About the program

CSIRO Kick-Start is an initiative for innovative Australian start-ups and small to medium enterprises, providing funding support and access to CSIRO’s research expertise and capabilities to help grow and develop their business.

For many start-ups and SMEs, progressing an R&D idea can be challenging without the right support.

CSIRO Kick-Start offers a practical solution by pairing businesses with CSIRO experts and providing dollar-matched funding of $10,000 to $50,000 to help investigate challenges, refine concepts and move ideas closer to market.

Benefits of joining the program:

• Access world-class CSIRO research expertise
• Share project costs through matched funding
• Advance prototypes, feasibility studies or product development

How it works

Simple steps to start your R&D journey

Kick-Start is designed to make it easy for innovative businesses to begin working with CSIRO researchers. Once we've assessed your eligibility, we'll guide you through the process of defining a project and collaborating with the right research team:

Check your eligibility
Review the funding support available and confirm your business meets the criteria.

Submit an expression of interest (EOI)
Download the EOI form DOCX (64 KB) and email it to us, telling us about your R&D challenge or idea. The team will assess your EOI and help shape a suitable project.

Collaborate with CSIRO researchers
Work directly with a research team to scope, deliver and evaluate your project, with matched funding supporting the work.

Who it's for

Support for early-stage, high potential Australian businesses

Kick-Start is open to Australian start-ups and SMEs that are ready to explore, validate or accelerate an R&D idea with expert help.

To be eligible, businesses must:

• Have an annual turnover and operating expenditure of less than $10 million, or have been trading for less than three years
• Hold an ACN or ICN
• Be registered for GST
• Be able to provide matched funding for the project.