Collaborative research projects

Accelerate your business growth with a collaborative research project through the Regional University Industry Collaboration (RUIC) program.

Eligible Queensland SMEs can access dollar -matched funding between $10,000 - $50,000 to conduct a collaborative research project with a world-class university.

The RUIC program has a team of regional research facilitators who act as a single point of contact, providing comprehensive support to universities and SMEs across Queensland. These facilitators help SMEs build strong relationships with partner universities, assist in project scoping, guide application preparation, and conduct regular check-ins to ensure ongoing progress.

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

Benefits to your business

With projects completed in 12 months or less, you can:

• Explore new commercial opportunities: Test and develop new R&D ideas with strong commercial potential.
• Create innovative products and processes: Develop or enhance products and processes to give your business a competitive edge.
• Leverage university expertise: Customise cutting-edge university technologies for your business needs and bring them to market faster.
• Validate your innovations: Conduct rigorous testing of new products, refining your R&D strategy for better outcomes.
• Access on-site research expertise: Gain hands-on support from embedded university researchers, solving real-world challenges directly within your business.

Is my business eligible?

To be eligible, your business and research project must meet the following sets of criteria:

• Have either an ACN, ICN or ACNC registration
• Be registered for GST
• Have been operating for at least 6 months*
• Have operations in Queensland
• Have less than $20 million in turnover/expenditure in the last full financial year OR have less than $100 million in turnover if businesses are regional
• Be able to match grant funding on a 1:1 basis
• Indigenous corporations are eligible to apply on behalf of First Nations businesses that are not yet incorporated
• Not-for-profits / Social Enterprise businesses are eligible to apply for commercial projects only

*Conditions may apply for businesses 6-12 months old

Your business is operating in one of the following industry sectors:

• Agriculture & Food
• Digital Tech and Artificial Intelligence
• Environmental Sciences
• Health and Biomedical Sciences
• Indigenous Science
• Manufacturing
• Mining and METS
• Renewables & Low Emissions Technologies
• Space and Defence
• Transport

What's the application process?

1. Review the Program and Eligibility Guidelines: This will help to determine your eligibility. If your business meets the eligibility criteria you can submit an application.
2. Submit an application: If your business meets the eligibility criteria you can submit an application.
3. Eligibility assessment: We will assess your application against the eligibility criteria. If it meets the requirements, we will notify you within 5–7 business days of the next steps.
4. Facilitation: A RUIC program facilitator will reach out to discuss your application, summarise the project in a research brief and identify the right researchers from participating universities, and meetings will be set up with the researchers to further define and cost your project.
5. Project scoping and costing: Once you approve the scope and budget, the researcher and RUIC program facilitator will lodge your full research proposal application for the RUIC voucher.
6. Application review: Review and sign your final RUIC voucher application, which includes the application, research brief, and research proposal. The RUIC program facilitator will present your proposed project to CSIRO's Voucher Review Team for consideration.
7. Outcome notification: You will be notified of the outcome of your voucher application shortly after the decision is made.

Begin the process today by submitting an application.

Accelerate your business growth with a collaborative research project through the Regional University Industry Collaboration (RUIC) program.

Eligible Queensland SMEs can access dollar -matched funding between $10,000 - $50,000 to conduct a collaborative research project with a world-class university.

The RUIC program has a team of regional research facilitators who act as a single point of contact, providing comprehensive support to universities and SMEs across Queensland. These facilitators help SMEs build strong relationships with partner universities, assist in project scoping, guide application preparation, and conduct regular check-ins to ensure ongoing progress.

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

Benefits to your business

With projects completed in 12 months or less, you can:

• Explore new commercial opportunities: Test and develop new R&D ideas with strong commercial potential.
• Create innovative products and processes: Develop or enhance products and processes to give your business a competitive edge.
• Leverage university expertise: Customise cutting-edge university technologies for your business needs and bring them to market faster.
• Validate your innovations: Conduct rigorous testing of new products, refining your R&D strategy for better outcomes.
• Access on-site research expertise: Gain hands-on support from embedded university researchers, solving real-world challenges directly within your business.

Is my business eligible?

To be eligible, your business and research project must meet the following sets of criteria:

• Have either an ACN, ICN or ACNC registration
• Be registered for GST
• Have been operating for at least 6 months*
• Have operations in Queensland
• Have less than $20 million in turnover/expenditure in the last full financial year OR have less than $100 million in turnover if businesses are regional
• Be able to match grant funding on a 1:1 basis
• Indigenous corporations are eligible to apply on behalf of First Nations businesses that are not yet incorporated
• Not-for-profits / Social Enterprise businesses are eligible to apply for commercial projects only

*Conditions may apply for businesses 6-12 months old

Your business is operating in one of the following industry sectors:

• Agriculture & Food
• Digital Tech and Artificial Intelligence
• Environmental Sciences
• Health and Biomedical Sciences
• Indigenous Science
• Manufacturing
• Mining and METS
• Renewables & Low Emissions Technologies
• Space and Defence
• Transport

What's the application process?

1. Review the Program and Eligibility Guidelines PDF (967 KB): This will help to determine your eligibility. If your business meets the eligibility criteria you can submit an application.
2. Submit an application: If your business meets the eligibility criteria you can submit an application.
3. Eligibility assessment: We will assess your application against the eligibility criteria. If it meets the requirements, we will notify you within 5–7 business days of the next steps.
4. Facilitation: A RUIC program facilitator will reach out to discuss your application, summarise the project in a research brief and identify the right researchers from participating universities, and meetings will be set up with the researchers to further define and cost your project.
5. Project scoping and costing: Once you approve the scope and budget, the researcher and RUIC program facilitator will lodge your full research proposal application for the RUIC voucher.
6. Application review: Review and sign your final RUIC voucher application, which includes the application, research brief, and research proposal. The RUIC program facilitator will present your proposed project to CSIRO's Voucher Review Team for consideration.
7. Outcome notification: You will be notified of the outcome of your voucher application shortly after the decision is made.

Begin the process today by submitting an application.