About this programme
Accelerating Commercialisation was an Australian Government grant that paired eligible businesses with an independent facilitator and, for those who progressed, matched funding to help take a novel product, process or service to market. It ran as one of the components of the Entrepreneurs' Programme, administered by AusIndustry (part of the Department of Industry, Science and Resources) and delivered nationally by i4Connect.
The program targeted commercialisation, not R&D: it funded businesses that already had a novel offering and needed help getting it to market, not businesses still trying to build or prove a prototype. "Novel" was assessed strictly — the product, process or service had to be significantly different to anything that existed before, not an iterative improvement or a new version of something already sold commercially.
It had two distinct stages. First, a guidance stage: an approved applicant was matched with an independent facilitator who reviewed the business and recommended a pathway — business improvements, specialist referrals, IP commercialisation options, or funding alternatives. Only businesses that progressed past guidance and were assessed as ready went on to apply for the second stage, matched grant funding, which was assessed by the Entrepreneurs' Programme Committee (an Industry Innovation and Science Australia subcommittee).
New applications closed on 9 May 2023 and the program is now closed. It is documented here because it remains a reference point for how AusIndustry's commercialisation-stage grants are structured — later or related programs are likely to reuse similar eligibility and matched-funding logic.
How it works
Guidance stage: an initial application was screened by a customer service manager against the novelty criteria. If approved, the applicant was assigned a facilitator, who developed recommendations covering business improvements, access to specialists, IP commercialisation pathways, and alternative funding sources.
Grant stage: businesses assessed as ready by their facilitator went on to a merit-based application for matched grant funding, assessed by the Entrepreneurs' Programme Committee.
Funding was matched, not a straight grant: the applicant had to fund 50% of eligible project costs from its own resources, with no in-kind contributions and no other government grants counted toward that share.
Grant size: up to $500,000 for Research Commercialisation Entities and Eligible Partner Entities, and up to $1 million (matched) for other eligible applicants, with a minimum grant of $50,000.
Projects ran 12-24 months. Applicants could apply for funding progressively, up to the applicable maximum, for the same novel product, process or service.
Who can apply
The applicant had to be an Australian-incorporated trading corporation, a Research Commercialisation Entity, or an Eligible Partner Entity — individuals, partnerships, unincorporated associations, trusts, and non-corporate Commonwealth entities were not eligible.
Combined annual turnover across the last three financial years had to be under $20 million, and the entity had to be non-tax-exempt and GST-registered.
The project had to centre on a novel product, process or service — significantly different to any prior innovation — that was scalable, technically feasible, and had shown market acceptance without prior commercial sales. The applicant needed to own or have beneficial access to the relevant IP, and intend to trade domestically and/or overseas.
Ineligible activities included R&D to build a prototype, marketing of a product already sold commercially, innovations for internal use only, and iterative improvements to an existing offering.
How to apply
- Submit an initial application; a customer service manager reviews it against the novelty criteria.
- If approved, the applicant is matched with an independent facilitator for the guidance stage.
- The facilitator assesses the business and develops recommendations (business improvements, specialist opportunities, IP commercialisation pathways, funding alternatives).
- Businesses assessed as ready proceed to a merit-based grant application, supported by the facilitator.
- The Entrepreneurs' Programme Committee assesses the grant application against impact, management capability, market opportunity, value proposition, and project delivery planning.
Documents you’ll typically need
- Grant opportunity guidelines
- Accountant's declaration (mandatory)
- Grant application form
- Project expenditure guide
- Grant agreement (sample)
Frequently asked
Is Accelerating Commercialisation still open?
No. New applications closed on 9 May 2023 and the program is now closed on business.gov.au. It is documented here as a reference for how AusIndustry structures commercialisation-stage matched grants, not as something you can currently apply for.
What counted as a "novel" product, process or service?
The guidelines required the offering to be significantly different from any previous innovation, not just an improved or iterated version of something already on the market. It also had to show market acceptance without any prior commercial sales, and be technically feasible and scalable.
Did the grant cover R&D or prototype development?
No. The program explicitly excluded R&D for creating a prototype. It was designed for businesses that already had a novel, proven-feasible offering and needed help commercialising it, not for early-stage product development.
How much matched funding could a business receive?
Up to $500,000 for Research Commercialisation Entities and Eligible Partner Entities, or up to $1 million for other eligible applicants, with a $50,000 minimum grant. Funding was matched at 50% — the applicant had to fund the other half itself, and in-kind contributions or other government grants did not count toward that share.
Who assessed the grant applications?
Grant applications were assessed by the Entrepreneurs' Programme Committee, a subcommittee of Industry Innovation and Science Australia, against criteria covering impact, management capability, market opportunity, value proposition, and project delivery planning.
Could a sole trader or partnership apply?
No. Eligible applicants had to be an Australian-incorporated trading corporation, a Research Commercialisation Entity, or an Eligible Partner Entity. Individuals, partnerships, unincorporated associations, trusts, and non-corporate Commonwealth entities were not eligible.
Who administered the program?
AusIndustry (Department of Industry, Science and Resources) ran the program as part of the Entrepreneurs' Programme, with national delivery through the facilitator network operator i4Connect.
Reviewed 2026-08-16. Programmes change — confirm current eligibility, amounts and deadlines on the official page before you apply. CapEasy is a private consultancy and is not affiliated with any government authority.