Applications open for the Global Connections Fund

The Global Connections Fund (GCF) provides initial funding to promote international collaboration between researchers and small to medium enterprises (SMEs).

The GCF Bridging Grants provides $25,000 to $50,000 per grant as seed funding capital to enable viable projects to grow in scope and scale, and test commercialisation and proof of concept activities. This is designed to strengthen international researcher-SME collaboration and promote the translation of research knowledge into market ready products and services. Grants will be provided to the Australian researcher or SME only.

The program is funded by the Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources (DISER) and delivered by the Australian Academy of Technology and Engineering (ATSE). To be eligible for the current round, projects must fall within the following priority areas:

• Resources Technology & Critical Minerals Processing

• Food & Beverage

• Medical Products

• Recycling & Clean Energy

Stage 1 of the application process – the eligibility test – along with the application guidelines can be accessed through ATSE’s GCF webpage: https://www.atse.org.au/programs-and-awards/global-connections-fund/. Eligible applicants will then be asked to submit full applications at Stage 2, expected to open on 11 April 2022.