Explore Business Grants Available This October
Navigating the world of government grants can feel overwhelming. It can be difficult to know where to begin with countless opportunities, complex eligibility requirements, and time-consuming applications. That’s why we do the legwork for you each month.
Through our partnership with Avant Group, we’re bringing you a tailored selection of competitive grants your business may be eligible for this September. Current opportunities span manufacturing, innovation, tourism, renewable energy, and the R&D Tax Incentive, across both federal and Victorian Government programs.
Here’s what’s available this month.
Federal grants
Research and Development Tax Incentive (R&DTI)
Innovation involves technical uncertainty and financial risk. This Australian Government incentive helps companies recover some of the costs associated with eligible research and development activities that create new knowledge, products, processes or services.
Companies with aggregated turnover below $20 million may receive a refundable tax offset equal to their corporate tax rate plus an 18.5% premium. Companies with turnover of $20 million or more may receive a non-refundable offset, with premiums based on their level of R&D expenditure.
Eligible activities must generally involve an outcome that cannot be determined in advance, follow a systematic experimental process and aim to generate new knowledge. Directly related supporting activities may also qualify. Businesses must maintain appropriate technical and financial records, register their activities within 10 months after the relevant income year ends and claim the offset through their company tax return.
This is particularly relevant for innovative businesses investing in product development, engineering, software, manufacturing, scientific research or process improvement where projects involve genuine technical uncertainty and experimentation.
Who it's for: Eligible Australian companies of any size or industry conducting qualifying R&D activities and incurring eligible expenditure. Individuals, sole traders, partnerships and most trusts generally cannot claim.
CSIRO Kick-Start Program
Got an idea you're trying to prove out, but don't have the research capacity to do it? This one's worth your attention.
The CSIRO Kick-Start Program provides matched funding for start-ups and small SMEs to work directly with CSIRO researchers on development, testing, or feasibility projects. The idea is simple: you bring the business challenge, CSIRO brings the scientific capability, and the program helps cover the cost of the collaboration. It's part of CSIRO's broader commitment to supporting Australian technology businesses in areas of national priority, such as advanced manufacturing, agri-tech, med-tech, and clean energy.
To be eligible, your business needs to have a clearly defined innovation or R&D challenge that CSIRO has the expertise to help with. The program is particularly well-suited to early-stage businesses that need to validate their concept before taking it further.
Who it's for: Start-ups and small SMEs with an active R&D or product development challenge, especially in tech, agri-tech, med-tech, and advanced manufacturing.
Victorian grants
Victorian Production Fund (VPF) - Games
Developing an original video game requires more than a strong concept. Studios also need the funding, specialist skills and commercial strategy to move a project from prototype to market.
The Victorian Production Fund — Games supports Victorian game developers across pre-production, production and post-production. Funding can be used for development staff, technical and creative consultants, legal and accounting advice, marketing, localisation, porting and other activities needed to prepare a game for release or expand an existing title.
Grants are capped at $300,000 per development stage or $500,000 across the entire project. Applicants must contribute at least 50% of the relevant stage budget through cash, external funding, eligible in-kind work or a combination of these sources.
It is worth noting that this is a competitive program. Applicants will need to demonstrate the game’s creative and commercial potential, a realistic pathway to market and how the project will contribute to Victoria’s games and screen sector.
Who it's for: Victorian game developers, creators and studios developing original games for PC, console, mobile, virtual reality, augmented reality or extended reality, from early-stage development through to post-release expansion.
Victorian Land Systems Fund – Supply Chain Uplift Program (SCUP)
Victoria’s defence industry is expanding, but businesses may need stronger capabilities to compete for work within Hanwha Defence Australia’s domestic and international supply chains. This program helps Victorian businesses become defence-ready and pursue opportunities linked to major Australian land systems projects.
Eligible businesses can apply for grants of between $2,000 and $100,000, excluding GST, covering up to 50% of eligible project costs. Applicants must provide a 1:1 cash co-contribution, with applications assessed on a rolling basis until 30 June 2027 or available funding is exhausted.
The program supports activities such as business certifications, tender preparation, industry-specific compliance, minor facility upgrades, equipment fit-outs, supply chain collaboration, defence research and development, technology transfer and product development. Proposed projects must strengthen the applicant’s Victorian operations and help the business enter or expand within Hanwha’s supply chain.
This is particularly relevant for Victorian defence businesses seeking to improve their systems, meet security and compliance requirements, develop new products or compete for contracts associated with Hanwha’s defence programs.
Who it's for: Victorian businesses with an ABN and an established operating presence in the state that have registered through Hanwha’s BenchOn portal. Preference is given to businesses with 200 or fewer employees, although larger companies may be considered case by case.
Victorian Skills Solutions Partnerships (VSSP) – Round 4
Addressing industry skills gaps can take more than a standalone training course. Businesses, industry groups and training providers can work together to design practical training that reflects what Victorian industries need.
The Skills Solutions Partnerships program brings industry together with Victorian TAFEs and dual sector universities to co-design and pilot new short courses and on-the-job training. Round 4 starts with an Expression of Interest. Successful partnerships take part in a co-design process before they may be invited to apply for pilot funding. Business Victoria
After completing co-design, partnerships may apply for up to $500,000 to pilot their training solution. Project partners must match the funding on a 1:1 basis. The EOI closing date is 27 November 2026. Business Victoria
This is a competitive program. Partnerships need to show clear industry demand and include a Victorian TAFE or dual sector university. Proposals focused on artificial intelligence, leadership or technology adoption will be highly regarded. Business Victoria
Who it’s for: Partnerships of Victorian businesses, industry associations and Victorian TAFEs or dual sector universities addressing skills gaps in advanced manufacturing and defence, agribusiness, circular economy, health technologies and medical research, or digital technologies.
VIC - Victorian Screen Incentive (VSI)
Victoria continues to attract major film, television, animation, visual effects and digital games projects—but producing high-quality screen content locally comes with significant costs.
The Victorian Screen Incentive is a competitive state government grant designed to encourage eligible screen projects to undertake production or post-production work in Victoria. Funding is calculated as a percentage of Qualifying Victorian Expenditure and is capped at no more than 10% of eligible Victorian spending. The program operates on a rolling basis and can be combined with relevant federal screen offsets.
This program is best suited to commercially ready projects that are already fully financed and have demonstrated interest in release or distribution. Minimum Victorian expenditure thresholds apply: generally $8 million for physical productions and $500,000 for digital games, animation, post-production or visual effects projects. Funding is typically paid after the project is completed.
Who it's for: Production companies, post-production studios, animation and visual effects businesses, and digital game developers with the relevant project rights and plans to undertake substantial eligible work in Victoria.
Not sure where to start?
The most common reason businesses miss out on grants isn't ineligibility, it's not knowing the opportunity existed, or not having the time to put together a strong application.
That's where we come in. Our team works with businesses across all sectors to identify the right opportunities, assess eligibility, and manage the application process from start to finish. If any of these grants look relevant to your situation, get in touch even an initial conversation can help clarify what's worth pursuing.