Funding for incubators to gain expertise to help start-ups

Incoming experts

Incoming experts must bring new capabilities and undertake activities that help build your capabilities in their area of expertise. You can include one or more incoming experts in your project.

To be eligible, experts:

• must not be a current employee of your incubator
• require a resume outlining their experience and capabilities

Outgoing experts

Outgoing experts must be embedded in a host incubator that will share capabilities and knowledge that will benefit your incubator. We allow 1 outgoing expert per project.

However, this expert may visit multiple host incubators.

Additional eligibility includes:

• a letter of commitment from the host incubator or incubators they are visiting
• a satisfactory summary of your project that describes how the new knowledge will benefit your incubator and innovative start-ups in line with program objectives

You are not eligible to apply if you are:

• an individual, partnership or trust
• a Commonwealth, state or territory government agency or body

An incubator is an organisation that supports innovative start-up businesses focused on international trade. It provides services such as:

• seed funding
• co-location
• mentoring
• professional services
• access to networks

Examples of eligible activities include:

• a workshop where an expert gives advice on developing business activities, for example in international markets
• engaging a national or international expert (with knowledge in start-up related technology and international experience) to assist start-ups to address key challenges during an incubator program
• national or international exchanges with an expert from another incubator either in Australia or overseas

This is not an exhaustive list of eligible activities.

The Program Delegate decides if an activity is eligible.

If you are applying for a grant of $50,000 or less we’ll assess your application against the eligibility criteria only.

If you are applying for a grant greater than $50,000 we’ll first assess your application against the eligibility criteria. If you are eligible, we’ll assess your application against the merit criteria.

We’ll review the information you gave us about the incoming and outgoing experts.

If you are applying for a grant greater than $50,000 we’ll assess your application against the following criterion:

• benefit to your incubator, start-ups and the broader innovation ecosystem

Read section 10 of the Program Guidelines for more information on how to meet the merit criteria.

You’ll receive a written offer if your application is successful.

From there, you’ll enter into a grant agreement with us. The grant agreement will specify the reporting requirements, payment schedule and milestones necessary to receive payments. A sample grant agreement is available to view.

If your application is unsuccessful, we’ll notify you in writing. You’ll be able to discuss the outcome with us.