Access up to $2.5 million in co-funding
TRaCE helps industry take R&D further, by connecting industry investment with co-funding, expertise and the right research partners.
Major Projects bring together industry and researchers to tackle complex challenges, fast-track technology development and scale commercially viable solutions with lasting impact.
Have an idea ready to scale? Apply now to de-risk your cost of innovation through TRaCE co-funding.
Up to $2.5 million co-funding available for projects with the University of Newcastle.*University specialised expertise and infrastructure without the extensive capital costs.Dedicated TRaCE facilitator to match you with the right R&D team and provide support from start to end.Tailored project arrangements.
• A project at the University of Newcastle* can access up to $2.5 million from TRaCE where you could receive a minimum of 35 cents for every dollar of cash contribution.
• Requires industry partner cash contribution to access co-funding.
• Projects below $500K can access TRaCE Concept to Pilot or R&D Voucher co-funding.
*The $2.5 million funds are available at the University of Newcastle; however, UNSW are still accepting Major Project applications.
Alignment with Strategic Priorities: Projects must align closely with TRaCE’s strategic focus on advancing recycling and clean energy technologies. Proposals should clearly identify a target end-user customer within these sectors:
• Solar Tech – Accelerating the integration and scale of solar technologies
• Clean Energy – Electrifying energy systems and improving storage
• Sustainable Fuels – Scaling up sustainable fuels and chemicals
• Circular Economy – Recycling, reforming and reusing waste materials demonstrating carbon emissions reduction and energy savings.
Projects that have a net benefit to Australia: regarding emissions reduction, contribution to GDP, job creation and/or export of Australian technologies into global markets.
Industry partner: Industry partners must have an Australian ABN or be an Australian subsidiary.
University of Newcastle research team: If you are a researcher, your project requires an identified industry partner for collaboration who is able to contribute cash and eligible equipment purchases (equipment has to be purchased for the project).
Project stage: Projects must be Mid-to-late Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs) (level 5 and higher) progressing towards pilot, demonstration and scale-up activities. Projects at TRL 4 that show significant acceleration of the TRL will be considered on application.
• Projects are co-designed with University of Newcastle research teams to address industry challenges, with TRaCE contributing 35 cents for every dollar of industry investment.
• Industry partners co-funding the project are required to provide cash contribution. Up to approximately 65% of this contribution may be met through equipment purchased for the project at the University of Newcastle, subject to assessment and approval on a case-by-case basis.
• Leverage rates are assessed on a case-by-case basis.
IP arrangements will be assessed based on contributions to the project and tailored accordingly.
• Grant funding from 35 cents per dollar leverage on industry contributions.
• Facilitation and project support: access R&D facilitation and innovation expertise.
• Mobility fellowships up to $200k per post-doc working in industry.
• Prototyping and advanced manufacturing through the Modern Manufacturing Workshop and Advanced Prototyping Facility: partner rates for prototyping components and systems.
Projects must be completed by December 2027.
• EOIs will close 1 October 2026. EOIs received will then be assessed according to appropriate fit with TRaCE themes and availability of services.
• Following the EOI assessment process, successful applications will be contacted to co-design the project with a research team and TRaCE facilitator.
• If not eligible, we will aim to identify alternative support pathways.
While the EOI process has now closed, other opportunities are still available. If you would like more information or to schedule a meeting, contact trace@newcastle.edu.au.
