Economic accelerator grants offered in NRF priority areas

The first round of Australia’s Economic Accelerator (AEA) grants is now open to researchers and industry in key areas identified by the federal government such as refining and processing of critical minerals, renewable hydrogen, and green metals.

$180 million in funding is available for university researchers and their industry partners to commercialise research related to the National Reconstruction Fund Corporation (Priority Areas) Declaration 2023.

The first round of grants will prioritise projects that align with one or more of the following focus areas:

• Critical and strategic minerals processing
• Sustainable fuels
• Digital agriculture
• Quantum
• Artificial intelligence (AI)
• And advanced manufacturing.

As outlined in the AEA Advisory Board’s Annual Investment Plan 2024-25, the focus areas directly contribute towards areas of national priority and will capitalise on important opportunities in areas of Australian economic advantage.

There are 2 types of grants:

• AEA Ignite provides up to $500,000 for proof-of-concept projects (TRL 3,4, or 5) for up to 12 months
• And AEA Innovate provides up to $5 million for proof-of-scale projects (TRL5,6 or 7) for up to 24 months.

The grants follow on from the AEA Seed round of 2023 which supported researchers including at Sparc Hydrogen for its photocatalytic water splitting (PWS) reactor and USQ which is aiming to commercialise construction and fertiliser products.

Applications close 28 August 2024.

Further reading:
USQ researchers awarded grants to commercialise new composites, fertilisers
Sparc receives grant as green hydrogen tests show promise

Picture: Picture: Sparc Technologies/prototype testing facility at CSIRO