CSIRO Kick-Start: matched funding of $20,000 to $60,000 to work with CSIRO researchers.
Who can apply
Australian startups and small to medium businesses that want CSIRO's help researching, prototyping or testing a new product or process.
We can write this application for you
Send us your business name and we'll check it against every criterion for CSIRO Kick-Start. If it's a fit, we write the application, build the budget and check the attachments. You read it, sign it and submit it yourself. Nothing to pay unless you win.
Eligibility quick-check
- Common blockerBusiness structure: a company (Pty Ltd, with an ACN) or other incorporated entity. Sole traders and most partnerships can't apply.
- Check thisTurnover: < $10m (or < 3 yrs)
- Common blockerCo-contribution: you put in your own cash too (often $1 for every $1, or half the project cost). Check you can fund it before you apply.
- Usually fineLocation: open Australia-wide, including Victoria.
A quick guide from our reading of the official criteria, not a decision. The funder's guidelines are what count.
How to apply for CSIRO Kick-Start
- Check every eligibility criterion in the official guidelines, not just the summary. One missed criterion usually means rejection.
- Confirm your ABN details (legal name, entity type, GST status) match the ABN Register exactly. Mismatches are a common reason applications fail.
- Gather evidence: quotes for the project, recent financials, and proof of any co-contribution or lease, depending on what the guidelines ask for.
- Write the answers to each assessment criterion with specific numbers (costs, jobs, sales, timelines), and build the budget in the funder's format.
- Lodge it through the official portal while the round is open. Keep a copy of the submitted application and the receipt.
- If you're successful, read the funding agreement before signing, keep every receipt, and diarise the report and acquittal dates.
CSIRO Kick-Start: common questions
Who can apply for CSIRO Kick-Start?
Australian startups and small to medium businesses that want CSIRO's help researching, prototyping or testing a new product or process.
How much is CSIRO Kick-Start worth?
Matched funding between $20,000 and $60,000.
When does CSIRO Kick-Start close?
Closing date not stated. Check the official page for the current round.
Can sole traders apply for CSIRO Kick-Start?
No. CSIRO Kick-Start needs a company or other incorporated entity, so sole traders can't apply as they are. Incorporating changes your tax and legal position, so talk to your accountant first.
Do I need to put in my own money?
Yes. This program needs a co-contribution from your business, so you'll need cash available for your share of the project, and often to pay costs before you claim.
Can someone apply for CSIRO Kick-Start on my behalf?
Someone else can prepare it, but your business is the applicant: you sign the declarations, and most funders expect you to submit it yourself. We prepare the whole application so it's ready for you to review, sign and submit, usually in about 10 minutes. If a funder's rules expressly allow an agent to lodge, we can do it with your written OK after you've approved the final version.
How much does it cost to get help applying?
Freelance grant writers in Australia typically charge by the hour or a fixed fee per application, whether you win or not. With Vic Grants Weekly, there's nothing to pay unless you win. If you do, the fee is 12% of the grant money you receive, capped at A$3,000 + GST, and due only once the money is in your account. Where a grant's rules don't allow percentage fees, it's a flat win-only fee from A$99.
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