Launch your research-driven venture into market with ON Accelerate

Program overview

ON Accelerate is a three-month, free commercialisation acceleration program for entrepreneurial researchers who are ready to translate their great idea into a research-driven company.

Tailored to the translation of publicly funded research, this program focuses on business models, market validation, storytelling and capital raising. This includes access to venture capital partners and networks to help secure capital for business development.

All IP remains the property of the team or their sponsoring institute. Participants are required to sign non-disclosure agreements for IP protection.

Eligibility 

To be eligible for ON Accelerate, your team must meet all the following criteria:

• Team size: Three to six people 
• Team diversity: Include team members with varied expertise, such as:
  • Colleagues from your organisation
  • Researchers from other Australian universities or publicly funded research organisations (PFRO)**
  • Industry partners
  • Community representatives
  • University students or staff from research services, TTOs, or communications teams.
• Location: All team members must be based in Australia for the program duration.
• Time commitment:
  • At least three core members must attend all in-person workshops and coaching sessions.
  • Your team must commit the equivalent of one full-time person (shared across the team) to work on the venture outside of sessions.
• Research involvement: Your team must include
  • A researcher at an Australian university or PFRO, OR
  • A PhD student or recent graduate (within the last 24 months) from an Australian university or PFRO.
• Startups/SMEs: Teams from Australian startups or SMEs that have licensed or acquired IP from an Australian university or PFRO are eligible - but must include a member from the originating university or PFRO.
• For venture capital readiness: Your team must be a registered company with authority to transact using the IP.

Key dates 

ON Accelerate runs once a year. Bootcamp is typically held in October or November, with the Program concluding at a Showcase which is typically hosted in June of the following year.

This program provides individualised support for each team to meet you where you are and help you accelerate to market. Our end goal is that each team will leave the program with a solid business model, a well-defined path to commercialisation and a clear trajectory for success.

Step one: ON Accelerate bootcamp

Up to 20 teams are selected from the online application process to participate in a two-day selection bootcamp, delivered face-to-face. Bootcamp will be an opportunity for teams to demonstrate their product-market fit, customer interest and team strength.

As part of the bootcamp selection process, we'll bring together a network of investors from the Australian deep tech venture capital community. The top teams from bootcamp will be invited to participate in a week-long immersion program.

What past participants valued most:

• "CSIRO's ON Accelerate Immersion gave us a safe space to test out big ideas and get comfortable pitching to a live audience."
• "We found the three days of our ON Accelerate Immersion activities to be highly useful in unifying our team behind an align mission and better refined program success metrics!"
• "We learned heaps at ON Accelerate Immersion! So helpful for successfully spinning out our company. Extremely valuable, and would definitely recommend for others in the same position to do. Experts involved in the Program were perfect, friendly and helpful."
• "Whilst Bootcamp was a good intro into the world of tech commercialisation, Immersion encouraged/forced us to implement what we have learnt through the process so far. We have identified key gaps in the past 3-days which we will tackle to help get us to our next value proposition inflection point."

Step two: Join the program

Over the three-month program, teams meet regularly with facilitators and their cohort to share progress, unpack key learnings, navigate roadblocks, and hear directly from successful deep-tech founders.

You’ll also have dedicated one-on-one sessions with domain experts, investors, mentors and ON Accelerate facilitators. These sessions are designed to challenge your thinking, sharpen your strategy, and provide tailored support aligned to your team's focus areas and opportunities—helping you accelerate your venture faster and with more confidence.

For teams accepted into the program, we also work closely with you to identify any additional capability you may need, and help you bring in the right skills at the right time.

The program culminates in a Showcase event, giving teams the opportunity to present their progress to the broader innovation ecosystem.

Hear more from our Program Director and a coach/industry expert

How to apply

Rounds are typically open once a year, typically some time mid-year.  To be notified of all future application rounds. 

Don't forget to subscribe to our mailing list. Applying to participate in ON Accelerate is a multi-step process:

1. Submit an online application
   Each team is required to register via the online application portal then submit an application. Please note that this is an in-depth application, so feel free to download the pdf form to help prepare for the questions (see our application guide for more detail).
2. Application review and evaluation
   At the closure of the application period, all applications will be reviewed by representatives of their lead organisation. This is to ensure that each team has engaged their sponsoring institute and has full support to participate in the program. Each application is evaluated by multiple experts from our extended network. The highest rated applications will be invited to participate in the two-day selection bootcamp.
3. Participate in selection bootcamp and immersion week
   The top teams participate in a two-day selection bootcamp, before progressing to immersion week. After immersion week, the final cohort are selected for ON Accelerate.

The clarity of your application will be assessed based on the following key points:

• the solution and value proposition for their product or service
• evidence of the problem that their solution addresses
• the identified target market and customer segments of their product or service
• strength and coverage of relevant skillsets within the team
• demonstration of commercially relevant traction or uptake of their technology
• alignment between the team goal and objectives of ON Accelerate
• evidence that a startup venture is the most appropriate pathway to impact.

Benefits

Through personalised coaching and group work, ON Accelerate will:

• Equip, empower and energise teams to tackle the research commercialisation journey.
• Support the whole team to develop entrepreneurial skills including networking, pitching and investor engagement.
• Assist teams with identifying their customer and the specific problem that they are solving.
• Build and validate investment ready, innovative, sustainable and scalable business models.
• Introduce teams to venture funding opportunities, helping them develop a network of experts, investors and supporters and preparing them to succeed.

Throughout the program, you will be connected to a network of experts and coaches who will support (and challenge) you. The domain coaches you may work with are specialists in the following areas:

• performance coaching
• IP
• finance and contract management
• investor relations
• media management
• team building

Teams will also be able to access ongoing coaching post program for a duration of up to 6-months. Keen to know more? Discover how these 10 tips can supercharge your research team’s journey in CSIRO’s ON Accelerate program.

Watch the following video to hear directly from our alumni

In addition to funding the total cost of participation (valued at over $150,000*), the ON Accelerate program offers non-dilutive funding to fast-track their market traction and venture creation during and post-program.

This figure includes:

• $20,000 per team, provided to Tech Transfer Officers (TTOs) at the conclusion of Immersion
• Up to $400,000 of funding to be distributed to high-performing teams within the cohort (max. funding of $80,000 per team)
• Bespoke coaching with domain experts throughout the program, plus additional coaching post-program for teams who fully meet the participation requirements.

Have a question?

Watch a recording of our ON Accelerate information session. [NB. the session took place in July 2025.] 

If you have any further questions, please reach out to our team at ON@csiro.au

Meet our alumni

Visit our ON Program Alumni website to find out more.

Program overview

ON Accelerate is a three-month, free commercialisation acceleration program for entrepreneurial researchers who are ready to translate their great idea into a research-driven company.

Tailored to the translation of publicly funded research, this program focuses on business models, market validation, storytelling and capital raising. This includes access to venture capital partners and networks to help secure capital for business development.

All IP remains the property of the team or their sponsoring institute. Participants are required to sign non-disclosure agreements for IP protection.

Eligibility 

To be eligible for ON Accelerate, your team must meet all the following criteria:

• Team size: Three to six people 
• Team diversity: Include team members with varied expertise, such as:
  • Colleagues from your organisation
  • Researchers from other Australian universities or publicly funded research organisations (PFRO)**
  • Industry partners
  • Community representatives
  • University students or staff from research services, TTOs, or communications teams.
• Location: All team members must be based in Australia for the program duration.
• Time commitment:
  • At least three core members must attend all in-person workshops and coaching sessions.
  • Your team must commit the equivalent of one full-time person (shared across the team) to work on the venture outside of sessions.
• Research involvement: Your team must include
  • A researcher at an Australian university or PFRO, OR
  • A PhD student or recent graduate (within the last 24 months) from an Australian university or PFRO.
• Startups/SMEs: Teams from Australian startups or SMEs that have licensed or acquired IP from an Australian university or PFRO are eligible - but must include a member from the originating university or PFRO.
• For venture capital readiness: Your team must be a registered company with authority to transact using the IP.

Key dates 

ON Accelerate runs once a year. Bootcamp is typically held in October or November, with the Program concluding at a Showcase which is typically hosted in June of the following year.

This program provides individualised support for each team to meet you where you are and help you accelerate to market. Our end goal is that each team will leave the program with a solid business model, a well-defined path to commercialisation and a clear trajectory for success.

Step one: ON Accelerate bootcamp

Up to 20 teams are selected from the online application process to participate in a two-day selection bootcamp, delivered face-to-face. Bootcamp will be an opportunity for teams to demonstrate their product-market fit, customer interest and team strength.

As part of the bootcamp selection process, we'll bring together a network of investors from the Australian deep tech venture capital community. The top teams from bootcamp will be invited to participate in a week-long immersion program.

What past participants valued most:

• "CSIRO's ON Accelerate Immersion gave us a safe space to test out big ideas and get comfortable pitching to a live audience."
• "We found the three days of our ON Accelerate Immersion activities to be highly useful in unifying our team behind an align mission and better refined program success metrics!"
• "We learned heaps at ON Accelerate Immersion! So helpful for successfully spinning out our company. Extremely valuable, and would definitely recommend for others in the same position to do. Experts involved in the Program were perfect, friendly and helpful."
• "Whilst Bootcamp was a good intro into the world of tech commercialisation, Immersion encouraged/forced us to implement what we have learnt through the process so far. We have identified key gaps in the past 3-days which we will tackle to help get us to our next value proposition inflection point."

Step two: Join the program

Over the three-month program, teams meet regularly with facilitators and their cohort to share progress, unpack key learnings, navigate roadblocks, and hear directly from successful deep-tech founders.

You’ll also have dedicated one-on-one sessions with domain experts, investors, mentors and ON Accelerate facilitators. These sessions are designed to challenge your thinking, sharpen your strategy, and provide tailored support aligned to your team's focus areas and opportunities—helping you accelerate your venture faster and with more confidence.

For teams accepted into the program, we also work closely with you to identify any additional capability you may need, and help you bring in the right skills at the right time.

The program culminates in a Showcase event, giving teams the opportunity to present their progress to the broader innovation ecosystem.

Hear more from our Program Director and a coach/industry expert

How to apply

Rounds are typically open once a year, typically some time mid-year.  To be notified of all future application rounds. 

Don't forget to subscribe to our mailing list. Applying to participate in ON Accelerate is a multi-step process:

1. Submit an online application
   Each team is required to register via the online application portal then submit an application. Please note that this is an in-depth application, so feel free to download the pdf form to help prepare for the questions (see our application guide for more detail).
2. Application review and evaluation
   At the closure of the application period, all applications will be reviewed by representatives of their lead organisation. This is to ensure that each team has engaged their sponsoring institute and has full support to participate in the program. Each application is evaluated by multiple experts from our extended network. The highest rated applications will be invited to participate in the two-day selection bootcamp.
3. Participate in selection bootcamp and immersion week
   The top teams participate in a two-day selection bootcamp, before progressing to immersion week. After immersion week, the final cohort are selected for ON Accelerate.

The clarity of your application will be assessed based on the following key points:

• the solution and value proposition for their product or service
• evidence of the problem that their solution addresses
• the identified target market and customer segments of their product or service
• strength and coverage of relevant skillsets within the team
• demonstration of commercially relevant traction or uptake of their technology
• alignment between the team goal and objectives of ON Accelerate
• evidence that a startup venture is the most appropriate pathway to impact.

Benefits

Through personalised coaching and group work, ON Accelerate will:

• Equip, empower and energise teams to tackle the research commercialisation journey.
• Support the whole team to develop entrepreneurial skills including networking, pitching and investor engagement.
• Assist teams with identifying their customer and the specific problem that they are solving.
• Build and validate investment ready, innovative, sustainable and scalable business models.
• Introduce teams to venture funding opportunities, helping them develop a network of experts, investors and supporters and preparing them to succeed.

Throughout the program, you will be connected to a network of experts and coaches who will support (and challenge) you. The domain coaches you may work with are specialists in the following areas:

• performance coaching
• IP
• finance and contract management
• investor relations
• media management
• team building

Teams will also be able to access ongoing coaching post program for a duration of up to 6-months. Keen to know more? Discover how these 10 tips can supercharge your research team’s journey in CSIRO’s ON Accelerate program.

Watch the following video to hear directly from our alumni

In addition to funding the total cost of participation (valued at over $150,000*), the ON Accelerate program offers non-dilutive funding to fast-track their market traction and venture creation during and post-program.

This figure includes:

• $20,000 per team, provided to Tech Transfer Officers (TTOs) at the conclusion of Immersion
• Up to $400,000 of funding to be distributed to high-performing teams within the cohort (max. funding of $80,000 per team)
• Bespoke coaching with domain experts throughout the program, plus additional coaching post-program for teams who fully meet the participation requirements.

Have a question?

Watch a recording of our ON Accelerate information session. [NB. the session took place in July 2025.] 

If you have any further questions, please reach out to our team at ON@csiro.au

Meet our alumni

Visit our ON Program Alumni website to find out more.