Innovation grants and programs

We are making NSW the best place to innovate, helping businesses grow, create opportunities and tackle the state’s biggest challenges.

Australian Technology Competition 2024.
Investment and programs driving innovation in NSW

We’re laying out a positive agenda to advance innovation in NSW by targeting nearly $30 billion of additional investment in the NSW economy over the next 10 years from innovation-intensive firms, and nearly 100,000 additional jobs.

The NSW Innovation Blueprint 2035 includes clearly defined goals and priority action areas that will guide how we design programs, allocate funding and interact with innovation ecosystem stakeholders.

Innovation Blueprint 2025/26 funding

The funding in the 2025/26 budget for the Innovation Blueprint will promote more global success stories like Afterpay, Atlassian and Canva in the years ahead through the following ground-breaking initiatives:

  • $38.5 million to turbocharge Tech Central, Australia’s largest technology and innovation hub
  • $20 million for emerging technology commercialisation to drive growth and productivity in key areas such as housing and energy
  • $6 million to extend the existing Minimum Viable Products Ventures program to support more startups at the early stages of development
  • $6 million to support manufacturing businesses to adopt innovative technologies through the Innovative Manufacturing Adoption Fund.
  • $4 million to promote housing construction through the Housing Innovation Network and the Innovation in Construction Fund
  • $4 million to establish the Diversity Pre-Accelerator Program to support founders from diverse backgrounds develop their business models and secure seed investment.
  • $700,000 to extend the operation of National Space Industry Hub.
Stefan Mazy, CEO of DermR Health.

MVP Grant Program

A competitive grant initiative aimed at supporting businesses to commercialise innovation.

Winners group shot at Australian Technology Competition 2024.

Fostering Innovation Sponsorship Program

Support for activities that stimulate the innovation ecosystem to connect, learn and develop.

Australian Climate Tech Festival and Awards 2024 hosted by Climate Salad.

Boosting Business Innovation Program

The NSW Government partners with selected publicly funded research organisations to deliver activities that help SMEs translate world-class research into commercial outcomes.

Mongolian, South African and Nepalese students using a large 3D printer to create a chair matching the prototype in their hands, at the University of Technology Sydney Protospace.

Diversity Pre-Accelerator Program

The NSW Innovation Blueprint calls for greater diversity and equity in our innovation ecosystem. Join us in creating a more inclusive and dynamic innovation landscape in NSW.

More information

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