Grants up to $10 million to support Australian businesses and research organisations to conduct joint projects and build closer relationships with the Indian space sector.
Current status of program
CLOSED
To register your interest in future rounds or discuss alternative grant opportunities please contact us here.
On this page you will find
What is International Space Investment India Projects (ISIIP) funding?
The International Space Investment India Projects (ISIIP) supports Australian companies and publicly funded research organisations who wish to partner with Indian organisations to deliver collaborative projects and to generate projects that leverage our respective expertise to ultimately strengthen our space sectors, enhance our capabilities and boost jobs and growth across our countries.
ISIIP broadly aligns with the India Economic Strategy to 2035, especially regarding the India-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and the Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement – focusing on strengthening our bilateral relationships and activities with mutual understanding of common interests and shared values, in support of both countries’ prosperity. ISI India Projects grants will be administered over four financial years from 2022-23 to 2025-26 and projects will generate employment and business opportunities for Australians, with a minimum of 80 per cent of the investment to be in Australia for the benefit of Australian space industry organisations.
ISIIP level of support
Grants
- Up to 100 percent of eligible project costs (the grant percentage)
- Minimum $1 million
- Maximum $10 million
- No co-contribution requirement
ISIIP important dates
- This program is currently closed
- Register your interest here with GrantHelper
ISIIP important details that you will need to know
ISIIP objectives and outcomes
The objectives of the ISI India Projects stream are:
- unlock international space opportunities for the Australian space sector to work on joint space projects with India
- expand the capability and capacity of the Australian space sector, and support job creation
- demonstrate the Australian space sector’s ability to successfully deliver space-related products and services internationally
- support projects which contribute to building a vision and a diverse, inclusive Australian space ecosystem that inspires businesses, the Australian community and the next generation of space workforce, researchers and entrepreneurs
- increased investment in the space sector, targeting the Mutual Priority Areas, as described in Appendix A.
The intended outcomes of the ISI India Projects stream are:
- an increase in Australia’s reputation in the global space sector
- an increase in collaborations with India and build stronger regional relationships
- an increase in the number and size of Australian businesses qualifying for access to opportunities with the international space industry
- an increase in the number of Australian businesses winning contracts and successfully delivering products and services to the Indian space industry and/or ISRO programs via supply chain opportunities and joint projects
- an increase in investment and engagement from the Indian Space industry and their supply chains in Australia
- an increase in the number of jobs in the Australian space sector
- an increase in the number of Australian businesses and projects delivering activities with and/or to the Indian space industry that support the Mutual Priority Areas.
Organisations eligible for ISIIP support
To be eligible you must:
- have an Australian Business Number (ABN)
- be registered for the Goods and Services Tax (GST)
and be one of the following entities:
- an entity, incorporated in Australia
- a publicly funded research organisation (PFRO) as defined in section 14 of the guidelines.
The assessment panel only accepts applications:
- where you can provide evidence from your board (or chief executive officer or equivalent if there is no board) that the project is supported, and that you can complete the project and meet the costs of the project not covered by grant funding
- where you have at least $1 million in eligible expenditure
- where you can provide evidence of support from your Indian partner organisation/s and that your project has links to India’s space industry and/or supply chains. This could be in the form of a letter of support or a memorandum of understanding (MOU)
- where you can provide evidence that a minimum of 80 per cent of the investment will be made in Australia, for the benefit of the Australian space organisations.
The assessment panel cannot waive the eligibility criteria under any circumstances.
You are not eligible to apply if you are:
- Listed on the National Redress Scheme’s website as an institution that has not joined or signified its intent to join the Scheme (https://www.nationalredress.gov.au/node/966/)
- named by the Workplace Gender Equality Agency as an organisation that has not complied with the Workplace Gender Equality Act 2012
- an individual
- a partnership
- a trust (however, an incorporated trustee may apply on behalf of a trust)
- a Commonwealth, State, Territory or local government body (including government business enterprises)
- a corporate or non-corporate Commonwealth entity.
See the guidelines for full details of organisations eligible for ISIIP support.
Activities eligible for ISIIP support
Eligible activities may include:
- research and development directly supporting eligible activities with a pathway to commercialisation
- product and service development
- commercialising existing products and services
- process design and engineering
- buying, constructing, installing or commissioning of equipment or software
- training and skills development that directly supports the achievement of project outcomes
- collaboration and partnership development.
The assessment panel may also approve other activities.
See the guidelines for full details of eligible and ineligible activities.
Expenditure eligible for ISIIP support
To be eligible, expenditure must:
- be incurred within the project period
- be a direct cost of the project
- be incurred by you or your partners for required project audit activities
- meet the eligible expenditure guidelines.
You must incur the project expenditure between the project start and end date for it to be eligible unless stated otherwise.
You must not commence your project until you execute a grant agreement with the Commonwealth.
See the guidelines for full details of eligible and ineligible expenditure.
Information to prepare for the ISIIP application
You must provide the following documents with your application to support your responses to the assessment criteria:
- a project plan (template provided on gov.au)
- a project budget (template provided on gov.au)
- evidence of support from your board, CEO or equivalent (template provided on gov.au and GrantConnect). Where your CEO or equivalent submits your application, we will accept this as evidence of support.
- evidence of support from your Indian partner organisation/s (e.g. letter of support or MOU)
- project partner letters of support (see Section 7.2. Template provided on gov.au)
- trust deed (where applicable).
See the application form for full details of information requirements.
Applying for the ISIIP
Applications are submitted online via the business.gov.au portal.
Book a no obligation discovery session with GrantHelper to explore your alignment with this grant and how we can assist you to increase your chances of success.
ISIIP assessment criteria
| Ref | Criteria | Points |
| 1 | The benefit of your project to the Australian space industry – how your project will build the capability and capacity of the Australian space industry by developing space heritage and increasing Technology Readiness Levels (TRL) from TRL4 onwards for missions, payloads and space-based technologies or technologies which support space-based assets – how a minimum of 80 per cent of the investment will be made in Australia for the benefit of Australian space industries – how your project will support jobs creation in the Australian space industry – how your project will contribute to building a vision and a diverse, inclusive Australian space ecosystem that inspires businesses, the Australian community and the next generation of space workforce, researchers and entrepreneurs. For example: how will your project support and utilise Indigenous talent and capabilities, and how will your project support gender diversity, through consortium or contracting arrangements that grow local experience and reputation, ongoing employment in space and adjacent sector organisations or supply chains. | 30 points |
| 2 | Your project’s ability to grow and strengthen collaboration with the Indian space sector – how your project will unlock international opportunities for the Australian space sector, including growing collaborations and delivering products and services to ISRO, the Indian Space industry and their supply chains in Australia – which Mutual Priority Area/s your project can be categorised under and how it will advance capability in this area for the Australian and Indian space sectors. For Mutual Priority Areas (MPA), refer to Appendix A. If your project does not fall within any MPA, please demonstrate how it is aligned with, or will contribute to advancing capability within, one of those areas. | 30 points |
| 3 | Your capacity, capability and resources to deliver the project – you and your project partners track record managing similar projects, and access to personnel with the right skills and experience, including project management and technical staff – your access to any infrastructure, capital equipment, technology and intellectual property, – how you will ensure that the project will continue to deliver outcomes beyond the grant funding period – your strategy to manage the project, this should include (but is not limited to): a. scope, implementation methodology and timeframes b. how you plan to mitigate delivery risks (including national security risks) c. how you plan to secure required regulatory or other approvals. | 20 points |
| 4 | The impact of grant funding on your project – the total investment the grant will leverage, including direct contributions to the project and co‑contributions, if any, to the project from sources including but not limited to project leads, partners, state and territory governments, investors and venture capital (VC) – your plans for unlocking future investments and opportunities in the space sector due to the project activities and technological development resulting from this grant. | 20 points |
See the guidelines for full details of the assessment criteria.
ISIIP resources
How do I get the ISIIP?
You should read and understand the guidelines.
You need to ensure you are eligible for the funding. Applicants that do not meet all the eligibility criteria outlined above will not be considered.
Complete and submit your application through the online portal. Provide all the information requested and include all necessary attachments.
Successful applicants will demonstrate:
- a project that builds a vision and a diverse, inclusive Australian space ecosystem
- a project that inspires businesses, the Australian community and the next generation of space workforce, researchers and entrepreneurs
- capability and capacity of the Australian space sector
- support for job creation
- a viable project plan with detailed activities and milestones that identifies and manages risk and the necessary resources/approvals to succeed
- a sound project budget that justifies government funding and demonstrates the commitment of all partners
- the necessary capacity, capability and experience to deliver the project in full within the agreed timeframe
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