Deadline: 31-Mar-25
The Department of Industry, Science and Resources has launched applications for the National Critical Research Infrastructure Grant to establish and extend infrastructure of critical importance, that will be used to conduct world-class health and medical research in areas of unmet medical need.
Objectives
- Research infrastructure (i.e. facilities, equipment, systems and services) is a crucial enabler of health and medical research that can drive new research discoveries and accelerate innovation. Research infrastructure is needed to support Australian researchers find innovative solutions to complex health problems in areas of unmet medical need. This can be done by providing funding support to areas such as:
- development and/or expansion of research enablers to ensure that discoveries are effectively and rapidly converted to new preventive interventions, diagnostics, therapeutic products and medical devices, based on high-quality data. This includes harnessing the potential of research enablers such as biobanks, tissue repositories, novel platforms, and secure health data environments by using new research methodologies or applications, and enhanced infrastructure linkage strategies. As such, supporting the development and/or expansion of research enablers can support areas such as (but not limited to):
- integration of large-scale health datasets
- development of research data commons
- integration of next generation omics data with existing omics and non-omics data
- translational research in biologics
- development of personalised medicine
- development, and evaluation of new medical imaging
- software based medical devices and non‑pharmaceutical therapeutic products.
- access to expertise and infrastructure that facilitate innovation and discovery in areas of unmet medical need by capacity and capability building, including through collaboration and partnerships with industry.
- access to high-quality data and shared information for improved coordination of care and health outcomes through the development of technologies such as digital therapeutics (including software in the pharmaceutical, medical device and/or diagnostic sectors), artificial intelligence and wearables. Such innovations can offer an efficient way to screen for and diagnose disease, as well as monitor symptoms, disease progression, and/or disease management.
- establishment, extension and enhancement of the capacity, capability and effective use of Australia’s health and medical research infrastructure to place Australian researchers at the forefront of health and medical research. This will also strengthen the response to not only the COVID-19 pandemic but also in areas of unmet medical need and emerging health challenges by accelerating research on novel mRNA based vaccine, treatments and therapeutics.
- development and/or expansion of research enablers to ensure that discoveries are effectively and rapidly converted to new preventive interventions, diagnostics, therapeutic products and medical devices, based on high-quality data. This includes harnessing the potential of research enablers such as biobanks, tissue repositories, novel platforms, and secure health data environments by using new research methodologies or applications, and enhanced infrastructure linkage strategies. As such, supporting the development and/or expansion of research enablers can support areas such as (but not limited to):
Grant Streams
- The 2024 National Critical Research Infrastructure initiative invests in research infrastructure to ensure Australian researchers find innovative solutions to complex health problems in areas of unmet medical need. This grant opportunity has four streams.
- Stream 1 – Innovation enablers
- Addresses an area of unmet medical need by promoting the development and implementation of new research infrastructure by supporting development and/or expansion of research enablers such as biobanks, tissue repositories, novel research platforms, and secure health data environments to create valuable research resources.
- Stream 2 – Digitisation of health care
- Developing and translating into practice digital therapeutics, artificial intelligence enabled health interventions and technologies (e.g. wearables integrated into clinical practice), applications or other software for use in clinical practice.
- Stream 3 – Co-investment partnerships
- Utilising co-investment (cash only) with the research sector, state and/or territory governments, and industry, in significant critical research infrastructure (e.g. facilities, personnel and equipment):
- to support development of research capacity, capability and/or effectiveness in an area of unmet medical need, or
- to enable Australian research using new platforms, systems and services in an area of unmet medical need.
- Utilising co-investment (cash only) with the research sector, state and/or territory governments, and industry, in significant critical research infrastructure (e.g. facilities, personnel and equipment):
- Stream 4 – mRNA technology enablers
- Leveraging and enhancing emerging mRNA technologies, platforms, and/or equipment to accelerate development of mRNA-based vaccines and therapeutics in an area of unmet medical need.
- Stream 1 – Innovation enablers
Funding Information
- For this grant opportunity, up to $76 million is available over 2 years from 2025-26.
- Stream 1:
- $15 million in 2025-26
- $6 million in 2026-27
- Stream 2:
- $8 million in 2025-26
- $7 million in 2026-27
- Stream 3:
- $10 million in 2025-26
- $18 million in 2026-27
- Stream 4:
- $8 million in 2025-26
- $4 million in 2026-27
- Stream 1:
- The grant amount will be up to 100 per cent of eligible project costs (for Streams 1, 2 and 4) or up to 66 per cent of eligible project costs (for Stream 3).
- Stream 1: There is no minimum grant amount and the maximum amount available for a single grant is $3 million.
- Stream 2: There is no minimum grant amount and the maximum amount available for a single grant is $3 million.
- Stream 3: There is no minimum grant amount and the maximum amount available for a single grant is $7 million.
- Stream 4: There is no minimum grant amount and the maximum amount available for a single grant is $4 million.
Eligible Activities
- Include one or more of the following eligible activities:
- development/installation of research equipment
- minor capital works
- employment of personnel and/or
- other direct research costs.
Eligibility Criteria
- To be eligible you must:
- have an Australian Business Number (ABN)
- be incorporated in Australia
- and in accordance with s24 of the MRFF Act 2015, be one of the following entities:
- a medical research institute
- a university
- a corporate Commonwealth entity
- a corporation (including businesses and not for profits).
For more information, visit business.gov.au.
