Infrastructure Grants - 2026

The Grains Research and Development Corporation is issuing an open, competitive grants program to strengthen Australia's grain research, development and extension capability through targeted co‑investment in both physical research infrastructure and the enabling and operational capability required to maximise its value. Applicants are invited to submit projects that include the acquisition or construction of new physical infrastructure to support strategic and transformative grain research activities, as well as infrastructure that enhances the enabling and operational capacity of such research facilities.

Projects must be situated on Australian land, ready to commence by 31 March 2027, and will receive funding in the range of $500,000 to $5 million exclusive of GST, with a co‑contribution from the applicant or a third party that is at least equal to the amount of funding requested. Eligible entities must be single legal entities with an Australian Business Number and must obtain or secure all relevant approvals and consents—whether from councils, state or territory authorities, environmental, heritage, indigenous, or financial stakeholders—prior to or within sufficient time to enable project commencement before the deadline. The funding will support projects that enhance both the physical infrastructure for grain research and the operational systems that sustain its effectiveness, with a proposed contract period extending to 30 June 2029. All projects must obtain the required approvals and provide a cash or in‑kind co‑contribution equal to or exceeding the requested funding.

Location: ACT, NSW, VIC, SA, WA, QLD, NT, TAS Multi Agency Access: No Panel Arrangement: No Multi-stage: No Description:

GRDC’s Infrastructure Grants - 2026 initiative seeks to strengthen Australia's grains research, development and extension (RD&E) capability through targeted co-investment in both physical research infrastructure and the enabling and operating capability required to maximise the value of that infrastructure. 

GRDC seeks Applications for the funding of:

(a) the acquisition or construction of physical infrastructure to facilitate strategic and transformative grains research and development; and 

(b) infrastructure for enabling and operational capability to support strategic and transformative grains research and development.

GRDC invites Applications from Applicants who have planned Projects that are ready to commence on or before 31 March 2027.

This is an open, competitive grants process.

The Process is described in more detail on the GRDC Website under Current Opportunities : Proc-9177451: https://grdc.com.au/research/partnering-in-rde-investment/opportunities/current-opportunities/infrastructure-grants-2026 

Applicants should read the Application Guidelines provided in the Supporting Documents section for full details.

Other Instructions: Conditions for Participation: Conditions for Participation - Applicant The Applicant must meet all of the following conditions to be considered eligible for consideration by GRDC: (a) the Applicant must be a single legal entity that is capable of entering into the Proposed Funding Agreement (substantially in the form that appears in Schedule 1 to these Guidelines) with GRDC; (b) the Applicant must have an ABN; (c) the Applicant must not be named on the 'non-compliant' list as maintained under the Workplace Gender Equality Act 2012 (Cth); or (d) have any judicial decisions against it (not including decisions under appeal) relating to employee entitlements and who have not paid the claim. Conditions for Participation - funding The Application must meet all of the following conditions to be eligible for consideration by GRDC: (a) the Project must be located in Australia; (b) the funding sought must be for physical infrastructure (construction or upgrade) and / or enabling and operational capability that will be used for grains research and development in Australia, as described in paragraph 9; (c) the total amount of funding sought must be: (i) Tier 1: between $3 million to $5 million (excluding GST) (ii) Tier 2: between $500,000 and $3 million (excluding GST) Applications must state the total amount of funding sought for each Tier and also state if funding is sought for ‘Tier 1 only’ ‘ or ‘Tier 2 only’ or ‘Tier 1 & Tier 2’; (d) the Application must specify the amount of funding the Project will receive, or has been provided, from the GRDC or Commonwealth (if any); (e) the Application must include an acknowledgement that: (i) any amount of funding awarded by GRDC through the Process (if the Applicant’s Application is successful) will be the only funding provided by the GRDC for the Project and no further funding will be provided by GRDC during the Project; (ii) any shortfall in the costs of an approved Project that cannot be met by the funding awarded by GRDC or the Co-Contribution is the sole responsibility of the Applicant (i.e. the costs for any such shortfall will not be reimbursed by GRDC or claimable from GRDC); and (iii) the Applicant has carefully reviewed the Proposed Funding Agreement and recognises that the terms of the Proposed Funding Agreement are not negotiable, save for amendments to reflect the specific details of the approved Project. Successful Applicants must be prepared to enter into a Funding Agreement on substantially the same terms and conditions as provided in the Proposed Funding Agreement. If a Project is currently receiving funding, or has previously received funding from GRDC or the Commonwealth, then no further funding will be provided by GRDC via this Process unless GRDC is satisfied that: (a) the funding requested through this Process is for the development of, or for an upgrade or extension of the infrastructure, that is not covered by the existing funding commitment; or (b) there is a genuine need for the funding that is unrelated to a failure to comply, perform or discharge an obligation that an Applicant has under a separate funding arrangement. Conditions for Participation - Projects must be ready to commence Funding will only be awarded for Projects which GRDC is satisfied: (a) have all relevant approvals and consents in place at the date of the Application; or (b) will have all relevant approvals and consents in place in sufficient time to enable the acquisition, commencement of construction or development of the infrastructure (as applicable) by 31 March 2027. Note: If all relevant approvals and consents are not in place before the execution of the Funding Agreement, a condition precedent may be included in the Funding Agreement in relation to obtaining relevant approvals and consents with sufficient time to enable the acquisition, commencement of construction or development of the infrastructure. Approvals and consents as referred to in paragraphs 21 include: (a) approvals from local councils or state or territory government authorities relating to building or construction work; (b) where applicable, approvals from environmental, heritage or indigenous groups; (c) where applicable, approvals from financiers; and (d) any other approvals, consents, required under applicable law and regulations. An Applicant must demonstrate that it has or is able to obtain: (a) ownership or appropriate rights to enter and use the land upon which the Project will be located; and (b) any applicable rights or approvals to install or erect the infrastructure (and any associated plant and equipment) and maintain it for the projected life of the infrastructure. This means that an Application must include evidence of all relevant consents/approvals from any superior landholders (e.g. lessors or sublessors) at the date of the Application, or evidence that all relevant consents/approvals will be obtained by 31 March 2027. Conditions for Participation - Co-Contributions GRDC requires that an Applicant contributes to the Project either itself or through other third-party contributions. Applicants (or a third-party) must provide a cash co-contribution (Co-Contribution) of an amount at least equal to or greater than the amount of funding requested in the Application. Applicants (or a third party) may also contribute in-kind contributions, provided that any in-kind contributions are clearly identified, justified and valued on a reasonable basis. Applications must clearly state the Co-contribution amount and ratio relative to the amount of funding requested Timeframe for Delivery: It is anticipated that any Funding Agreement resulting from the Process will commence by March 2027, with a proposed expiry date of 30 June 2029. Estimated Value (AUD): From $500,000.00 to $5,000,000.00 Address for Lodgement: Submit your completed Application through the Grains Investment Portal by 5:00pm Canberra local time on 1 October 2026.