International Researcher - Industry Grants Create Collaborative business Opportunities

The first round of Bridging Grants was announced today by the Minister for Industry, Innovation and Science, The Hon Greg Hunt MP.

The Academy congratulates the Minister on his launch today of a new program of assistance within the Global Connections Fund – Bridging Grants. 

Bridging Grants provide funding of $25,000 to $50,000 to support researcher-SME partnerships globally. 

The grants support a range of early research translation/commercialisation activities including proof of concept, market testing and early prototyping of projects.  The grants are a competitive matching funds program. 

Bridging Grants are a program of the Global Connections Fund which supports collaborative projects with 17 priority economies and is managed by the Australian Academy of Technology and Engineering (ATSE) as part of the Australian Government’s Global Innovation Strategy funded under the Government’s National Innovation and Science Agenda (NISA).

Full details are on the Global Connections Fund website.

Issued by: Australian Academy of Technology and Engineering

Contact: Bill Mackey, Deputy CEO
[email protected]  / 03 9864 0902 / 0418 923 370

International Science-Business Grants Create New Collaborative Momentum

Seventy-four innovative, technology-business projects have been awarded in the first round of Priming Grants announced in Sydney today by the Minister for Industry, Innovation and Science, The Hon Greg Hunt MP.

Priming Grants are a program of the Global Connections Fund which is managed by the Australian Academy of Technology and Engineering (ATSE) as part of the Australian Government’s Global Innovation Strategy funded under the Government’s National Innovation and Science Agenda (NISA).

Priming Grants, each of $7,000, support early stage international Researcher-SME engagement in key industry priority areas – advanced manufacturing; food and agribusiness; medical technology and pharmaceuticals; mining equipment, technology and services; and oil, gas and energy resources. The advanced manufacturing sector was awarded the highest percentage of grants (43 per cent) in this round.

While there was a wide spectrum of international partner engagements, those projects partnering with the EU, the US and China represented close to 80 per cent of all grants awarded. A full breakdown of the grant award numbers can be found in the news section of this site. 

The Academy was delighted with the range and quality of the applications received and will publish profiles of the successful projects.   

Margaret Hartley Chief Executive Officer of ATSE said: “It is a privilege to see so many diverse and unique projects underway in Australia.  I don’t think we give ourselves enough credit for the amount of innovative and creative activity that is going on across Australia and this is often not seen until it surfaces through a program like this. It bodes well for our creative future and the linking of our researchers and our business on a global scale.” 

The Global Connection Fund supports collaborative projects with 17 priority economies and forms part of the Global Innovation Strategy under the Australian Government’s National Innovation and Science Agenda. Full details are on the Global Connections Fund website.

Issued by: Australian Academy of Technology and Engineering (ATSE)

Contact: Bill Mackey, Deputy CEO [email protected]  / 03 9864 0902 / 0418 923 370

ATSE is an independent not-for-profit organisation of more than 800 eminent Australian scientists, technologists and engineers enhancing Australia’s prosperity through technology and innovation

Outcomes of Priming Grants First Round for 2016

The Global Connections fund is pleased to present the outcomes of the Priming Grant round for 2016. 

A list of the successful awardees can be viewed here.

Overall Summary

EOI submitted:  172

EOI approved:   123 (EOI approval rate ~ 72%)

EOI rejected:    49

PGA final for review: 108 (88% of approved EOI)

PGA approved after review: 74 (69%)

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Applications by Priority Area & Economy

PG by SME or Researcher and Economy

PG Partners by Economy

Priority Areas vs Priority Economies   

Advanced Manufacturing

Medical Technologies and Pharmaceuticals

Food and Agribusiness

Oil, Gas and Energy Resources

Mining Equipment, Technology and Services

Bridging Grants First Call 2016 - Update

The Global Connection Fund Update

01/08/2026

We are pleased to announce that Bridging Grants will be opening for Expressions of Interest (EOI) and eventually, full applications in mid-August 2016.

In the interim we have made available on the GCF website the Bridging Grant information including the BG guidelines, the BG FAQs, BG eligibility criteria and the process of application. You will also be able to download an example EOI and Application form and a budget template for consideration.

This information will allow potential applicants to consider what is required in advance and to prepare for an initial EOI, and if that is approved, a full Bridging Grant application. 

The Global Connection Team

Australia-China Young Scientists Exchange Program (YSEP)

This is not part of the  Global Connections Fund activities or projects but may be of interest.

The Australia-China Young Scientists Exchange Program (YSEP) is a joint initiative funded by the Australian Department of Industry Innovation and Science and the Chinese Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST). It is supported by the Commonwealth of Australia under the Australia-China Science and Research Fund (science and research knowledge exchange). The 2016 exchanges will take place 25 July- 6 August (Chinese scientists to Australia) and 30 October-11 November (Australian scientists to China)

Details can be found here