Regional University Industry Collaboration Program

About the program

The RUIC Program connects regional universities with start-ups and SMEs in Queensland to drive local innovation and economic growth through research collaboration.

Funded by the Queensland Department of Environment, Science and Innovation (DESI) and delivered by CSIRO’s specialist SME Connect team, this eligibility-based program will run until June 2027.

Launching in Spring 2024, the RUIC Program includes:

• End-to-end facilitation and dollar-matched funding of up to $50,000 for SME research projects, delivered by four regional Queensland universities.
• Masterclasses for researchers and SMEs to improve collaboration and create new commercial opportunities
• Regional networking events to connect researchers, industry and key stakeholders
• Delivery of 4 Queensland-specific Innovate to Grow cohorts

Partnering universities are James Cook University, Central Queensland University, University of Southern Queensland, and University of the Sunshine Coast.

Eligibility criteria

Eligibility criteria will be finalised soon. Provisional criteria for businesses to engage in a collaborative project with one of the four universities are:

• Have less than $20 million in turnover/expenditure in the last financial year
• Have been operating for at least 1 year
• Be a GST-registered company (ACN or ICN) operating in Queensland
• Be able to provide matched funding. For example, if RUIC grant provides project funding of $50,000, your business must also provide $50,000. This must be a cash contribution and cannot be in-kind.