Key information
- Status: Closed
- Grant amount: Up to $299,999
- Application opened: 16 February 2026
- Application closed: 9 March 2026, 2:00 pm
Program objective
The objectives of the Program are to:
- leverage Commonwealth funding in research and training excellence
- enhance the impact of NSW ITRP hubs and centres
- grow and deepen NSW research, innovation and the talent ecosystem in line with NSW priorities
The intended outcomes of the Program are:
- increased research and training excellence in NSW
- attraction of research and training talent and investment into NSW
- increase translation of IP and development of future workforce needs
This program is administered by Office of the Chief Scientist and Engineer.
Eligibility
Who can apply
To be eligible for the Program applicants must:
- be a NSW led bid awarded funding from the Commonwealth’s 2025 Industrial Transformation Research Program (Research Hub or Training Centre streams)
- be headquartered in NSW. For the purposes of this grant, headquarters is defined as the main administrative office of the Hub or Centre, and location of the CEO. Headquarters must remain in NSW for the period of the RAAP Agreement
- have at least 40 per cent of operations spent in NSW to be eligible for co-investment
Types of projects funded under this grant
The grant must only be used on activities undertaken within NSW, and on staff, students or equipment located in NSW. For example, grant funds might be used to:
- fund employment of technical and targeted engagement staff at the NSW nodes, technical staff referring to those roles with a specialised technical capability or targeted industry, business or application engagement/specialist roles in NSW
- support scholarships or fellowships of students or post-doctoral researchers to be located within NSW
- support ITRP Research Hub or Training Centre travel or exchanges of researchers who are based in NSW, or to support visits or exchanges of people to NSW for centre-related activities
- cover expenses related to rent or fit out of offices and laboratories located in NSW
- purchase or lease instrumentation or plant equipment located in NSW.
Who can’t apply
You are not eligible to apply for the Program if you are:
- an unsuccessful applicant under the Commonwealth Industrial Transformation and Research Program (ITRP) ARCs 2025 ITRP Selection Round
The Department, at its sole discretion, may decide that an application is ineligible for funding. This may include any person or business activity that could cause reputational and/or other risks to the NSW Government.
What your application needs to include
Prepare your application with this checklist
Not Applicable
Address the eligibility criteria
Each applicant, as part of an application response, must confirm that they meet the eligibility criteria.
Applicants that do not address the eligibility criteria in full may be excluded from the application process at the department's discretion.
Start the application
Before applying, you must read and understand the Program Guidelines.
To apply you must:
- complete the SmartyGrants online application
- provide all the information requested
- address all the eligibility criteria
- address all the assessment criteria
- include all necessary attachments
- submit your application by the timelines outlined in the Program Guidelines.
Note: If you are a new applicant to SmartyGrants, you will need to register and create a password. If you are already registered, you can log in with your existing username and password.
Apply now
After the application is submitted
Successful applications will be decided by: Minister for Innovation, Science and Technology
The assessment of applications will be led by the Department. Your application will be considered based on a two-stage process, as outlined below. Only eligible applications will move to the next stage. We consider eligible applications through a targeted competitive grant process.
Applicants’ suitability for RAAP co-investment funding will be based on the proposed research to be undertaken, the benefits to NSW, and proportion of expenditure/activities to occur in NSW, as reflected in their application form.
Stage 1: Eligibility Assessment
The OCSE Secretariat will conduct an initial eligibility screening for all applications according to the published eligibility criteria in the Program Guidelines that are set out Section 2.1: Eligibility Criteria.
Only applications which meet all eligibility criteria will progress to assessment against the assessment criteria.
Stage 2: Assessment by the Assessment Panel
The Panel will assess each application on its merits and compare it to other eligible applications before recommending which applications are to be awarded a grant.
On behalf of the Panel, the Department may seek additional information about you or your application.
The Panel has the discretion to recommend that an applicant receive a smaller amount of funding than indicated in their application.
The Panel members are expected to assess all eligible applications unless they have a declared conflict of interest for a certain application(s).
Panel members will individually assess all eligible applications against each criterion
Anticipated assessment outcome date is 28/05/2026
Support and contact
raap.grants@chiefscientist.nsw.gov.au