Frequently Asked Questions

No, only Australian businesses based or operating in Queensland that meet the following eligibility criteria can apply:

• Have an active ABN (Australian Business Number) plus either an ACN (Australian Company Number) or ICN (Indigenous Corporation Number)

• Registered for GST

• Operating for at least 1 year

• Less than $20 million turnover/expenditure in the last financial year.

• Be able to match grant funding on a 1:1 basis. For example, if the RUIC grant provides project funding of $50,000 for a project, the business must also contribute $50,000. This must be a cash contribution and cannot be in-kind.

Yes. An Indigenous Corporation can apply on behalf of one or more of its member companies, provided the Indigenous Corporation is incorporated and has an ABN and an ACN or ICN.

If you’re unsure about any aspect of your eligibility, please email the RUIC team at RUIC@csiro.au outlining your specific questions or concerns. They will be happy to assist you.

Yes, your business may be eligible. If your business has operations in Queensland and the proposed project is relevant to those operations, you can submit an expression of interest (EOI) for the RUIC program. However, both the business and the project must meet the RUIC eligibility criteria.

No, research projects funded under the RUIC program must be focused on science and technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields. Marketing, market research and other non-STEM projects are not eligible.

Yes, here is no minimum duration for projects as long as they are completed within 12 months. However, there is a minimum voucher amount of $10,000, which must be dollar-matched by the business, resulting in a minimum project value of $20,000.

If your company meets the business eligibility criteria, please reach out to the RUIC team at RUIC@csiro.au, outlining your specific questions or concerns. They will be happy to assist you.

The first step is to review the RUIC Program and Eligibility Guidelines to determine your eligibility. If your business meets the eligibility criteria you can submit an Expression of Interest via the RUIC website.

No. Expressions of Interest for the RUIC program can be submitted year-round.

An application and grants management system is used to administer all aspects of the RUIC program. While it is designed to be intuitive and user-friendly, we have included simple instructions in the RUIC Program and Eligibility Guidelines to assist applicants. Additionally, a short video is available to guide businesses through the steps required at the grant stage.

Once your EOI is submitted, it will be reviewed by the RUIC team to ensure it meets the program’s eligibility criteria. We aim to provide a response within 10 working days.

Yes, you will need to provide a confirmation letter from your accountant to verify your business’s revenue/ turnover before proceeding to the next stage.

Yes, you can apply for a second project and matched voucher of up to $50,000 once your first project is complete. You may apply using the same process on the RUIC website. You can choose to collaborate with the same researcher or a different research team, either at the same or a different partner university. A RUIC facilitator will assist you through the process.

No, purchasing equipment is not an eligible use of the voucher.

No, the voucher does not provide funding directly to your business. The voucher is provided to the partner university to cover half of the research project’s cost. Your business is required to pay the remaining half, matching the value of the voucher.

The RUIC voucher amount must be matched by your business on a dollar-for-dollar basis.

The maximum voucher available is $50,000, requiring a $50,000 match from your business for a total project value of $100,000.

The minimum voucher amount is $10,000, requiring a $10,000 match from your business, for a total minimum project value of $20,000.

 

No, the matched funding must be a cash contribution. ‘In kind' costs, such as labour or transporting materials, cannot be used to offset the required cash contribution.

Yes, the voucher can only cover certain expenses. Costs associated with external services (if required by the partner university) and consumables are limited to a combined total of 10% of the project cost. Please refer to the RUIC Program and Eligibility Guidelines for more details.

Your business will approve the RUIC voucher application via the RUIC platform. If approved, you will enter into a contract with the partner university, covering the project scope, agreed budget, key milestones and payment schedule, and IP arrangements.

While the RUIC facilitators will do their best to find a suitable researcher for your project from one of the partner universities, unfortunately, a match is not guaranteed. If the required expertise is unavailable, or the researchers lack capacity, your application may not proceed. The RUIC team will notify you as soon as possible and may suggest other programs or opportunities if a match cannot be found.

IP arrangements will be negotiated between your business and the partner university on a project-by-project basis and included in the project contract. In most cases, the new IP generated through the project is assigned to the business. However, if the project involves the university's background IP, different terms may apply. Your RUIC facilitator will ensure that IP arrangements are discussed during the facilitation process.

Yes, visiting the research organisation and viewing their facilities is encouraged. This can be arranged by the lead researcher, provided it is logistically feasible.

RUIC’s free research and development (R&D) training series provides Queensland-based SMEs essential knowledge, tools and mentoring support to progress their R&D initiatives. This free online program, tailored to various industry sectors, is delivered through CSIRO’s Innovate to Grow (I2G) program. The training consists of online sessions over an 8-week period, designed to help you to refine your innovation challenge, build a compelling R&D business case, and much more. Visit the RUIC website to learn more.

No, this is not necessary. If you have experience working with universities and have a clear project plan, you can proceed to submit your expression of interest (EOI) for the RUIC matched funding.

However, if you haven’t worked with a university on a research project before, and are uncertain about your project’s scope, the free R&D training program could be beneficial. This training provides SMEs with essential tools and mentoring to refine your research question, assess its viability, and prepare a strong R&D funding application. The program offers tailored support, and you’ll have the opportunity to engage with researchers from partner universities, RUIC facilitators and other experts who can help you advance your R&D idea(s).

To apply for the free R&D training, keep an eye on the RUIC and Innovate to Grow webpage. They will provide detailed information on dates, eligibility criteria and a link to the application form. You can also subscribe to our SME Connectors newsletter.