Australian universities receive $59m in AEA Ignite grants for research

More than $59 million in grants from the first round of Australia’s Economic Accelerator (AEA) Ignite program will flow to universities across Australia to support nationally significant research and commercialisation projects, according to a statement from the Australian government on Tuesday.

In what was described as a highly competitive round, 155 grants were awarded to 28 universities from 393 submissions across 35 universities. Approximately 40 per cent (61) of the successful projects are led by women researchers, representing a 24 per cent increase on the number of successful grants led by women in the AEA Seed pilot.

The grants span seven priority areas aligned with the National Reconstruction Fund Corporation, with medical science receiving the largest share of funding with 46 grants. Other priority areas include enabling capabilities (34 grants), renewables and low emission technologies (32), and agriculture, forestry and fisheries (22).

Some of the innovative projects receiving funding include:

• The Australian National University’s development of a breath ketone sensor for non-invasive monitoring of diabetes and metabolic health, receiving $496,477
• James Cook University’s project to accelerate cultured fish meat production, which secured $473,536 to add value in the agriculture, forestry and fisheries sector
• Deakin University’s quantum automation for cyber defence initiative, which was awarded $479,960 to enhance Australia’s enabling capabilities

The AEA Ignite grants are designed to drive investment in key sectors, focusing on value-adding and capability development to leverage Australia’s natural and competitive strengths.