About this programme
The Emerging Technology Commercialisation Fund (ETCF) is a NSW Government grant administered by the Office of the Chief Scientist & Engineer (OCSE). It is a named action of the NSW Innovation Blueprint and exists to close a specific gap: NSW-based technology companies that have moved past early R&D and hold a working physical prototype (or a life-sciences proof-of-concept) but are not yet earning revenue or investment-ready.
The fund targets companies between Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 3 and TRL 7 — past pure lab research, but before full commercial deployment. Grants of $500,000 to $2,000,000 per project are meant to fund the specific activities that move a prototype toward market: further prototyping, scale-up manufacturing, market research, regulatory approval work, and the salaries and equipment tied to delivering the project.
ETCF 2026 ran as a single competitive round: applications opened 6 March 2026 and closed 29 April 2026 at 10:00am AEST. It is not a rolling or first-come program — every application in the round is assessed against every other, and only a subset of applicants who clear Stage 1 are invited to submit a full Stage 2 application.
How it works
Applications are assessed in two stages. Stage 1 is a preliminary application through the SmartyGrants portal, covering eligibility confirmation plus a short pitch video (maximum 5 minutes) addressing the assessment criteria, a capitalisation table, and an organisation chart.
Only applicants who pass Stage 1 are invited to submit a full Stage 2 application, which adds IP documentation, financial statements, capital-raising presentation materials, and key-personnel resumes.
Assessment is run as an independent, two-stage competitive process with a probity advisor overseeing the round. The final funding decision is made by the NSW Minister for Innovation, Science and Technology.
Who can apply
The applicant must be a company incorporated under the Australian Corporations Act (or an Aboriginal/Torres Strait Islander corporation), operating for profit, and not listed on any public stock exchange. It must hold an active ABN, be headquartered in NSW, and not be a subsidiary of another entity.
As of 1 January 2026, more than 65% of the company's full-time-equivalent employees must be based in NSW, and the company's revenue for FY2024/25 must be under $2.5 million.
The applicant must own the relevant IP, or hold an exclusive licence to commercialise it, in Australia and globally.
The project itself must sit at TRL 3-7 and progress an existing physical prototype, or a proof-of-concept for a biological/life-sciences innovation, toward commercial deployment. The project must be completed within 2 years, barring exceptional circumstances. Projects that are eligible for the NSW Medical Devices Fund, or that have already received government grant funding for the same activities, are excluded.
How to apply
- Register and complete the Stage 1 preliminary application via the OCSE's SmartyGrants portal (chiefscientist.smartygrants.com.au/ETCF2026), including the eligibility declaration.
- Attach the Stage 1 support materials: a pitch video (max 5 minutes) addressing the published assessment criteria, a capitalisation table, and an organisation chart.
- Submit before the round deadline, with all requested attachments included per the published Program Guidelines.
- If shortlisted, complete the Stage 2 full application, adding IP documentation, financial statements, capital-raising presentation materials, and resumes of key personnel.
- Await outcome of the independent, probity-overseen assessment and the Minister's final funding decision.
Documents you’ll typically need
- Pitch video (Stage 1, max 5 minutes)
- Capitalisation table (Stage 1)
- Organisation chart (Stage 1)
- IP documentation (Stage 2)
- Financial statements (Stage 2)
- Capital-raising presentation materials (Stage 2)
- Resumes of key personnel (Stage 2)
Frequently asked
Is the Emerging Technology Commercialisation Fund still open for applications?
No. ETCF 2026 was a single competitive round that opened 6 March 2026 and closed 29 April 2026 at 10:00am AEST. The official NSW Government page lists the round as closed; check chiefscientist.nsw.gov.au or the SmartyGrants portal for any future round announcement.
How much does the ETCF grant provide?
Grants range from $500,000 to $2,000,000 per project, per the official guidelines.
Does my company need to be revenue-generating to qualify?
No — the fund specifically targets pre-revenue or early-revenue companies. Your FY2024/25 revenue must be under $2.5 million, and more than 65% of your FTE staff must be based in NSW as of 1 January 2026.
What Technology Readiness Level does my project need to be at?
TRL 3 to TRL 7. The project must progress an existing physical prototype, or a life-sciences/biological proof-of-concept, along the TRL scale — pure early-stage research below TRL 3 and fully deployed, revenue-generating technology above TRL 7 both fall outside scope.
Is there a co-contribution or matching-funding requirement?
The official NSW Government programme page does not state a cash or in-kind co-contribution requirement — check the current Program Guidelines PDF on chiefscientist.nsw.gov.au before assuming either way.
Can the grant be used to cover costs I already incurred, or ongoing business expenses?
No. The fund does not cover pre-award or retrospective expenses, application-preparation costs, land or property purchases, general business costs like sales, marketing, rent and travel, or internal process improvements. It funds project-specific activities such as prototyping, scale-up manufacturing, market research, regulatory approval, project salaries, equipment and IP protection.
What if my technology is a medical device?
Projects that are eligible for the NSW Medical Devices Fund are excluded from ETCF — the two funds are intended to be mutually exclusive.
Who makes the final funding decision?
The NSW Minister for Innovation, Science and Technology makes the final decision, following an independent two-stage assessment overseen by a probity advisor.
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.