• $8 million Advance Queensland super round to back Queensland startups and entrepreneurs.
• New Ignite Spark program with grants of up to $75,000 to support early-stage innovators to build Queensland’s jobs of the future.
• $10 million Industry Research Projects program to encourage research and business collaboration.

The Palaszczuk Government’s Advance Queensland – Innovation for a Future Economy 2022 -2032 roadmap is launching an $8 million Ignite Ideas super round.

New funding to build on the outstanding success of the Ignite Ideas program includes $2.5 million for the inaugural round of Ignite Spark and a $1.5 million expansion of Ignite+

The $4 million eleventh round of Ignite Ideas opens in September with up to $200,000 to help take bright ideas to the next level by tapping into new markets, attracting new investment and creating Queensland jobs in the innovation economy. 

Ignite Spark will support small to medium-sized early-stage innovators with grants of up to $75,000 to fast-track innovative Queensland prototypes onto global markets.

Tailored business investment, sales and marketing advice to innovators supported by the Ignite Ideas program is also being expanded with a $1.5 million boost to Ignite+
Since February 2023, Ignite+ has honed the skills of almost 60 Queensland businesses.

Ignite Ideas’ first ten rounds since 2016 have invested nearly $50 million in 400 great Queensland innovations and supported more than 6,000 good Queensland jobs.

Round ten of Ignite Ideas – announced today - shares $1.42 million among 13 clever ideas from Artificial Intelligence fundraising technology to a zero-emission bulk haulage solution for builders.
The $10 million Industry Research Projects program opens on 28 August.

Designed to support collaboration among Queensland’s brightest research and business minds, the program harnesses the expertise of tech innovators to find solutions to industry challenges.  

Innovation Minister Stirling Hinchliffe said:

“Queensland’s growing potential as a global leader in the highly competitive future innovation economy is highlighted by the success of the recent Tech Council Summit in Brisbane.

“The Palaszczuk Government’s Advance Queensland – Innovation for a Future Economy 2022-2032 is backing bright ideas to build Queensland’s good innovation jobs of the future.   

“Our Ignite Ideas program has supported hundreds of Queensland start-ups and entrepreneurs to kick goals on the world stage and accelerate the State’s economic growth.

“The runway to the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games is a once-in-a-generation opportunity for emerging Queensland-based entrepreneurs and innovators to shine globally.”