Frequently asked questions

Please note that the following information is specific to the requirements for Queensland applicants and may differ from the requirements for Bavarian applicants. View more information relating to Bavarian applicants – Bavarian Call for Applications.

How to apply

1. How do I apply?

Read the Guidelines and application requirements for the Queensland-Bavaria Collaborative Research Program.

Complete an online application form and submit the required documentation via the secure SmartyGrants website.

• SmartyGrants Seed Grant form
• SmartyGrants Development Grant form

2. What is the closing date for applications?

The closing times and dates for submitting applications are:

• Seed Grants: 8 April 2026 at 1:00pm AEST
• Development Grants: 20 May 2026 at 1:00pm AEST

Late applications will not be accepted.

3. Can I apply for funding if my research proposal does not address one of the Queensland-Bavaria Collaborative Research Program priority areas?

No. Your application will be deemed ineligible if it does not address one or more of the identified priority research areas as listed below:

• Additive manufacturing
• Aerospace
• Artificial Intelligence (AI)
• Cleantech and emission reduction technologies
• Defence
• Energy (including green hydrogen, synthetic fuels and energy storage)
• Health, life sciences, biomedical research and bioeconomy
• Quantum technologies

4. Is there a requirement to submit an Application to the Bavarian State Ministry of Science and the Arts (StMWK)?

Yes. An equivalent application must be submitted by the Bavarian lead applicant to the Bavarian State Ministry of Science and the Arts - Bayerisches Staatsministerium für Wissenschaft und Kunst (StMWK) by the specified deadline, via the Move-On online portal.

For further information on StMWK requirements please see the Bavaria-Australia Coordination Unit contact information below:

Email: bacu@uni-bayreuth.de
Telephone: +49 921 55 5267
StMWK Webpage: https://www.stmwk.bayern.de/englisch.html

5. Are there any differences in the eligibility requirements between Queensland and Bavaria?

Yes, there are some minor differences in eligibility requirements between Queensland and Bavaria, reflecting the distinct administrative frameworks and funding structures of each jurisdiction.

These include:

Queensland

1. Cash Contribution: Queensland applicants are required to provide a cash contribution for both Seed Grants ($8,000) and Development Grants ($60,000), whereas Bavaria does not require this.
2. Industry Partner: Both Queensland and Bavaria recognise the value of industry collaboration. While Queensland requires an industry partner for Development Grants, Bavaria encourages applicants to include one where possible to enhance the practical application of research outcomes.

Bavaria

1. Post-Doctoral Level: Bavaria requires applicants to be researchers at a post-doctoral level, while Queensland does not specify this requirement.

6. The information required in the Queensland application form is different to the Bavarian application form – why is that?

While the application forms have been designed to be as similar as possible, there are some differences due to the various online portals, priorities, and processes to be undertaken by both respective departments.

However, as this is a joint project which will be assessed independently by both respective parties, the information provided needs to be as coordinated and consistent as possible.

It is expected that the following sections are as identical, or as similar as possible, across both application forms:

• Project Title
• Priority Research Area
• Project Abstract
• Responses to the Assessment Criteria*

*It is expected that for the criterion responses there will be some differences in content between the two application forms to allow for localised focused information.

Please complete the Queensland application form in full as the information in the form will be used by the Queensland assessment panel to make their funding recommendations.

7. The online Application Form will not allow me to provide my full response to a question.

The text fields contained in the Application Form have been restricted to the word limits considered appropriate for each question and these limits cannot be extended.

8. Why am I required to complete the Project Summary in plain English?

Information provided in this section of the Application Form will be used to inform a wide range of people about the proposed project. It is therefore important that it is clear and easy to understand by a person with a limited scientific background. Do not use scientific jargon or technical terms.

The overview of the project should include simple statements outlining: what the project aims to do and how it will be done; how the project will address the identified challenge/opportunity; the significance of the collaboration between the project partners; and a summary of the key outcomes for Queenslanders.

9. The online Application Form only allows for the upload of one document (e.g., letter of support / resume), and I need to upload multiple documents.

Multiple documents (letters of support or resumes) should be combined into one PDF file before uploading.

10. How do I demonstrate that I am aware of other research that has been, or is being, undertaken in the proposed space?

In demonstrating this you should detail your awareness of similar/comparable research undertaken by academia and industry, including the undertaking of patent searches, as appropriate.

11. How should I complete the Milestones, Activities and Research Outcomes section?

Detail the key project activities to be completed and the expected outcomes of these activities, including how you will measure the success of the project upon completion of the activities.  Scientific milestones should be described in clear, non-technical language to ensure they can be understood and verified by non-scientific personnel. Each reporting period should include approximately 3 – 10 dot points outlining key activities and outcomes which should follow the SMART principles (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant and Time-bound). Should your application for funding be successful the activities and outcomes table will form the basis of your progress reporting.

12. Is there a template for the letter of support that I could utilise?

The letter of support for both the applicant organisations and the industry partners should be on letterhead and signed by an authorised officer. This endorsement is critical as it forms part of the eligibility requirements.

A template Letter of Support for industry partners (DOCX, 26.5KB) is available.

13. My Application Form contains confidential information; is it safe to upload this online?

The online lodgement process is hosted via a secure site and application documentation will remain strictly confidential. For more information, please refer to the Privacy Statement of the Program’s Guidelines.

14. How will applications be assessed?

All applications will be assessed by a panel of independent assessors that will assess the applications against the assessment criteria, and rank applications in order of merit. The evaluation of the project applications received in Queensland and Bavaria will be undertaken in those jurisdictions concurrently. Following the independent assessments of all eligible applications, assessors from Queensland and Bavaria will come together for a combined moderation meeting to determine a shortlist of funding recommendations.

The Director-General of DETSI will approve successful Queensland applications for this grant program, based on recommendations from the independent assessment panels of Queensland and StMWK.

Funding

15. How much can I apply for?

• Seed Grants: Queensland applicants are eligible to apply for up to $8,000 (excluding GST) in funding from the Queensland Government. In addition, each successful Bavarian lead applicant will receive funding of up to €10,000 from StMWK.
• Development Grants: Queensland applicants are eligible to apply for up to $110,000 (excluding GST) in funding from the Queensland Government. In addition, each successful Bavarian lead applicant will receive funding of up to €70,000 from StMWK.

16. How many projects are likely to be funded?

The 2026 Round will fund up to:

• seven Seed Grant projects
• five Development Grant projects.

17. How will the total funding allocation be split between research priorities?

Whilst an allocation of funding to each priority area is preferable, the actual award of funding will be based on the volume and quality of applications received.

18. What are “organisational overheads”?

For the purpose of this funding program organisational overheads are the institutional and administrative overhead costs attributed to a position, such as facilities and accommodation-related costs, ICT costs, general administrative support costs. In some organisations this is calculated as a percentage of the salary costs. These on-costs are not eligible for Queensland Government funding.

19. Are salary on-costs eligible for funding?

Costs directly associated with the employment of an individual, such as superannuation, workers compensation, payroll tax and leave loading are eligible.

Organisational Eligibility

20. How is a ‘Queensland-based research organisation’ defined?

The organisation must be operating its main business in a physical location in Queensland which must be maintained for the duration of the project. The organisation must conduct research as its primary business. Research organisations may include higher education institutions, cooperative research centres, and research institutes. State Government entities are not considered eligible research organisations.

21. How is a ‘Project Partner’ defined?

A Project Partner is an organisation that is materially contributing to the project and its outcomes, as demonstrated by a cash and/or in-kind contribution.

22. Are private businesses eligible to apply for funding?

Private businesses/companies who do not conduct research as its primary business are not eligible to apply for funding from the program. They are eligible to participate in the project as partner organisations.

23. Are Queensland Government departments eligible to be project partners?

Yes, they are eligible to be project partners. However, they are not eligible to be the lead Queensland-based applicant. Applicants with a Queensland Government department as a partner would need to demonstrate the value for money in a project that cites Queensland Government as the major funder.

24. Can I apply if I have a partner that is not a Bavarian research organisation?

No. To be eligible, projects must include a lead participant (partner) that is a Bavarian higher education institute deemed eligible to apply for the Grants by StMWK.

25. How much funding is required from the applicant organisation and the partner organisation(s)?

• For the Seed Grants, the Queensland-based applicant organisation must contribute at least AUD $8,000 (excluding GST) in “cash” to the project.
• For Development Grants, the Queensland-based applicant organisation must contribute at least AUD $60,000 (excluding GST) in “cash” to the project. For the Development Grants, all industry partners must provide a cash and/or in-kind contribution towards the cost of the project, however there is no minimum amount required.
• All industry partners involved in a Development Grant project are required to provide either a cash or in-kind contribution towards the project, with no minimum amount specified. The details of the cash and/or in-kind contribution must be outlined in the industry partner’s letter of support. If in-kind contributions are being provided, an approximate value of these contributions should be included in the letter.

26. How is ‘cash’ defined?

For the purposes of this funding program “cash” is either, or a combination of:

• cash
• salary* costs attributed to the project of dedicated researchers who are employed by the applicant organisation and/or the project partners, and who are assigned directly to the core business of the project.
• other direct and actual project costs (non-salaries)

*In relation to salary costs, by definition:

• researchers must have at least 20% of their work responsibilities assigned directly to the core business of the project
• researchers can be full-time or part-time
• if it transpires that a researcher’s time has been charged or allocated to more than one project (that is, where a researcher’s time has been double counted) DETSI will withdraw funding for the project.

27. Can cash from industry partners be used to contribute to the cash contribution required from the Queensland-based applicant?

No – the Queensland applicant “cash” contribution ($8,000 Seed grant and $60,000 Development grant) must be wholly made by the Queensland-based lead applicant.

28. Can salaries of researchers be counted as cash for the Queensland applicant required “cash” contributions?

Yes – if the researcher is spending at least 20% of their time working on the project.

29. If an industry partner is contributing a salary commitment to meet the cash/in-kind contribution, do they need to contribute 20% of their total work time?

No, industry partner contributions of salaries can be for any amount of time throughout the duration of the project.

Conditions of Award

30. If my application is successful, when would my project start?

Successful recipients are expected to be announced from late 2026. Successful projects must commence within six months of being advised that funding has been approved. For Queensland Applicants, the project start date is the date the Financial Incentive Agreement is executed, unless a different start date is requested by the Recipient and agreed by the Department prior to the signing of the agreement.

31. Are the Terms and Conditions of the Financial Incentive Agreement negotiable?

No. If you are offered funding from the Queensland-Bavaria Collaborative Research Program, you will be required to execute the standard Financial Incentive Agreement within 15 business days of receipt, or the offer of funding will lapse.

32. If my application is successful, am I under any obligations regarding communication/publicity?

Successful applicants will initially be required to treat their funding as confidential, that is, no media or public announcements, until the funding recipients have been announced by the Queensland Government.

After the embargo has been lifted, funding recipients will be required to proactively communicate the research project’s aims, progress and outcomes through activities such as publications, conferences, the media and science education activities. The support of Queensland Government and the Queensland-Bavaria Collaborative Research Program should be acknowledged in all public communications. Recipients will be required to evidence these communications throughout the lifetime of the project.

33. How is the funding paid?

Funding is paid in instalments throughout the lifetime of the project. Generally, payments are made following the submission and departmental approval of satisfactory milestone reports detailing the progress and outcomes of the project against the research plan.

Further information

Queensland Department of the Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation

Phone: (07) 3516 0484
Email: science.grants@detsi.qld.gov.au

Bayerisches Staatsministerium für Wissenschaft und Kunst

Email the Bavaria-Australia Coordination Unit: bacu@uni-bayreuth.de
StMWK Website: https://www.stmwk.bayern.de/englisch.html