How matched funding works
Kick-Start provides dollar-matched funding for eligible R&D projects undertaken in collaboration with CSIRO. For every dollar your business contributes, CSIRO matches the investment up to the voucher limit.
$50,000 from CSIRO = $50,000 from the business
Business contribution must be cash only (in-kind support cannot be matched)
Funding is applied directly to agreed project activities and costs.
| Matched funding | Eligible R&D activities | Eligibility criteria | Research support |
|---|---|---|---|
| Access up to 2 vouchers between $10K - $50K each* | Research into a new idea with commercial potential | <$10M in turnover AND operating expenditure OR <3 years trading | A CSIRO researcher or research team will work with your business on the R&D project |
| Have an ACN/ICN and be registered for GST | |||
| Must be able to provide matched funding |
Funding available
Eligible businesses can access up to two Kick-Start vouchers, each valued between $10,000 and $50,000 (CSIRO contribution). A voucher can support a range of early-stage R&D activities, including:
- feasibility or scoping studies
- prototype development
- proof-of-concept validation
- laboratory testing or data analysis.
Funding limits
- Minimum combined project value: $20,000
- Maximum CSIRO contribution per voucher: $50,000
- A second voucher is available only after the first project has been completed and all requirements have been met.
Who can apply
To be eligible for Kick-Start, businesses must meet all of the following requirements:
Business size
A business must either:
- have annual turnover and operating expenditure under $10 million, or
- have been trading for less than three years.
Business status
Businesses must also:
- be registered for GST
- hold an Australian Company Number (ACN) or Indigenous Corporation Number (ICN)
- be able to provide the required cash contribution to match CSIRO's funding.
Project suitability
Projects should involve:
- R&D activities requiring scientific, technical or analytical expertise
- work that aligns with CSIRO capability
- clearly defined objectives and deliverables suitable for a 2–12-month project.
Kick-Start is designed for early-stage research that supports commercialisation, technical refinement, or new product development.
Eligibility for a second voucher
Businesses may apply for a second Kick-Start project if:
- the first project has been completed
- all contractual and reporting obligations have been met
- the subsequent project represents a genuine progression of R&D
- a new technical challenge, prototype iteration or feasibility question is being explored
- the feedback form from the first project has been submitted.
Second vouchers cannot be used to repeat the same scope of work or extend a previously approved project without new R&D objectives.
Business registration and structure
To participate in Kick-Start, businesses must:
- hold a valid ACN or ICN
- be registered for GST
- operate as an Australian-registered business entity.
International companies and Australian subsidiaries of international companies are not eligible.
Eligibility guidelines documentation
The following documents provide information about eligibility requirements:
Check your eligibility
Use our quick tool to confirm whether your business meets the requirements for Kick-Start funding before submitting an expression of interest.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
Check our FAQs for answers to common questions. If you need more information, please reach out to our team at kickstart@csiro.au.
How matched funding works
Kick-Start provides dollar-matched funding for eligible R&D projects undertaken in collaboration with CSIRO. For every dollar your business contributes, CSIRO matches the investment up to the voucher limit.
$50,000 from CSIRO = $50,000 from the business
Business contribution must be cash only (in-kind support cannot be matched)
Funding is applied directly to agreed project activities and costs.
| Matched funding | Eligible R&D activities | Eligibility criteria | Research support |
|---|---|---|---|
| Access up to 2 vouchers between $10K - $50K each* | Research into a new idea with commercial potential | <$10M in turnover AND operating expenditure OR <3 years trading | A CSIRO researcher or research team will work with your business on the R&D project |
| Have an ACN/ICN and be registered for GST | |||
| Must be able to provide matched funding |
Funding available
Eligible businesses can access up to two Kick-Start vouchers, each valued between $10,000 and $50,000 (CSIRO contribution). A voucher can support a range of early-stage R&D activities, including:
- feasibility or scoping studies
- prototype development
- proof-of-concept validation
- laboratory testing or data analysis.
Funding limits
- Minimum combined project value: $20,000
- Maximum CSIRO contribution per voucher: $50,000
- A second voucher is available only after the first project has been completed and all requirements have been met.
Who can apply
To be eligible for Kick-Start, businesses must meet all of the following requirements:
Business size
A business must either:
- have annual turnover and operating expenditure under $10 million, or
- have been trading for less than three years.
Business status
Businesses must also:
- be registered for GST
- hold an Australian Company Number (ACN) or Indigenous Corporation Number (ICN)
- be able to provide the required cash contribution to match CSIRO's funding.
Project suitability
Projects should involve:
- R&D activities requiring scientific, technical or analytical expertise
- work that aligns with CSIRO capability
- clearly defined objectives and deliverables suitable for a 2–12-month project.
Kick-Start is designed for early-stage research that supports commercialisation, technical refinement, or new product development.
Eligibility for a second voucher
Businesses may apply for a second Kick-Start project if:
- the first project has been completed
- all contractual and reporting obligations have been met
- the subsequent project represents a genuine progression of R&D
- a new technical challenge, prototype iteration or feasibility question is being explored
- the feedback form from the first project has been submitted.
Second vouchers cannot be used to repeat the same scope of work or extend a previously approved project without new R&D objectives.
Business registration and structure
To participate in Kick-Start, businesses must:
- hold a valid ACN or ICN
- be registered for GST
- operate as an Australian-registered business entity.
International companies and Australian subsidiaries of international companies are not eligible.
Eligibility guidelines documentation
The following documents provide information about eligibility requirements:
- Kick-Start eligibility guidelines PDF (191 KB)
- Kick-Start eligibility guidelines - text version DOCX (70 KB)
Check your eligibility
Use our quick tool to confirm whether your business meets the requirements for Kick-Start funding before submitting an expression of interest.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
Check our FAQs for answers to common questions. If you need more information, please reach out to our team at kickstart@csiro.au.