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.
If you would like more information or to schedule a meeting, contact trace@newcastle.edu.au.
