Business Research and Innovation Initiative

The Business Research and Innovation Initiative (BRII) is a challenge-based innovation program. It provides funding for startups and SMEs to undertake research and development (R&D) on new-to-market technologies.

The program:

• builds the innovative capacity of startups, SMEs and government agencies
• improves capability to access national and international markets
• helps SMEs be more confident and aware when working with government
• increases government agencies’ sourcing of innovative solutions.

BRII rounds

Each round seeks solutions to different public policy or service delivery challenges. Australian Government agencies support the program to develop new-to-market technologies that they can negotiate to buy.

How BRII works

BRII works in 3 phases:

1. Challenge identification. Australian Government agencies identify and nominate public policy or service delivery challenges requiring solutions.
2. Feasibility grants. Startups and SMEs apply with their proposed solution to the challenges. We award feasibility grants of up to $100,000 for the best solutions to each challenge. These help the grantees test the technical and commercial feasibility of their solution over 3 months.
3. Proof of concept grants. We invite grantees that successfully demonstrate feasibility to apply for a proof of concept grant. This is up to $1 million to produce a prototype of the solution.

Assessing nominations and proposals

Industry Innovation and Science Australia's Entrepreneurs' Programme Committee oversees the BRII program. The committee assesses:

• Australian Government agency challenge nominations
• startup and SME grant applications.