South Australia: $28 Million AI Initiative (2025-2029)

South Australia: $28 Million AI Initiative (2025-2029) is sponsored by Government of South Australia. This initiative aims to develop and support AI capabilities within South Australia between 2025 and 2029.

AI Grants & Funding for Australian Businesses - SafeAI-Aus Risk Management & Assurance 🗺️ State-Level Opportunities 🏢 Industry and Private Sector Programs AI Learning & Development Directory 🗺️ State-Level Opportunities 🏢 Industry and Private Sector Programs Purpose: Comprehensive directory of AI grants, funding programs and financial support for Australian organisations Audience: Business owners, CFOs, project managers and grant applicants | Time: 30-45 minutes Recent closures and open rounds CRC Program Round 27 Stage 1 closed 29 April 2026.

Stage 2 opened 31 July 2026 and closes 17 September 2026 for invited applicants only . Stage 2 outcomes are expected in early 2027, with funding expected to start in July 2027. CRC-P Round 19 (AI Accelerator stream, $20M) closed 12 May 2026 at 5:00 PM AEST.

Outcomes now expected October 2026 (delayed from August due to high application volume). The next AI Accelerator full CRC opportunity (Round 28) is expected in 2027. AI is reshaping industries across Australia.

To support businesses in responsibly adopting and scaling AI, a mix of government grants, research programs and industry‑backed accelerators are available. This article provides a consolidated overview of the most relevant opportunities for Australian businesses today. Program status changes frequently Government programs open, close and change eligibility regularly.

Always verify current status with the relevant funding body before investing time in an application. 🏛️ Federal Government Programs ¶ Provided $3–5 million over four years for up to 50% of project costs. AI Adopt Centres are now operational across Australia through 2026/27, providing free specialist services to eligible SMEs including AI readiness assessments, implementation support and training.

The competitive grant round has concluded , but centre services are accessible to eligible businesses. ➡️ SME services | Program overview AI and Digital Capability Centres ¶ The Australian Government allocated $44 million to establish four AI and Digital Capability Centres. Grants of up to $11 million each, designed to help SMEs access AI training, services and commercialisation pathways.

Program concluded , but may return in future iterations. Catalysing the AI Opportunity in Our Regions ¶ Competitive grants between $250,000 and $500,000 for regional businesses to develop and demonstrate AI solutions. Required matched co‑funding and ran across three rounds.

Program concluded . Round 1 listing remains on business. gov.au — verify eligibility and deadline directly.

Provides tax offsets to encourage companies to conduct eligible R&D activities that might not otherwise happen . Refundable offset of 18. 5% above the company tax rate (e.g., 43.

5% for companies paying 25% tax) for R&D entities with aggregated turnover under $20m (not controlled by exempt entities). Non‑refundable R&D intensity‑based offset for larger companies (company tax rate plus a premium tied to R&D intensity). Program is active and ongoing ; the business.

gov.au page does not state a last updated date. Australian Research Council (ARC) Programs ¶ Competitive grants supporting research between universities and businesses. Discovery Projects : \(30k–\) 500k annually for up to 5 years.

Linkage Projects : Promote industry–academic partnerships; in 2024 Round 2, $46. 6m was awarded to 75 projects. The 2026 Linkage Projects round closed 18 March 2026.

Program is active and ongoing . ➡️ Discovery Projects | Linkage Projects ARC Discovery Indigenous 2027 — Now Open (closes 25 August 2026) The ARC Discovery Indigenous 2027 scheme opened 2 June 2026 and closes 25 August 2026 at 5:00 pm AEST .

The scheme supports research projects led by Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander researchers (as Chief Investigator) across all disciplines; non-Indigenous researchers may participate as Partner Investigators. The scheme is not AI-specific but is relevant to AI research grant pipelines at institutions with eligible researchers.

➡️ ARC Discovery Indigenous 2027 (accessed 21 June 2026) ARC Generative AI Policy — effective 28 April 2026 The Australian Research Council (jointly with the NHMRC) released an updated Policy on Use of Generative Artificial Intelligence in the ARC's Grants Programs in April 2026. The policy applies to all applications and assessments for ARC scheme rounds opening from 28 April 2026 .

Applicants may use generative AI as a support tool when preparing applications but retain full responsibility for authorship and intellectual content Assessors may use generative AI only to assist with grammar, spelling, formatting and readability — AI must not be used to generate substantive assessment content Joint statement with NHMRC aligns both funders' positions on Gen AI use in research grant processes Sources: arc.

gov.au — policy statement , arc. gov.au — full policy document Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) – AI in Health ¶ $30 million for AI-driven healthcare research transforming Australian healthcare. National Critical Research Infrastructure initiative supporting AI applications in health.

Multiple streams including digitisation of healthcare and AI-enabled health interventions. Program is active with various grant rounds. CSIRO Next Generation Graduates Program ¶ Supports businesses partnering with universities to bring AI/emerging tech graduate students into their teams.

Focus on building AI workforce capability through PhD, Masters and Honours students. Industry-driven, multi-disciplinary program with regional focus in recent rounds. Program is active with periodic rounds.

CSIRO-NSF (US) AI Research Collaboration ¶ Joint Australia-US program for Responsible and Equitable AI research. Combined AUD$9. 6 million invested in six projects in 2023.

Focus on transformative AI research with societal impact. Cooperative Research Centres Projects (CRC-P) – Round 19 AI Stream ¶ Grants between $100,000 and $3 million for collaborative AI research projects, up to 3 years. Round 19 included a dedicated $20 million funding stream for projects that develop or enhance AI systems.

Grants of \(100,000–\) 3 million, up to 3 years, with 50% co-contribution required. Status: Round 19 closed 12 May 2026 at 5:00 PM AEST. Outcomes now expected October 2026 (delayed from August due to high application volume; funding commencement expected October–November 2026).

The CRC-P program runs annual rounds; next AI Accelerator opportunity is expected via CRC Round 28 in 2027. Cooperative Research Centres (CRC) Program — Round 27 ¶ Industry-research consortia grants, typically $2–5 million over 3–10 years. Supports large-scale collaborative research partnerships between industry and research organisations.

General research collaboration (not AI-specific) but AI components are eligible. Status: Stage 1 closed 29 April 2026 . Stage 2 opened 31 July 2026 and closes 17 September 2026 for invited applicants only.

Outcomes are expected in early 2027, with funding expected to start in July 2027. AI Accelerator CRC (Future) ¶ Approximately $50 million planned for a dedicated AI Cooperative Research Centre. Part of the broader AI Accelerator initiative to drive industry-led AI research at scale.

CRC Round 28 expected to open in 2027 . ➡️ AI Accelerator initiative 🗺️ State-Level Opportunities ¶ South Australia: $28 Million AI Initiative (2025-2029) ¶ $7 million annually for proof‑of‑value trials. Focused on healthcare, policing, allied health, social work and legal/financial services .

Supports public sector AI adoption while safeguarding jobs. Program is active with funding profiled from 2025–26 to 2028–29 , as set out in the 2024–25 South Australian State Budget (Budget Paper 4: Agency Statements – Department of the Premier and Cabinet, released 6 May 2024). Subject to ongoing state budget appropriation.

➡️ Budget Paper 4: Agency Statements (2024–25 SA State Budget) AIML (Australian Institute for Machine Learning) Programs ¶ Centre for Augmented Reasoning : $20m federal funding. Industrial AI SME Grant Program : Helps South Australian SMEs adopt AI, running until 2028. RAIR (Responsible AI Research Centre) : $20m investment in ethical AI.

Partnerships with industry (e.g., CommBank Centre for Foundational AI Research , $6m). NSW: Early Adopter Grant Program ¶ Part of the AI in NSW Planning project. In 2024, 16 councils received a collective $2.

7 million+ to trial AI in planning systems, backed by a $5. 6m commitment. Program active in 2024 , future rounds uncertain.

Queensland: Quantum and Advanced Technologies Programs ¶ $53 million awarded under the Queensland Quantum and Advanced Technologies Strategy. $28. 1 million for Commercialisation Infrastructure Program.

$10 million for Quantum Decarbonisation Mission. $3. 8 million for student scholarships across six universities.

Queensland: Small and Family Business AI Support (Announced) ¶ The Queensland Government announced a new $10 million program on 23 June 2026 to support eligible small and family businesses across all sectors to adopt AI solutions. The announcement did not provide a program name, guidelines, application portal or opening date. Treat this as announced, not open for applications .

➡️ Queensland Government announcement Victoria: AI and Deeptech Pre-Accelerators (LaunchVic, $3. 5M) ¶ The Victorian Government announced $3. 5 million to fund nine AI and deeptech pre-accelerator programs on 17 June 2026 .

The announced funding is for program operators rather than direct startup grants. The announcement says each provider may receive up to $400,000. Providers include Boab AI, Boson Ventures, Cicada Innovations, CoLabs Australia, HEX, Illume Ventures, Jumpstart Studio, MedTech Actuator and RMIT DiscoveryHUB.

A featured program is VICTOR:AI — an eight-week cohort for AI-native startups offering AI tools, co-working space and milestone-based grants. Provider intake arrangements and timing vary. The Victorian Government announcement did not specify which programs were accepting applications or confirm that funding had been disbursed.

➡️ Victorian Government announcement | LaunchVic programs 🏢 Industry and Private Sector Programs ¶ National Reconstruction Fund Corporation (NRFC) ¶ Government‑owned but industry‑driven co‑investment fund. Committed \(32m to Harrison. ai** and targeting **\) 550m by end of FY25 .

Expanding to \(1b in FY26** and **\) 3b by 2028 . AWS Generative AI Accelerator ¶ Backed by **US \(230m** investment (approximately AU\) 350m at current rates). Supports early‑stage startups globally, including Australian participants.

Offers up to US$1m in AWS credits plus 10 weeks of mentorship. Program is active (global cohort includes Australian startups). Fearless Innovator Grant Program (South Australia) ¶ $100,000 in grants for female entrepreneurs .

Finalists include AI‑powered startups such as Tutbob (education AI). Program ran in 2024 , future rounds uncertain. H2 Ventures Accelerator (Sydney) ¶ VC‑backed accelerator focusing on fintech, data, and AI startups , based at the Sydney Startup Hub.

Backed by a \(4m facility from Investec**, with a **\) 2m loan guarantee from NSW Government. Innovation Collaboration Centre (ICC, Adelaide) ¶ Incubator at UniSA, supporting startups with mentoring, space and growth programs since 2015. Australian Cyber Collaboration Centre (Aus3C, Adelaide) ¶ Not‑for‑profit based at Lot Fourteen, opened in 2020.

SA Government‑funded, supporting industry with cybersecurity training, standards and collaboration.

AI & Digital Capability Centres SME training, commercialisation University–industry research ARC Discovery Indigenous 2027 Research led by Aboriginal/Torres Strait Islander researchers Open — closes 25 Aug 2026 Healthcare, policing, services AIML Industrial AI SME Grant NSW Early Adopter Program Planning system AI trials QLD Quantum & Advanced Tech Quantum/AI infrastructure QLD Small and Family Business AI Support AI adoption by eligible small and family businesses Announced 23 Jun 2026; application details not published VIC AI and Deeptech Pre-Accelerators (LaunchVic, $3.

5M) $3.

5m announced (up to $400k/provider) AI and deeptech startup pre-acceleration Operators announced 17 Jun 2026; provider intake varies Healthcare AI transformation CSIRO-NSF AI Collaboration CRC-P Round 19 (AI Stream) Collaborative AI research Closed 12 May 2026; outcomes expected Oct 2026 Industry-research consortia Stage 2 closes 17 Sep 2026 (invited applicants only); outcomes expected early 2027 Making a Competitive Application For Australian businesses, the AI funding landscape is broad and diverse.

To maximise your chances: 💰 R&D Tax Incentive for eligible AI development 🎓 AIML's SME grant program for South Australian businesses ☁️ AWS accelerator credits for early-stage startups Larger ventures and scale‑ups may find opportunities in: 🏦 NRFC co‑investment for substantial projects 🎓 ARC research partnerships with universities 🤝 CRC-P collaborative projects with research institutions State-specific opportunities provide targeted support: Queensland: Quantum and advanced technologies focus South Australia: Public sector AI applications NSW: Council planning systems and civic applications Victoria: AI and deeptech pre-accelerators (nine operators announced June 2026; provider intake varies) Strengthen your application by: 📋 Defining clear problems and measurable outcomes 🗺️ Providing realistic plans and budgets 🛡️ Demonstrating AI governance and risk management readiness 🤝 Showing strong partnerships (academic, industry, or community) 🇦🇺 Referencing Australian AI standards and responsible AI practices Licence: Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.

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