Launchpad Program

For the startup stream, you must remain eligible throughout the funded activities. You must hold an Australian Business Number (ABN), be incorporated in Australia and operate for profit. Australian subsidiaries of international entities can qualify if they demonstrate a presence and commitment to operating and commercialising their technology in Australia. You must own or develop the technology, product or solution and have freedom to use the relevant intellectual property and assets. Universities, publicly funded research organisations and government entities cannot apply in this stream, but university spinouts and research-commercialisation companies can.

ARENA screens for genuine early-stage companies developing and commercialising innovative technologies. Established workforces, operating history or meaningful capital already raised can lead to exclusion. Your activities must primarily take place in Australia or primarily advance an Australian-based business, and align with ARENA’s statutory functions and Investment Plan. The technology must already have achieved at least Technology Readiness Level 3 when you apply: analytical and laboratory work has tested key elements of the concept, beyond a paper-only idea. Provide evidence for the level claimed.

Startup funding excludes research without a clear commercialisation path, idea-stage concepts below this threshold, activities outside ARENA’s remit, ordinary operating overheads that do not directly advance the proposed opportunity, application preparation, activities completed before the agreement, recurring costs committed before application, and activities primarily involving consulting, advice or brokerage without a novel technology or innovation outcome. Disclose proceedings or investigations involving you or related companies that could affect delivery or reputation. ARENA will not sign with entities designated as terrorists or subject to sanctions.

For the ecosystem stream, hold an ABN and be an Australian entity incorporated under the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth), a state or federal statutory corporation, an Australian university or research institution, a registered Australian nonprofit or charity, or an Australian industry association. Your services must support Australian clean-energy startups and contribute to the programme and round objectives. Support for idea-stage concepts below TRL 3 and startups outside ARENA’s remit is excluded. You cannot pass the grant to startups as investments, cash payments, recycled grants or debt. Activities already completed or funded before the agreement are excluded.

Both streams require necessary, reasonable costs that support the approved activities, calculated net of GST and incurred during the agreement period unless ARENA agrees otherwise. Keep supporting records and accounting systems that separately identify eligible expenditure and provide an audit trail. Apportion shared resources by actual use; related-party costs may need evidence of arm’s-length terms. Debt repayment, interest and financing costs, land acquisition, dividends, opportunity costs, litigation, entertainment, donations, sponsorships and unrelated costs are generally ineligible. Minimise overseas spending, except where equipment or materials cannot reasonably or cost-effectively be sourced in Australia. Substantial overseas costs can weaken merit unless ARENA accepts that they are critical and value for money.

You may work with partners or a consortium, while remaining eligible yourself. Declare conflicts of interest, including those of personnel, and how you propose to manage them.

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• Ecosystem Funding Round: eligible organisations providing support services to Australian clean-energy startups. Open until funding is exhausted.

Read the programme guidelines and the rules for your chosen stream, then submit the Launchpad application form through ARENANet. The startup round closes at 4pm AEDT on 28 October 2026; the ecosystem round remains open until funding is exhausted.

Startup applications include written responses, a pitch deck, a short video and a conflict-of-interest declaration. ARENA ranks eligible applications and invites shortlisted applicants to a virtual assessment pitch. It does not collaborate on developing startup applications. If offered funding, you have 14 days from receiving the agreement to accept and sign, unless ARENA extends the period. You must accept the issued terms without changes; ARENA may alter them to manage funding risks.

Ecosystem applicants may discuss a proposal with ARENA before submitting. Provide written answers, a Design and Execution Plan, a conflict declaration and supporting evidence through ARENANet. Applications are assessed on a rolling basis; ARENA may request clarification or a presentation and work with you on aspects of the proposal. You can submit a compliance table proposing departures from the agreement template, though ARENA has limited appetite for material departures. Funding remains subject to internal approval and a signed agreement.

Notify ARENA promptly if material information changes after submission. Do not assume you can revise an application after its due date or submission. Programme questions can be sent to Launchpad@arena.gov.au; ARENA cannot give specific pre-submission feedback on the eligibility or merit of startup concepts.