Applications open for Tranche 3 of AEA Seed Grants

AEA Tranche 3 Newsroom Banner (Decorative)

This story was first published on Monday 18 December 2023. If you wish to use this content, please contact media@education.gov.au to confirm that the information is still current.

Applications are open for Tranche 3 of Australia’s Economic Accelerator (AEA) Seed Grants.

Between $50,000 and $500,000 in funding is available for research projects that demonstrate high commercialisation and translation potential in the National Reconstruction Fund Corporation’s priority areas.

AEA Seed Tranche 3 will support projects for research commercialisation activity in the following 3 priority areas identified in the National Reconstruction Fund, with a special emphasis on projects that focus on advanced and additive manufacturing technologies in:

  • transport,
  • defence capability, and
  • enabling capabilities.

Projects outside of these priorities may be considered if funding allocations are not fully utilised.

AEA Seed is a pilot program for the stage one proof-of-concept grants known as AEA Ignite and forms part of the Australian Government’s $1.6 billion investment in AEA.

The program is supporting Australia’s leading entrepreneurial researchers transform world-class research into the new industries, services and jobs of tomorrow.

The AEA is supporting the translation and commercialisation of Australia’s world-leading research.

Collaboration among business, industry and our research organisations and universities, is critical to commercialising and translating our great ideas, solving important societal challenges, driving business innovation, and improving Australia’s long-term economic prosperity.

AEA is funding projects that align with national priorities to help take innovative ideas through to proof-of-concept and proof-of-scale as projects progress towards commercialisation – and to new businesses.

All entrepreneurial-minded researchers at Australian universities are encouraged to apply. Forty-five projects have received more than $10.3 million in funding under the first 2 of tranches of AEA Seed Grants. This includes:

  • twelve projects in medical science,
  • thirteen projects in renewables and low emission technologies,
  • nine value-add projects in agriculture, forestry and fisheries, and
  • eleven value-add projects in resources.

To find out more, visit Australia’s Economic Accelerator Seed Grants. For regular updates on the AEA, follow the AEA LinkedIn page.


Correct at time of publication.