QLD Ignite Spark Program Round 3

The QLD Ignite Spark Program supports Queensland-based small to medium sized businesses that are creating new and innovative products or services.

Funding of $50 000 to $75 000 (excluding GST) is available for projects with a duration of up to twelve months with a matched funding contribution as outlined below:

Tier 1 – For applicants headquartered in South East Queensland, a 20 per cent matched funding contribution is required.

Tier 2 – For Indigenous businesses and/or applicants headquartered in a Queensland region a 10 per cent matched funding contribution is required.

Business Eligibility

To be eligible for funding, applicant organisations must at the time of application:

• be a business headquartered in Queensland with an ABN and registered for GST
• have no more than 50 full-time-equivalent employees (or a subsidiary of a group of companies that has more than 50 full-time-equivalent employees)
• not have received funding for the proposed project activity from either the state, federal or local government

To be eligible for funding, at the time of application, projects must:

• have an existing functional prototype for a product and/or service that is scalable to meet industry/market demand
• must demonstrate that the product or service is ready to be validated and not currently in the market

Eligible Projects

Eligible Ignite Spark Program projects must relate to developing an innovative product and/or service in the following context:

• innovative solutions to existing problems
• new to world innovation
• innovation diffusion (a unique application of a technology that is significantly different to any previous innovation in the market)
• innovation in the Indigenous context – identified by the applicant as innovative to cultural and community practices

Ineligible projects include:

• clinical trials
• development of a product and/or service for internal use of the applicant organisation only
• development of a concept for a new business
• any improvement of an existing product and/or service that is already in market
• minor modification/improvement of an existing product and/or service already in an overseas market for the Australian market
• commercialisation/entry into market or expansion into new markets if the product and/or service is already in market.

Eligible Project Expenditure

Ignite Spark Program expenditure must be related to project specific commercialisation activities and fall within the following eligible cost categories:

• salary expenditure (including salary-related on-costs) for employees directly contributing to the delivery of the project (capped at 20% of the total project cost)
• minor market driven modifications
• industry compliance testing
• product validation including design for manufacturing assembly and design for manufacturing at scale
• small scale production of prototype for showcasing and demonstration purposes
• third party technical services supporting testing and validation
• third party services providing advice, strategy and planning relating to intellectual property protection and/or intellectual property protection costs
• equipment not exceeding $9,000 per item (capped at 10% of the total project cost)
• consumables, economy travel, accommodation and subsistence costs.

It is expected that all Ignite Ideas funding will be expended in Queensland, unless it can be demonstrated that expenditure outside Queensland is essential to ensure successful delivery of the project.

Costs not eligible include:

• costs to commercialise products and/or services
• marketing, promotional and business development costs
• capital works and/or physical infrastructure including any buildings, telecommunications and IT networks
• business as usual costs

Application Process

There is a 2 stage application process.  The first stage is lodging an expression of interest.  Selected stage Expression of Interest applicants will be asked to lodge a full application.

Note Organisations and their related parties are limited to one application per funding round.

Expression of Interest applications for Ignite Spark Program close at 10am on 5 May 2025.

Learn More

To learn more and lodge your expression of Interest for the QLD Ignite Spark Program click here

Wayne Wanders is an experienced Business Advisor and Outsourced CFO who can help to scale and grow your business profitably. Wayne may also be able to assist you in preparing any grant application. 

Contact Wayne on wayne@arealcfo.com.au or 0412 227 052.

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Want a confidential discussion on your business situation, help with your grant application or to learn more about my Outsourced CFO Services, simply email me at wayne@aRealCFO.com.au or call me on 0412 227 052