Grants of up to $200,000 to support regional Queensland innovation collaborations to unlock economic potential either through solving a significant problem or creating an opportunity.
Current status of program
CLOSED
To register your interest in future rounds or discuss alternative grant opportunities please contact us here.
What is the Regional Futures – Collaborative Projects Program?
The Regional Futures – Collaborative Projects program is part of the Queensland Government’s new $5 million Advance Queensland Regional Futures initiative, and has been developed with learnings from Advancing Regional Innovation Program (ARIP).
The program supports regional innovation leaders to address local issues by developing solutions that have national or international relevance. The program will fund collaborative projects that harness the competitive strength of a region to deliver tangible benefits, increase capacity and maturity of the regional ecosystem, and assist in ensuring the future prosperity and resilience of the region.
What is the level of support of the Regional Futures – Collaborative Projects Program?
Grants of up to $200,000 (exc gst) are available.
There is no minimum funding amount.
The grant must be matched by the applicant.
For example, if an applicant applies for $200,000, the (collective) cash cocontribution commitment of the applicant and collaborative partner organisation(s) must be at least $200,000. This can be split in any way between the applicant and collaborative partner organisations.
It is acknowledged that in-kind contributions are likely to be made to all projects, however, these contributions do not form part of the matching funding requirements.
What are the important dates of the Regional Futures – Collaborative Projects Program?
- This program is currently closed
- Register your interest here with GrantHelper
What are the objectives and outcomes of the Regional Futures – Collaborative Projects Program?
Advance Queensland Regional Futures – Collaborative Projects seeks to empower regions to take action that anticipates and positions them for their future needs, unlocks potential by targeting issues of regional significance and global relevance, and amplifies the impact of change through sustained effort and building relationships of trust.
What are the priority areas of the Regional Futures – Collaborative Projects Program?
The Queensland Government has developed industry roadmaps for emerging and priority sectors with global growth potential. These sectors are:
- Advanced manufacturing
- Aerospace
- Biofutures
- Biomedical
- Defence
- Mining equipment, technology and services
- Screen industry
- Agriculture and food.
More information on these roadmaps can be found here.
How to get the Regional Futures – Collaborative Projects Program?
Applicant organisations must contact a Regional Engagement Officer to schedule an appointment to discuss their project before applying. A certificate will be provided by the Regional Engagement Officer after the appointment should the project meet the eligibility requirements.
Your need to submit a completed application before the advertised closing dates to be considered in the next assessment.
You should read the guidelines in full, as well as the FAQs, Tips and Tricks, and sample application to help prepare for you application.
Successful applicants will demonstrate thesignificance of the project’s opportunity and innovation activity, thestrength of collaboration (including shared goals) and viability of the project, the benefit to the region/s, and that you have appropriate implementation resources (including technical and management skills) to successfully delivery the project in its entirety within the proposed project implementation timeline.
You will have a project plan that details key project activities and the expected outcomes of these activities (and how this will be measured), including any jobs to be supported or created.
You need a minimum of two organisations collaborating on the project and be able to confirm you can match the requested funding with cash on a dollar-per-dollar basis. The Applicant Organisation will apply for the grant and lead the project. Collaborative Partner Organisation(s) will support the project through cash contributions.
It is not a prerequisite for your project to support a Queensland Government priority industry sector when applying to the program. However, supporting one of the sectors is likely to be a key component in ensuring your project application iscompetitive under Assessment Criterion 3, which requires applicant organisations to demonstrate how the proposed project will contribute to:
- an increase in the maturity level of the innovation ecosystem of the region(s)
- economic growth in the region(s) including support of emerging/new industries and/or Queensland Government priority industry sectors
- the support and creation of new / high-value / high-growth jobs in regional Queensland.
Check out our How to Prepare Before You Apply insight.
Most importantly, and before you start an application, you need to ensure your business is eligible for the funding. Organisations that do not meet all of the eligibility criteria outlined below will not be considered.
Check out How to write a successful grant application to learn more about how to win government grants for your small business. Our in-depth eBook is the single most valuable resource you will find that helps small business owners to truly understand how to win government grants. Follow the link to get your copy of the Guide to Winning Grants.
Is my business eligible for the Regional Futures – Collaborative Projects Program?
To be eligible to apply, an applicant organisation must:
- be based in a Queensland region*
- have an ABN and be registered for GST
- be collaborating with one or more organisations based in a Queensland region*
- provide a signed Regional Futures – Collaborative Projects Regional Engagement Officer Certificate.
*For the purpose of the program, a Queensland region is any local government area except for Brisbane City Council. Applicant organisations can check which local government they are located within on the Electoral Commission Queensland Interactive Map.
Both the Applicant Organisation and the Collaborative Partner Organisation must be based in a Queensland region (although it doesn’t have to be the same region). Any additional partners do not have to be based in a Queensland region. Further details regarding collaborating partner eligibility can be found in the program’s FAQs (see ‘Eligibility’).
What projects are eligible for Regional Futures – Collaborative Projects Program?
To be considered eligible for the program, the proposed project must:
- be scheduled to commence within 60 business days of the grant approval and to complete within 18 months of the commencement date
- have a total cash contribution (from the applicant and collaborative partner organisation(s)) that is equal to or greater than the grant sought.
A collaborative project should aim to:
- provide tangible benefits to regional communities
- support regional strengths and/or emerging industries
- realise potential and remove barriers targeting issues of regional significance
- increase the regional ecosystem’s capability and contribute to its future prosperity and resilience
and must be able to demonstrate the:
- significance of the opportunity and innovation activity
- strength of collaboration and viability of the project
- benefit to the region/s and Queensland.
If the project is currently receiving Queensland Government support, the organisation cannot apply for further funding.
Organisations are encouraged to collaborate within and across regions to develop and undertake projects. Organisations planning multiple, interdependent projects should seek advice from their Regional Engagement Officer on the most appropriate way to proceed.
What additional requirements ensure my eligibility for Regional Futures – Collaborative Projects Program?
Eligible projects
Evidence that the applicant and collaborative partner organisations can meet the required matching funding contribution must be provided at the time of application. This must be in the form of a declaration from a suitably qualified accountant that is a member of:
- the Institute of Chartered Accountants, or
- CPA Australia, or
- the Institute of Public Accountants with a Professional Practice Certificate.
For the purposes of the program, cash is either, or a combination of:
- cash as raised directly by the applicant organisation and/or leveraged from collaborative partner organisation(s)
- salary costs, attributed to the project, of employees of the applicant organisation and/or the collaborative partner organisation(s), who are assigned directly to the core business of the project. By definition employees:
- must have at least 20 per cent of their work responsibilities assigned directly to the core business of the project for the lifetime of the project
- can be full-time or part-time.
What expenditure is eligible for support from the Regional Futures – Collaborative Projects Program?
Funding may be used for the following eligible project costs:
- salaries (including salary-related on-costs) for project staff
- consumables required specifically for the project
- plant and equipment required specifically for the project up to a total cumulative value of $10,000 during the term of the grant
- reasonable travel costs necessary to undertake project activity
- specialist advice and services provided by unrelated (external) providers.
Items not eligible for funding include:
- organisational overheads
- costs associated with the ongoing programs of work and/or core business of the applicant or collaborative partner organisation(s)
- works and/or physical infrastructure including any buildings, telecommunications, and IT networks, land acquisition costs or leases
- motor vehicles and motor vehicle leases
- first class and business class travel
- plant and equipment exceeding $10,000 during the term of the grant.
Funding grants must be expended wholly in Queensland unless it can be demonstrated that expenditure outside of Queensland is essential to ensure successful delivery of the project.
Only eligible expenditure incurred on or after the project commencement date can be claimed by successful applicant organisations.
Funding will not be provided to support activity commenced prior to an application.
How do you apply for the Regional Futures – Collaborative Projects Program?
Step 1
Applicants need to contact a Regional Engagement Officer to obtain a Collaborative Projects Regional Engagement Officer Certificate prior to lodging an application. Email regionalinnovation@dtis.qld.gov.au to schedule an appointment.
Step 2
Complete the online form here via the SmartyGrants portal.
What information do I need to prepare for registration to the Regional Futures – Collaborative Projects Program?
The following supporting documents must be included with your application:
- a completed Regional Futures – Collaborative Projects Regional Engagement Officer Certificate
- brief (one-page) resumes of key project personnel
- evidence that the applicant and collaborative partner organisations can each meet its share of the matching funds requirement in the form of a declaration from a suitably qualified party that is a member of:
- the Institute of Chartered Accountants, or
- CPA Australia, or
- the Institute of Public Accountants with a Professional Practice Certificate.
This can be the qualified Chief Financial Officer of the organisation or an independent accountant, as appropriate.
Applicant organisations should ensure all information pertaining to the application is included in the application form.
What is the assessment criteria and process of the Regional Futures – Collaborative Projects Program?
Applications will be assessed against the following criteria:
| Ref | Criteria |
| 1 | Significance of the opportunity and innovation activity |
| 2 | Strength of collaboration and viability of the project |
| 3 | Benefit to the region(s) and Queensland |
Do you need assistance applying for the Regional Futures – Collaborative Projects Program?
Is your business eligible for the Regional Futures – Collaborative Projects Program opportunity?
Or perhaps you’re not sure and want to know more?
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