Funding to develop solutions for market-led challenges using quantum technologies
Critical Technologies Challenge Program Round 1
This program will provide joint (consortia) collaborations with funding to develop solutions or a component(s) that contribute(s) to a solution for market-led challenges of national significance using quantum technologies.
Closing date: Tuesday 2 July 2024 5:00pm AEST Tue 2 Jul 2024 5:00pm AEST
What do you get?
Grants from $100,000 to $500,000 for a Stage 1 Feasibility project.
If your Stage 1 Feasibility project is successful, you may receive up to $5 million for a Stage 2 Demonstrator project.
Who is this for?
Consortia that include at least one Australian industry-based partner and one Australian research organisation.
Overview
This program provides consortia with funding to develop quantum technology solutions or a component(s) that contributes to a solution for market-led challenges of national significance. Solutions may also involve the use of other advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence and robotics.
[Music starts. The video starts with a white panel. The panel shows animated dark purple geometric shapes that make up the image of a map of Australia. Dr Cathy Foley’s voice can be heard]
Our quantum track record is a success story for Australia,
[Dr Foley is on screen and speaking to the camera. The screen changes to a dark purple background with moving geometric patterns. Dr Foley’s name and occupation appears at the lower left-hand side of the screen. It states: Dr Cathy Foley AO, Australia’s Chief Scientist.]
and we're creating a quantum industry to capitalise on our great world leading research.
[The screen changes to a series of fast-moving images, including quantum computer parts, electronic machinery, cars driving on a network of roads, people wearing protective clothing and looking through microscopes, a person laying on a medical testing device while another person operates it, glass bottles being moved by a machine, and a finger pointing at a computer screen. Dr Foley continues to speak in the background]
Quantum enables us to solve previously intractable problems, and the Australian Government is launching a Critical Technologies Challenge Program to focus on solving nationally significant challenges to benefit all Australians.
[The screen changes to a white panel with video title and subtitle: Critical Technologies Challenge Program. The screen changes to a dark purple background with moving geometric patterns. Dr Foley continues to speak to camera. The screen changes to a white panel with summary details of the 4 Critical Technology Challenges: Energy, Medical, Communications, Resources. There are animated graphics for each challenge: 2 energy transmissions towers, a heart with a heartbeat line, a satellite dish and a stack of gold-shaped bricks. Dr Foley continues to speak in the background.]
The 4 challenges are across the energy, medical, technology, communications and resources sectors.
[The screen changes to a dark purple background with moving geometric patterns. Dr Foley continues to speak to camera.
The Critical Technologies Challenge program is all about impact and finding a path to market for your solution,
[The screen changes to a white panel with an animated graphic of four images with text, including shaking hands in front of high-rise buildings with the text Business; a silhouette of a person in between buildings with the text Customers; a microscope with geometric shapes with the text Quantum Industry; and, a silhouette of a piggy bank between buildings with the text Economy. Dr Foley continues to speak in the background.]
one that leads to adoption by innovative Australian businesses and benefits their customers, the quantum industry and the Australian economy.
[The screen changes to a white panel with summary details of the Critical Technology Challenges Program: Up to $36m in grant funding over two challenge rounds. Round 1: Apply to solve one of four nationally significant challenges. Dr Foley continues to speak in the background.]
The government has committed $36 million in grant funding for this program over 2 rounds.
[The screen changes to a dark purple background with moving geometric patterns. Dr Foley continues to speak to camera.]
To progress quantum solutions to market. The program has 2 stages.
[The screen changes to a white panel with summary details: Stage 1 Open now. Quantum technology solutions. Receive up to $500k feasibility funding. Dr Foley continues to speak in the background.]
In stage one, which is open now. Applicants can seek up to half a million dollars in feasibility funding.
[The screen changes to a white panel with summary details: Stage 2. Successful Stage 1 applicants invited to Stage 2. Receive up to $5m demonstrator funding. Dr Foley continues to speak in the background.]
In stage 2, if your feasibility project is successful, you will be invited to apply for up to an additional $5 million in demonstrator funding.
[The screen changes to a white panel with an animation of different silhouettes of people and objects, including a tractor, a microscope, an atom, electricity towers, a stethoscope, a brain and a satellite. Dr Foley continues to speak in the background.]
I encourage you to consider how you could work with innovative Australian businesses, academics and researchers, industry international partners and the end user of your quantum solution.
[The screen changes to a dark purple background with moving geometric patterns. Dr Foley continues to speak to camera.]
This is your opportunity to put your ideas to the test.
[The screen changes to a white panel with application details: Apply now at business.gov.au. Dr Foley continues to speak to camera.]
Apply now to help solve some of Australia's most significant challenges.
[The screen changes to a white background with a purple accent at top left of screen. It shows the Australian Government, Department of Industry, Science and Resources Critical Technology Challenge Program logo in stacked format.]
The challenges are:
- Challenge 1: Optimise the performance, sustainability, and security of energy networks.
- Challenge 2: Improve medical imaging and medical sensors to support diagnosis, treatment of disease and monitoring activities inside the human body.
- Challenge 3: Enhance communication with autonomous systems in varying environments.
- Challenge 4: Optimise and reduce the impact of resource exploration, extraction, and mineral processing.
There will be two grant opportunities as part of this program.
Stage 1 – Feasibility grant opportunity
The purpose of the Stage 1 Feasibility grant is to test and demonstrate the technical viability of your proposed solution or component(s) of a solution.
Stage 2 – Demonstrator grant opportunity
The purpose of the Stage 2 Demonstrator grant is to support you to build on your Stage 1 Feasibility project and produce working prototypes or demonstrations.
Only applicants that complete a Stage 1 Feasibility project will be invited to submit an application for Stage 2 Demonstrator funding.
Making connections
Looking for consortia partners for the Critical Technologies Challenge Program Round 1?
The Contacts Directory can help you to find and connect with other organisations interested in preparing a submission for the program.
You are encouraged to review the grant guidelines and supporting information before using the Contacts Directory. The directory is a way for you to reach potential application partners if you choose to use it. You are not required to use the Contacts Directory to make a submission.
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Check if you can apply
You can apply if you meet the eligibility criteria. The eligibility criteria are a set of rules that describe who we can consider for this grant. You can apply if you:
- are an eligible entity that is applying on behalf of an eligible joint (consortia) collaboration
- have an eligible project
- have eligible expenditure.
The rules are in the grant opportunity guidelines.
An eligible lead applicant must apply on behalf of an eligible joint (consortia) collaboration. The lead applicant should be the main driver of the project.
You can apply as a lead applicant for a Stage 1 Feasibility grant if you:
- have an Australian business number (ABN)
- are registered for the Goods and Services Tax (GST)
- are an entity incorporated in Australia
- are applying on behalf of an eligible joint (consortia) collaboration.
You can’t apply as the lead applicant if you are:
- an organisation, or your project partner is an organisation, included on the National Redress Scheme’s list of Institutions that have not joined or signified their intent to join the Scheme
- an employer of 100 or more employees that has not complied with the Workplace Gender Equality Act (2012)
- an international organisation
- an unincorporated association
- a Commonwealth, state, territory or local government body (including a government business enterprise)
- a non-corporate Commonwealth entity
- a corporate Commonwealth entity
- a trust or an incorporated trustee on behalf of a trust.
Eligible joint (consortia) collaborations
To be eligible, consortia must:
- include a minimum of two project participants, inclusive of the lead applicant, during the Stage 1 Feasibility project
- include a minimum of three project participants, inclusive of the lead applicant, during the Stage 2 Demonstrator project
- include and maintain for the duration of the Stage 1 Feasibility project and Stage 2 Demonstrator project at least:
- one Australian industry-based partner; and
- one Australian research organisation.
The lead applicant must fill out the application form and meet the eligibility criteria.
If your consortia received grant funding, the lead applicant:
- signs the grant agreement
- is responsible for ensuring you and your project partners adhere to the terms of the grant agreement.
All information regarding eligibility requirements can be found at section 5 of the grant opportunity guidelines.
The maximum Stage 1 Feasibility project period is 6 months.
Your Stage 1 Feasibility project must:
- be aimed at testing the feasibility of using quantum technology to solve one of the challenges (or component(s) that contributes to solving a challenge) provided in section 3 of the grant opportunity guidelines
- have at least $100,000 in eligible expenditure
- include eligible activities.
How to apply
Check if you’re ready to apply for a grant
Finding a suitable grant opportunity is just the start of the process to get funding. The application process can take time and effort. Understanding the entire process will help you be grant ready and may improve your chances of getting funding.
Use our checklist to find out what it takes to apply for a grant.
When you're ready to apply
Apply using our online portal:
- Create or log into your portal account.
- Follow the instructions to complete your application.
- Submit your application before the close date.
Make sure you include enough detail and supporting evidence in your application to help us decide whether to award you the grant.
Don’t submit the application until it’s complete. You can’t correct a mistake.
First we check that you meet the eligibility criteria. If eligible, your application will be assessed against the assessment criteria. Only eligible applications will proceed to the assessment stage.
An independent committee will assess your application against the assessment criteria and against other applications.
The assessment criteria are a set of rules that describe how we must assess each application.
We give each criterion a certain number of points.
We’ll decide whether to award you the grant based on the total number of points we give your application.
- Assessment criterion 1: Project alignment with the selected challenge and pathway to market (30 points)
- Assessment criterion 2: The quality of your project (30 points)
- Assessment criterion 3: Capacity, capability and resources to deliver your project (40 points)
The amount of detail and supporting evidence you provide should be relative to the project size, complexity and grant amount requested.
The program delegate makes the final decision.
Apply now
Apply for the Critical technologies Challenge Program: Round 1 - Stage 1 Feasibility now.
Before you apply, make sure you:
- read and understand the grant opportunity guidelines
- read and understand the sample application form and the sample grant agreement.
Sample applications
The best way to understand what information you need to provide is to start an application. We have also provided a version to download at the bottom of this page.
Technical help
See our customer portal's frequently asked questions to help with your queries. If you can't find your answer, contact us for assistance.
If you submit your application before the close date you can retrieve it any time to make changes. But you must submit it again before the close date.
We can’t consider the application you submit after the close date under any circumstances.
Contact
Need help?
Let us answer your question via phone, email or live chat. And if we can't help, we'll put you in touch with someone who can.
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Key documents
Stage 1 Feasibility - Project budget template
xlsx · 0.07 MBStage 2 Demonstrator - Partner agreement template
docx · 0.11 MBWe use cookies to give you a better experience on our website. Learn more about how we use cookies and how you can select your preferences.