About this programme
The Innovation Pathways Program (IPP) is a competitive Western Australian Government grant, funded through the $40 million New Industries and Innovation Fund (2025-29). It's run by the Department of Energy and Economic Diversification (formerly delivered under the name X-TEND WA).
The program doesn't fund individual startups directly. Instead it funds the organisations and service providers that run accelerator, entrepreneur-education, and investor-education programs for Western Australian startups and innovative SMEs — the intermediaries that make the WA innovation ecosystem work.
Round 8 closed on 30 January 2026 with a $2 million grant pool, up from a smaller pool in earlier rounds. Fourteen organisations were funded a combined $2,556,885 — more than the advertised pool, which the official page attributes to the round's grant sizing rather than explaining as an overrun.
The program sits under WA's broader Diversify WA innovation strategy and the $40 million New Industries and Innovation Fund, which also runs the separate Innovation Booster Grant for direct-to-business R&D funding.
How it works
The grant runs across three streams, each with its own funding cap: Stream A (Accelerator Support) funds programs that make startups, innovative SMEs and scaleups investment-ready, up to $300,000. Stream B (Entrepreneur Education) funds incubators, masterclasses, workshops on innovation/pitching/scaling, entrepreneur-in-residence schemes and mentorship/coaching, up to $200,000. Stream C (Investor Education) funds programs that educate and engage investors and corporates to increase local investment in innovative ventures, up to $200,000.
Grants require matched funding from the applicant: 35% for standard applicants, reduced to 25% for programs that target regional WA, First Nations, or female participants. Non-matched applications are considered case by case where the applicant can demonstrate market need.
Applications that target regional WA audiences, First Nations participants, or female participants are weighted favourably in the evaluation process, on top of the reduced matched-funding rate.
Applicants can be local, interstate, or international service providers — the program isn't restricted to WA-based organisations, though the programs funded must serve the WA innovation ecosystem.
Who can apply
Applicants must be reputable organisations or service providers with a proven track record and demonstrated experience and qualifications to deliver the proposed activity — this is a grant to programme deliverers, not to the startups who would attend those programmes.
The program the applicant proposes to deliver must either be new to WA (not currently offered) or build meaningfully on an existing offering.
The official page states the program welcomes local, interstate, and international service providers, so WA incorporation is not stated as a precondition — read the current round's guidelines to confirm before applying.
Applicants who identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander can access grant-writing support from an Aboriginal grant writer by contacting the program team.
How to apply
- Read the "Innovation Pathways Program: Guidelines" and "Innovation Pathways Program: Frequently Asked Questions" documents published on the program's application-information page, alongside "Diversify WA: Future State" for policy context.
- Applications for the most recent round (Round 8) were lodged through the GrantPlatform portal at ipp.grantplatform.com — confirm the live application link on the official page before a future round, as the portal URL may change round to round.
- Round 8 opened 9 December 2025 and closed 30 January 2026. The program is presently closed — check the official page for the next round's dates before preparing an application.
Documents you’ll typically need
- Innovation Pathways Program: Guidelines (official reference document)
- Innovation Pathways Program: Frequently Asked Questions (official reference document)
- Diversify WA: Future State (policy context document)
Frequently asked
Is the Innovation Pathways Program open for applications right now?
No. Round 8 closed on 30 January 2026. The official page has not published a Round 9 opening date at time of writing — check the New Industries and Innovation Fund page on wa.gov.au for the next round.
Who can apply — startups or programme providers?
Programme providers, not individual startups. The grant funds organisations that run accelerator, entrepreneur-education, or investor-education programs for WA’s innovation ecosystem, not the startups that attend them.
How much matched funding is required?
Standard applicants must match 35% of the grant amount. That drops to 25% for programs targeting regional WA, First Nations, or female participants, and non-matched applications can be considered case by case with demonstrated market need.
What are the three funding streams and their caps?
Stream A (Accelerator Support) is capped at $300,000, Stream B (Entrepreneur Education) at $200,000, and Stream C (Investor Education) at $200,000.
Does an applicant have to be based in Western Australia?
The official page states the program welcomes local, interstate, and international service providers, so WA incorporation is not a stated precondition — but the funded program itself must serve the WA innovation ecosystem. Confirm against the current guidelines before applying.
How competitive was the most recent round?
Round 8 funded 14 organisations a combined $2,556,885 against an advertised $2 million pool. The official page does not disclose the total number of applications received, so the effective success rate isn’t public.
Is there support for First Nations applicants preparing a grant application?
Yes. Applicants who identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander can access grant-writing support from an Aboriginal grant writer by contacting the program team directly.
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.