AEA Ignite

AEA Ignite is the early-stage stream in Australia’s Economic Accelerator, run by the Australian Government Department of Education for Australian universities. It funds proof-of-concept research commercialisation and sits alongside AEA Innovate in the broader $1.6 billion AEA agenda. Awards go up to AUD 500,000 for up to 12 months. Projects must start at TRL 3, 4, or 5, show industry engagement, and present a pathway to commercialisation; prior AEA Seed support counts toward the project cap. The program runs multiple times a year, with Round 3 open in early 2026 and closing on 4 March 2026. Round 1 allocated more than $59 million across 155 projects at 28 universities, and Round 2 allocated more than $72.5 million across 174 projects at 27 universities. The strongest applications are university-led proof-of-concept projects that already have an industry case and can show practical progress in an industry-relevant setting. Commercial partners help, and the program rewards teams that can turn early technical evidence into a credible route to translation.

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