Collaborative Funding
At a glance
Core project funding
- Funding model / Dollar-matched industry funding
- Funding available / $250,000 – $5 million per project
- Industry co-investment / Minimum $100,000 per year
- Project duration / Multi-year collaborative R&D projects
- Technology stage / Manufacturing Readiness Levels (MRL) 4–7
Projects are designed to move promising manufacturing technologies from proof-of-concept to pilot line and commercial readiness. - Participants / Industry + AMCRC partner universities / CSIRO
AMCRC’s CORE Project Funding Program supports multi-year, industry-led research projects that accelerate the development, adoption and commercialisation of additive manufacturing (AM) in Australia.
Spanning the entire AM value chain, the program brings together manufacturers, researchers, technology providers, material suppliers and certifying bodies in collaborative projects aligned with AMCRC’s vision of creating a sustainable and resilient AM future for Australia.
Through co-investment, the program helps de-risk innovation and translate research into real-world manufacturing outcomes.
Program Overview
About the Program
With $57.5m of Commonwealth funding available for co-investment in AM research and development, the program aims to
- Strengthen Australia’s advanced manufacturing capability
- Accelerate industry uptake of AM technologies
- Explore new business models
- Harness sustainable materials and strengthen supply chains
- Support commercialisation and scale-up
- Build enduring industry–research partnerships
- Deliver long-term economic and community benefits
The program invests in industry-led, collaborative research projects delivered in partnership with one or more of AMCRC’s partner universities and CSIRO.
Projects must address real industry challenges, span across multiple years and support one or more of AMCRC’s research programs:
- PROGRAM 1: Sustainable manufacturing
Improving resource efficiency, sustainability and lifecycle outcomes across the AM value chain - PROGRAM 2: Application and materials development
Developing new materials and application for AM - PROGRAM 3: Technology and certified process development
Advancing AM processes, quality assurance and certification pathways - PROGRAM 4: Surface technologies and post processing
Improving finishing technologies and-process for AM parts
Project should align with priority industry sectors where AM can deliver strategic value, including defence and aerospace, energy, resources, medtech, transport and advanced industrial manufacturing.
Timeline
How to apply
AMCRC’s CORE Project Funding Program is designed for Australian companies that are willing and have capacity to invest in multi-year, collaborative R&D projects. Projects require a minimum industry cash contribution of $100,000 per year, with AMCRC providing matched funding.
Funding will be deployed through a series of funding rounds. The first funding round has now closed, with the next round set to be announced in May.
Resources
Resources to support your application
To help you navigate the process with confidence, AMCRC provides a suite of resources to support you at every stage— from early idea development through to submission. Applicants are encouraged to review all documentation and use the provided templates to shape a strong, collaborative proposal.
The AMCRC team is available to discuss project concepts ahead of submission, helping you assess alignment with the program and strengthen your application.
FAQ
Questions & answers
AMCRC matches industry cash contributions on a dollar-for-dollar basis (i.e. AMCRC co-funds up to 50% of the total cash value of the project).
AMCRC funding is specifically designed to help manufacturing companies that are willing and have capacity to invest in multi-year, collaborative R&D projects with a minimum industry cash co-investment of $100,000 per project.
Industry may be eligible if:
- Industry intends to invest in a manufacturing R&D project of at least 18 months in duration with an AMCRC partner Australian research organisation
- Industry intends to invest in R&D that utilises or creates new manufacturing technologies with commercial potential
- Industry already has a manufacturing proof of concept and you plan to develop this through to readiness to invest in pilot line production/early stage commercialisation (i.e. scale-up)
- Industry is willing to involve other Australian manufacturing SMEs as collaborators during the project (e.g. partners, suppliers, providers, customers) to enable wider benefits
- Industry understands that a condition of funding is that investment from AMCRC can only be used to fund external research and cannot be used to fund your internal company costs.
AMCRC collaborates with the following Australian universities and research organisations:
- Charles Darwin University
- CSIRO
- Curtin University
- Deakin University
- Flinders University
- Griffith University
- Monash University
- Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT)
- Swinburne University of Technology (SUT)
- Adelaide University
- University of Queensland (UQ)
- University of Technology Sydney (UTS)
- University of Western Sydney
Eligible projects must address MRL 4-7 at commencement and be designed to advance the technology / process by at least one MRL level, ideally two, over the course of the project.
Projects may include elements of earlier or later MRLs, provided they meet the overall eligibility and assessment criteria.
In-kind contributions are non-cash contributions that partners provide to AMCRC for use in the evaluation of projects and / or use in projects. It could be staff, equipment, data, office space or Intellectual Property (IP).
In-kind contributions from research and industry partners makes up a large portion of our total funding. To ensure there is a proportional use of in-kind contributions, the aim is that all projects have in-kind contributions that are double the cash project expenses.
When an organisation joins an AMCRC Project, it estimates the in-kind contributions it will contribute during theR&D collaboration. This will be confirmed prior to the project commencing.
Each project has a project agreement where Intellectual Property (IP) issues and specific project issues are set out and agreed together with project scope and funding for each project. In general, the project IP will be owned by the Industry Lead Partner(s), unless otherwise agreed by the project parties.
AMCRC takes no equity share in IP.
Background IP, and any improvements to that background IP, will remain the property of the party or parties that contributed the IP.
Get Involved
Ready to apply or have questions?
Submit a project proposal or get in touch to discuss your idea with our team.