Partnering with our 
Innovate to Grow Program

February 2024

Expression of Interest Prospectus



CSIRO seeks corporate partners for its nationwide 
SME support program, Innovate to Grow

As Australia’s national science agency, CSIRO is 
solving the greatest challenges through innovative 
science and technology. We help Australian start‑ups 
and small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) 
uncover what’s possible through research and 
development (R&D), taking an idea from concept 
through to execution to drive business growth. 

Our Innovate to Grow program is a free, 10-week, 
virtual learning program that aims to engage 
nationwide SMEs to turn innovative ideas into tangible 
R&D projects. Supported by industry, government 
agencies, and universities, the program has helped 
over 500 SMEs across nine sectors (including agrifood, 
cyber security, energy, and medical technology) 
examine their technical and/or business challenges, 
explore their R&D and innovation opportunities, and 
develop actionable business and funding plans.

Seeking to enhance this initiative, we’re inviting 
partnerships with corporates that offer quality 
products and services, that could enable the 
further growth of innovative SMEs. 

Partnership options 
and inclusions

We are excited to invite third-party organisations to 
sponsor the Innovate to Grow from July 1, 2024, to 
June 30, 2025. Your sponsorship will enable us to run 
eight programs across various industry sectors.

INCLUSIONS

YOUR ROLE

Partner
$50K pa

Sponsor
$25K pa

Supporter
$10K pa

Brand recognition

Tiered logo and support recognition on program marketing and 
in‑program materials (eg. press releases, website, social media, 
program platform, workshops)

Content 
incorporation

Opportunity to incorporate your aligned, branded online educational 
content in the program’s virtual learning platform

Registered contact

Your representative(s) contact details listed in key program contacts 
for participants and alumni 

Participant and 
alumni promotion

Your services and product options distributed to participants and 
alumni opting in to receive program communications

Promotional license

Authorisation to promote Innovate to Grow sponsorship in 
association with CSIRO 





Sector alignment

CSIRO is providing an open opportunity to 
prospective partners in the following sectors 
identified as critical to the SME technology innovation 
journey across a broad range of sectors:

• Banking and finance
• Professional services (including R&D tax)
• Marketing
• Digital transformation and tools. 


Our online EOI form

If you are interested in playing a role in the future of the 
program, please fill in our expression of interest (EOI) form.

If a competitive process is required, you will be 
assessed based on the below selection criteria: 

1. Demonstrated breadth and relevance of 
engagement with SMEs at scale (e.g. nationwide 
presence / service delivery capability, number of 
SME customers, dedicated SME business units/ 
products, existing initiatives to support SMEs).
2. Capacity to add value to the program (e.g. your 
organisation’s current support of SMEs and similar 
prior sponsorships, existing educational content 
relevant to SMEs, discounts, offers, programs that 
could be offered to I2G participants and alumni).


EOI forms must be submitted by 5pm AEST on Friday 31 May 2024. 
For further information, please visit 
csiro.au/work-with-us/funding-programs/SME/Innovate-to-Grow/Corporate-partnerships.