-horizon industry-led research collaborations in Australia. The program is built for sector transformation, not short pilot work, and it asks consortia to solve industry-identified problems while lifting competitiveness, productivity, and sustainability. The grant can cover up to 50% of eligible project costs, with the balance matched by the consortium through cash or in-kind contributions. A qualifying CRC must be incorporated as a company limited by guarantee, include at least three Australian industry organisations and at least two Australian research organisations, and run an industry-focused education and training program with a PhD component. The current cycle pattern is annual, and Round 27 had Stage 1 close on 29 April 2026, Stage 2 open in July 2026, and outcomes expected in early 2027; Round 28, an AI Accelerator round of about $50 million, is expected in 2027. Applicants succeed when they arrive with a broad consortium, a serious governance structure, and a project that can run for three to ten years. The program favors scale, persistence, and demonstrated industry pull, so it is strongest where research, training, and commercialization all point to the same sector-wide problem. Delivery runs through the Business Grants Hub, which makes the route administratively familiar to Australian consortia that already work with federal grant systems.

Each grant below is a distinct funding opportunity with its own eligibility, scope, and deliverables.