Innovating with Confidence

Innovation is essential for manufacturers looking to improve competitiveness, strengthen supply chains, and bring new products and processes to market. However, developing and adopting new technologies can be costly and complex, particularly for small and medium-sized businesses. AMCRC’s collaborative R&D funding programs are designed to reduce these barriers by providing matched funding, connecting industry with leading research expertise, and helping businesses translate ideas into commercial outcomes.

Through its two funding streams, STARTER Project Funding and CORE Project Funding, AMCRC supports businesses at different stages of their innovation journey. The STARTER program provides a low-risk entry point for organisations wanting to explore additive manufacturing opportunities, investigate technical challenges, test concepts, or assess commercial viability through focused projects lasting between three and twelve months. By combining matched funding with access to specialist facilities and expertise from AMCRC’s partner universities and CSIRO, businesses can build confidence in new technologies before making larger investment decisions.

For organisations ready to pursue more ambitious innovation outcomes, the CORE Project Funding Program supports larger, multi-year collaborative R&D projects aimed at advancing technologies from proof-of-concept through to pilot production and commercial readiness. Through dollar-matched co-investment, the program helps industry partners de-risk innovation while accessing world-class research capabilities to solve complex manufacturing challenges and accelerate product and process development.

Beyond financial support, both programs create opportunities to build long-term partnerships between industry and research organisations. These collaborations enable businesses to access specialised knowledge, equipment, facilities, and talent that may otherwise be difficult to reach. They also help organisations develop internal capability, explore new business models, harness sustainable materials, and strengthen critical supply chains.

Importantly, the benefits of R&D funding extend well beyond the life of an individual project. STARTER projects can generate the technical and commercial evidence needed to support future investment decisions and often serve as a pathway to larger collaborative R&D initiatives. CORE projects provide a mechanism to scale promising technologies, accelerate commercialisation, and create lasting economic, industrial, and community benefits. Together, the programs help Australian manufacturers innovate with greater confidence, reduce the risks associated with technology adoption, and position themselves for long-term growth in an increasingly competitive global market