Australian Grains Innovation Program 2025

The Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) Australian Grains Innovation Program supports innovation within the grains industry, through industry focussed pre-accelerator and accelerator programs.

The GRDC is seeking proposals from service providers for pre-accelerator commercialisation programs, and/or accelerator programs to support novel innovation with the potential to address Australian grains industry priorities as outlined in the GRDC Research, Development and Extension Plan 2023-28.

GRDC’s primary objective is to drive the discovery, development and delivery of world-class innovation to enhance the productivity, profitability and sustainability of Australian grain growers and benefit the grains industry and the wider community. Facilitated engagement of innovators with growers, grower groups, farming systems groups, or other relevant industry stakeholders is essential to the development and adoption of new and innovative technology. Plans and relationships that support effective engagement with industry stakeholders will be critical to a service provider’s ability to deliver on the purpose of these programs.

Pre-Accelerator Commercialisation Programs

GRDC is looking for service providers that have a proven track record of success in supporting innovators including growers, entrepreneurs, students, and researchers, in building their entrepreneurial skillset while validating an innovative idea and developing a commercialisation pathway such as new venture creation or licensing.

Accelerator Programs

GRDC is looking for service providers that have a proven track record of success in accelerating the development and growth of start-up companies in agriculture or other relevant industry sectors.

Applicants may submit a proposal to provide pre-accelerator commercialisation programs, and/or accelerator programs. Successful applicants may be contracted to provide programs for up to three years.

Conditions for Participation:

The following are mandatory conditions with which a Tenderer must comply to participate in this procurement process:

1 The Tenderer must be a single legal entity or recognised firm of partners except where the Tender is submitted by a consortium and the Tender specifies that each member of the proposed consortium will be party to the contract.

2 The Tenderer and any proposed subcontractor must be compliant with the Workplace Gender Equality Act 2012, the Modern Slavery Act 2018 and any other applicable labour laws and standards in the jurisdiction in which they operate.

3 The Tenderer and any subcontractor must not have a judicial decision against it (not including decisions under appeal) relating to employee entitlements and who have not paid the claim.

4 The Tenderer and any subcontractor must not be named on the Consolidated List, being the list of persons and entities who are subject to targeted financial sanctions or travel bans under Australian sanction laws, as maintained by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

5 In accordance with the Shadow Economy Procurement Connected Policy, a Tenderer must include a satisfactory and valid Statement of Tax Records (STR). If the total value of all work under any proposed subcontract is expected to be equal to or above $4 million (inclusive of GST), also include a separate satisfactory and valid STR of that proposed subcontractor.

The following are the mandatory content and format requirements that the Tenderer must complete and provide to participate in this procurement process:

1 Submit Tenders using the Grains Investment Portal.

2 Write Tenders in English and express any measurements in Australian legal units of measurement.

3 Budget details must be submitted on the ‘GRDC Budget Template’ provided in the Grains Investment Portal.

Timeframe for Delivery:

Up to three years (December 2025 to December 2028)

Address for Lodgement:

Please submit application through the Grains Investment Portal: https://access.grdc.com.au/