Blog icon

August 2026

Welcome to our newsletter, highlighting recent developments across CSIRO's innovation programs and upcoming innovation ecosystem opportunities to support your business goals.

R&D programs for SMEs

Innovate to Grow: Aquaculture

Applications are open for this free 8-week research and development (R&D) training program for SMEs working on solutions in the aquaculture sector. Applications close on Sunday 16 August 2026.

Apply now

RUIC

Queensland SMEs can access up to $50,000 in dollar-matched funding through the Regional University Industry Collaboration (RUIC) program - funded by the Queensland Government and delivered by CSIRO.

CSIRO Kick-Start

A program for Australian start-ups and SMEs, providing funding support and access to CSIRO's research expertise and capabilities to help grow and develop their business.

Thailand-Australia Venture Exchange Program

Is your startup or SME developing technologies in future food or sustainable agrifood systems? This program offers a 12-week funded pathway to scale, access new markets and build international partnerships. Applications for our 2027 rounds are open and will be assessed on a rolling basis.

Apply now

Ecosystem opportunities and resources

Startup Muster 2026 is open
Startup Muster is the largest survey of Australia's startups and their supporters. It helps founders, government and industry understand the opportunities, progress and challenges across the sector. If you're a founder - or run a startup support organisation (incubator, accelerator, educator, coworking space, investor, provider, precinct etc.) - make sure you're counted. Survey closes on Monday, 24 August. Complete the survey now.

CSIRO Conversations: From promise to practice - the future of AI adoption
AI is moving rapidly from experimentation to implementation, but what does it take to turn its promise into real world impact? Australian healthcare offers valuable lessons integrating AI into everyday workflows while meeting high standards for safety, trust and governance. Join us for the next CSIRO Conversations, where experts explore what healthcare can teach industry and government about scaling AI successfully. Register now for the free online event happening on Thursday 27 August 2026 from 12:00 to 1:30PM AEST.

ON Accelerate open for applications
Ready to launch your innovation? ON Accelerate is a structured accelerator program for entrepreneurial research teams looking to transform their great ideas into real-world impact as a startup. The program equips researchers with the tools, networks and insights needed to validate their idea as a commercial venture, engage customers, build their company and attract investment. CSIRO’s ON Program has helped thousands of researchers to take their idea from mind to market. Now it’s your time – you’re ON! Applications close Monday, 31 August. Apply now.

Ag2025 next steps - scenarios to decisions

Cover of a discussion paper titled "Ag2050 next steps – scenarios to decisions," dated 2026. The top half shows a photograph of tall grasses and wildflowers silhouetted against a golden sunset with a partly cloudy sky. The Australian Farm Institute and CSIRO logos appear at the bottom.

CSIRO's Ag2050 next steps paper highlights that decisions made in the next 12 to 18 months will shape Australian agriculture out to 2050. Building on the Ag2050 Scenarios report, it identifies the near-term decisions and uncertainties facing the sector.

The paper presents insights from the Ag2050 Roundtable, co-hosted by CSIRO and the Australian Farm Institute (AFI), involving more than 45 senior participants from government, industry, regional and Indigenous organisations.

New report explores Australian's perspectives on quantum technologies

A group of people at a conference sitting at a round table. Laptops are open.

CSIRO Public Dialogue brings communities, researchers, policymakers and industry together to explore complex science and technology issues - helping organisations understand not just what people think, but why.

Our new report, Exploring Public Dialogue on Quantum Technologies, shares insights from a pilot event with citizens and quantum experts. Participants prioritised transparency, accountability, public benefit and equity. The findings show meaningful engagement can happen even when awareness of a technology is low.

Read the report and learn more about CSIRO Public Dialogue.

NSW Skills for Net Zero

Blackmores turns data into a greener supply chain

As the first business in NSW Skills for Net Zero, Blackmores took on a CSIRO-facilitated intern to speed up its net zero goals. April Ridge's supply chain and packaging assessments helped Blackmores match a full year's nature risk assessments in three months.

Read more

CSIRO alumni spotlight

PVC Separation: Putting the purity of recycled composite materials to test

Through CSIRO’s Kick-Start program, PVC Separation worked with CSIRO researchers to independently characterise the materials recovered from wind turbine blade waste and evaluate their purity.

Read more