Australia's national science agency, CSIRO, has focused on supporting Queensland businesses in its latest Innovate to Grow round, a free R&D training program helping small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) transform ideas into research-ready projects.
The series of learning programs has had over 650 early-stage companies participate since launching in 2020, under a range of topics. In 2022, Innovate to Grow focused on advanced manufacturing skills, 2023 featured agrifood, and the 2024 round built on food innovation and technology.
CSIRO is calling for expressions of interest for Innovate to Grow: Queensland, delivered as part of the Queensland Government funded Regional University Industry Collaboration (RUIC) program.
It aims to guide businesses through developing and implementing R&D strategies with support from experienced researchers and industry mentors – with a focus on collaborations with regional partner universities, James Cook University, Central Queensland University, University of Southern Queensland and University of the Sunshine Coast.
Queensland Chief Scientist, Professor Kerrie Wilson, said this training will equip SMEs with the tools to build partnerships with regional universities to commercialise their innovative ideas and drive economic growth.
More than one-third of the 650 participants from CSIRO’s Innovate to Grow program have been from regional Australia, demonstrating strong engagement from businesses outside major metropolitan areas.
RUIC program facilitator, Dr Brendan Kidd, said the program addresses a critical need in Queensland’s innovation ecosystem.
“One of the biggest challenges for SMEs is knowing how to effectively engage with the research sector,” said Kidd.
“CSIRO’s Innovate to Grow bridges that gap by teaching businesses how to speak the language of R&D, identify the right research partners, and structure their projects in ways that attract both research interest and potential funding opportunities.”
Innovate to Grow is now open to Queensland-based SMEs working on innovative technologies or solutions across a range of sectors, including:
- Agriculture and food
- Digital technology and AI
- Environmental sciences
- Health and biomedical sciences
- Indigenous science
- Manufacturing
- Mining and mining equipment, technology, and services
- Renewables and low emissions technologies
- Space and defence
- Transport
More information is available here, with applications closing on 16 March.
