About this programme
Cooperative Research Centres Projects (CRC-P) grants fund short-term, industry-led research collaborations. The programme is run by the Australian Government through business.gov.au, sitting alongside the longer-running Cooperative Research Centres (CRC) grants but built for smaller, faster projects rather than decade-scale research centres.
A CRC-P grant pays for a defined project that develops a product, process or service to solve an industry problem, delivered by a partnership between industry and research organisations. Grants run from $100,000 to $3 million and must be at least matched by the partnership's own cash and/or in-kind contributions, so a $1 million grant sits inside a project worth at least $2 million in total.
Applications are assessed by an independent CRC Advisory Committee against four equally-weighted criteria, with final approval by the responsible Minister. The programme runs in numbered rounds rather than as a rolling scheme — each round has its own open and close date, and the record's closed-for-year status reflects being outside the current round's application window.
How it works
A CRC-P project must be no longer than 3 years and must bring together at least three partners: the lead SME (an Australian industry entity), a second Australian industry organisation, and at least one Australian research organisation.
The grant funding must be at least matched by the partnership's own cash and/or in-kind contributions — the grant cannot exceed the combined contributions of all partners.
Successful applicants set project milestones covering the whole project period. Milestones do not need to be sequential and can run in parallel; progress against them is reported quarterly, and business.gov.au pays grant funds quarterly in advance according to the schedule agreed in the grant agreement.
Applications are assessed in two stages: an eligibility check first, then merit assessment against four criteria worth 25 points each — project alignment with programme objectives, quality of the project, capacity/capability/resources to deliver it, and the impact the grant funding will have on the project. Eligibility criteria cannot be waived.
Who can apply
The lead applicant must be a small to medium enterprise (SME) that is incorporated in Australia as a trading corporation, holds an Australian Business Number (ABN), and is registered for GST.
The project partnership must include the lead SME, a second Australian industry organisation (any size), and at least one Australian research organisation.
Not eligible as lead applicant: non-SMEs, individuals, sole traders, partnerships, trusts, research organisations, government agencies, or entities primarily funded by government.
How to apply
- Read the current round's grant opportunity guidelines in full before starting an application.
- Prepare the project partnership — lead SME plus a second industry organisation plus an Australian research organisation — and agree the cash/in-kind contribution split.
- Complete the application through the business.gov.au online grant portal, using the sample application form and application financial workbook as references.
- Submit before the round's published closing date and time.
- The CRC Advisory Committee assesses eligibility first, then merit against the four assessment criteria; the Minister makes the final funding decision.
- If successful, execute the grant agreement (a partners agreement between all project partners is also required) before funding commences.
Documents you’ll typically need
- Grant opportunity guidelines (round-specific)
- Sample application form
- Application financial workbook
- Partners Agreement template
- Sample grant agreement
Frequently asked
How much can a CRC-P grant cover?
Grants range from $100,000 to $3 million, and the grant amount must be at least matched by the project partnership's own cash and/or in-kind contributions.
Who has to be in the project partnership?
A minimum of three partners: the lead SME (an Australian trading corporation with an ABN, registered for GST), a second Australian industry organisation of any size, and at least one Australian research organisation.
How long can a CRC-P project run?
Up to 3 years. Milestones must be set to cover the whole project period, and progress against them is reported quarterly.
Is CRC-P open for applications right now?
CRC-P runs in numbered funding rounds rather than as a rolling programme, each with its own open and close date. Outside an active round's window the programme shows as closed; check business.gov.au for the next round's dates before preparing an application.
How are CRC-P applications assessed?
Applications are checked against eligibility criteria first — these cannot be waived. Eligible applications are then scored by the independent CRC Advisory Committee against four criteria worth 25 points each: alignment with programme objectives, project quality, capacity/capability/resources to deliver, and the impact of the grant funding. The Minister makes the final approval decision.
How is the grant paid out?
Grant funds are paid quarterly in advance, according to a schedule agreed in the grant agreement, against milestones that are reported on quarterly. Milestones do not need to be sequential and can be run in parallel.
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.