Grants up to $2.5 million for projects linking and enhancing multiple research data infrastructure types to address unmet medical needs and improve Australian health outcomes.
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What is the Research Data Infrastructure Grant (RDIG)?
The 2025 Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) Research Data Infrastructure Grant (RDIG) is a key Australian Government initiative to enhance national health and medical research capabilities. Funded under the Research Data Infrastructure Initiative, this competitive grant supports projects that use novel methods to harness multiple types of existing research data infrastructure to address unmet medical needs and improve health outcomes for Australians.
In 2025, the program places a stronger focus on Priority Populations and encourages strategic partnerships across sectors, including health, technology, government, and community organisations.
Research Data Infrastructure Grant Opportunity level of support
- Total funding available: $20 million over 2 years
- $10 million in 2025–26
- $10 million in 2026–27
- Grant amount: Up to 100% of eligible project costs
- Maximum per project: $2.5 million
- Minimum grant: None
- Project duration: Up to 4 years from the project start date
- Co-contribution: Not required, but partner contributions strengthen applications
Research Data Infrastructure Grant Opportunity important dates
- Closes: 11 December 2025, 5:00pm AEDT
- Earliest project start date: On execution of the grant agreement
- Register your interest with GrantHelper
Research Data Infrastructure Grant Opportunity objectives and outcomes
The grant aims to:
- Establish and extend national research data infrastructure such as clinical quality registries, biobanks, data linkage platforms, data from wearables, and AI-enabled informatics.
- Support innovative methodologies that leverage multiple existing data sources to address serious health conditions with limited prevention, diagnosis, or treatment options.
- Translate research findings into practical health benefits, policy improvements, and enhanced healthcare delivery.
Projects eligible for Research Data Infrastructure Grant Opportunity support
Eligible Projects:
- Creation or extension of data registries, biobanks, and data linkage platforms
- Development/installation of research equipment to enhance existing infrastructure
- Applied AI, machine learning, predictive analytics for healthcare
- Secure data storage and novel decision-making tools
- Workforce and governance arrangements to deliver complex multi-partner data projects
Eligible Expenditure:
- Equipment essential to research (over $10,000 per item, total not exceeding $80,000)
- Direct labour costs (max $175,000 p.a. per person unless approved)
- Contracted services
- Domestic travel for project purposes
- Approved overseas research components (generally capped at 10% of total project costs)
- Research-related staff training
- Insurance, regulatory approvals, IP access and protection
- Independent audit costs
Ineligible Expenditure:
- Capital works or building upgrades
- Retrospective costs or costs incurred before the grant agreement
- Activities primarily outside Australia
- In-kind contributions
- General organisational overheads
- Conference attendance and related travel (unless pre-approved for project dissemination)
- Entertainment and hospitality
- Health or travel insurance
- Personal subscriptions, memberships, or communications costs
Priority Populations
Projects targeting the following groups are strongly encouraged:
- Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people
- People in rural or remote communities
- People with rare or untreatable diseases/conditions
- Older Australians experiencing diseases of ageing
- People with a disability
- Culturally and linguistically diverse communities
- LGBTIQ+ people
- Youth
Consumer and Community Involvement
Projects involving these populations should demonstrate cultural appropriateness, leadership by members of the Priority Population, and meaningful involvement throughout the research process.
Sex, Gender, and Sexual Orientation Considerations
Applicants are strongly encouraged to involve consumers and community members in all stages of the research — from setting the research question to translating findings — in line with the MRFF Statement on Consumer and Community Involvement in Health and Medical Research.
Applicants should integrate the MRFF Statement on Sex, Gender, Variations of Sex Characteristics and Sexual Orientation in Health and Medical Research, using ABS standard definitions, to ensure inclusive research design and reporting.
Other Research Data Infrastructure Grant Opportunity important details that you will need to know
Organisations eligible for Research Data Infrastructure Grant Opportunity support
Applicants must:
- Have an ABN
- Be incorporated in Australia as:
-
- A medical research institute
- A university
- A corporate Commonwealth entity
- A corporation (including not-for-profits)
- Nominate up to 15 Chief Investigators (CIs), with Chief Investigator A leading the project
- Provide evidence of organisational support and partner letters (if applicable)
Applicants are encouraged to collaborate with:
- Government agencies (federal, state, territory, local)
- Private sector health organisations and technology companies
- Non-government and community organisations
- Consumer groups and advocacy bodies
- Overseas partners (Australian-based components only)
Partnerships may also include sectors outside health, such as education, technology, data science, economics, or policy agencies, to increase impact and improve translation.
Ineligible applicants include:
- Individuals
- Partnerships
- Unincorporated associations
- Trusts (except incorporated trustees applying on behalf of a trust)
- Non-corporate Commonwealth entities
- Organisations, or project partners, listed as non-participants in the National Redress Scheme
- Employers of 100+ employees not compliant with the Workplace Gender Equality Act 2012
Partnerships can enhance project impact, reduce duplication, and improve translation of outcomes into policy and practice.
Research Data Infrastructure Grant Opportunity assessment criteria
Applications must meet all eligibility criteria and will be assessed against:
1. Project Impact – 40%
- Contribution to improved health outcomes, practice, and/or policy
- Engagement with consumers, community, and Priority Populations
2. Project Methodology – 30%
- Scientific quality, feasibility, milestones, and governance
3. Capacity, Capability & Resources – 30%
- Skills, diversity, partner involvement, and resource availability
4. Overall Value & Risk – Non-weighted
- Budget appropriateness, risk management, and alignment with MRFF objectives
Minimum score thresholds apply: at least 5/10 for each weighted criterion and “Good” or “Excellent” for Overall Value & Risk.
How do I get the Research Data Infrastructure Grant Opportunity?
Read and understand the guidelines before applying.
Meet all eligibility criteria for your application to be considered.
Ensure your proposal:
- Incorporates new linkage and/or use of data from at least two existing research data infrastructure sources of different types (e.g., registry + biobank, administrative data + wearables).
- And/or uses novel methodologies to leverage and enhance existing linked research data infrastructure of at least two different types.
- Clearly explains how the project will produce knowledge and outcomes that address an area of unmet medical need.
Information to prepare for the Research Data Infrastructure Grant Opportunity application
Prepare the following:
- Detailed project plan (max 12 pages)
- Chief Investigator list (template)
- Itemised budget + fee card
- MRFF Measures of Success table (1 page limit)
- Risk management plan (2 pages limit)
- IP arrangements
- Organisational support evidence
- Trust deed (if applicable)
- Partner letters (if applicable)
Applying for the Research Data Infrastructure Grant Opportunity
Applications are submitted online using the business.gov.au portal.
Register your interest with GrantHelper to explore your alignment with this grant and how we can assist you to increase your chances of success.
Research Data Infrastructure Grant Opportunity resources
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