Thailand-Australia Venture Exchange Program Frequently Asked Questions

To be eligible to apply, you must meet the following criteria: 

Australia 

• be a company that is either:
  • incorporated in Australia with an ABN and ACN or an incorporated trustee applying on behalf of a trust

  OR 

  • have less than 200 employees
  • have or be actively developing a technology or solution that aligns with one or more of the Round 1 Challenge Statement.

Thailand 

• be an organisation that is  
  • incorporated/registered in Thailand under Thai law with valid company registration
  • have less than 200 employees (full-time equivalent across all locations). 
• have a demonstrable connection to the Research University Network (RUN) Thailand through: 
  • being a startup or spinoff originating from a RUN member university; or 
  • actively utilizing IP/technology developed by RUN universities; or 
  • having an established research collaboration/partnership with RUN institutions 
• project alignment and commitment: 
  • have or be actively developing a technology or solution that aligns with one or more of the Round 1 Challenge Statement.

The Program is also NOT suitable for companies who are not considering expanding into Thailand or Australia. 

Startups and SMEs with innovative technology and solutions within or for the agrifood sector are welcome to apply, as long as they meet the eligibility criteria.

Yes, we expect selected startups and SMEs will hold intellectual property, be that protected or held as trade secrets, or hold the rights to commercialise a technology/solution in or for the agrifood sector.

That depends on your licensing agreement. Program participants should either own, or be otherwise entitled to commercialise IP in respect of the technology or solution.

The Venture Exchange Program has been specifically designed to support startups and SMEs with limited experience in international market entry.

Before applying, please consider whether the Program Activities and curriculum, designed to support those without international markets experience, will be beneficial to you.

Yes. If you also meet all eligibility criteria, we welcome your application.

We anticipate competitively selected companies will have solutions at TRL5+ however all eligible organisations are welcome to apply.

Yes, as long as you meet the eligibility criteria and have innovative technology and solutions within or for the agrifood sector.

No, the Venture Exchange Program is designed to help startups and SMEs engage with the respective ecosystem to identify research and commercial collaboration opportunities and familiarise themselves with market needs.

We do not accept joint applications. If there are multiple startup/SMEs who meet all the eligibility criteria, each company is welcome to apply as stand-alone application/s.

We require that successfully selected startups and SMEs nominate two personnel who can share the Program participation/activities. As part of the application we ask you about how the team will manage business operations when one or more members of the team are undertaking Program Activities, including domestic and international travel.

You will submit an application via the Good Grants portal, and provide all the information requested, and address all the eligibility and selection criteria. We will then assess your eligible applications and compare it to other eligible applications. Should your application be selected for an evaluation discussion, you will speak with an assessor to further elaborate on your application and assessment criteria.

Up to 15 companies will be selected, aiming for an equal number between Thailand and Australia. With a small cohort we aim to enable quality interactions and outcomes.

It is recommended that a total of 3-5 hours per week be set aside to undertake the learning. This does not include in-person Program Activities which will require travel and immersive learning within/to Australia and within/to Thailand.

Thai companies will be supported to meet and network with industry, innovation and other connections most relevant to their solution. Depending on the solution, this might mean certain States are more relevant for them to focus on than others. The Australian market and States present much opportunity but also much variance of need/s – we will support companies to focus on the region, sector or similar that is most relevant to them.

Yes, the Program curriculum includes topics, material and mentoring on IP strategies and commercialisation strategies. You will be provided with learning material and the opportunity to seek general advice on these topics from our domain experts.

Yes. The Venture Exchange Program respects the often time-poor nature of startups and SMEs and encourages collaboration within each company, across the cohort and the broader ecosystem.

Companies must nominate two people from the company, such as co- founders or executives, to participate in aspects of the Program, but only one person needs to participate in each Activity (session, workshop, travel) at a time. There are obvious benefits in having more than one participant maximise the learnings and share the workload required to meet all Program milestones. Bear in mind that the Program will only support the funding (flight and accommodation) of one participant from each company and any travel expenses incurred by additional participants in both the home and target country will need to be met by the company.

The Program Facilitator and the Expert-in-Residence (EIR) are vital roles in the Program acting in a strategic advisor and coaching capacity for the Program participants. With strong cross-border and entrepreneurial experience, and a deep understanding of the startup and SME landscape, the Program Facilitator and EIR provide valuable guidance, insights and opportunities to all participants in the Program. Participants will engage regularly with both throughout the Program period.

There will be two travel opportunities: once in the home country, and once to the target country. While most of the Program is delivered virtually, the opportunity to connect in person with participating startups/SMEs and from the alternate country enables valuable peer-to-peer learning and growth of your network.

Both travel opportunities will see you take part in a curated program of site visits, immersive learning and workshops, and networking with industry, academia, research institutions, innovation catalysts and government representatives.

For Australian participants, please review the Program Guidelines for detailed information regarding travel funding, and any specific requirements related to travel support. For Thai participants, please email foodinnopolisaccelerator@gmail.com for more information.

If you can’t attend one of the Program travel events the other/alternate Nominated Participant from your company (co-founder, CEO, CTO, COO, for example) should attend. Ideally, the Participant best suited to the modules of learning/travel experiences at hand should participate. All companies selected for the Program must have at least one person at any given time taking part in each aspect of the Program, including travel, learning events and mentoring.