From prototype to pilot, TRaCE sets out staged funding for clean energy SMEs
A TRaCE webinar on 24 April will outline how SMEs can work with universities to test, validate and scale clean energy and recycling technologies, with co-funding pathways and partner insights available for a limited time.
Small and medium-sized businesses working in clean energy and recycling are being invited to a one-hour online session focused on how to work with universities to progress research and development without overextending resources.
Hosted by the Trailblazer for Recycling and Clean Energy (TRaCE), the webinar will run on Friday 24 April from 12:30pm to 1:30pm AEST. It is positioned as a practical discussion, with a focus on how businesses can use university partnerships to test ideas, refine technologies and prepare for market.
On LinkedIn, Lena Vestad Hansen from TRaCE framed the timing in the context of broader industry shifts, stating, “If the past few months have shown us anything, it’s that major shifts in energy, fuel and supply chains create more than risk. They create opportunity for businesses ready to move.”
Co-funding pathways matched to development stages
The session will step through three co-funding options designed to match different stages of innovation.
The R&D Voucher stream offers between $10,000 and $50,000 for early testing, troubleshooting and refinement of new ideas. This pathway is aimed at businesses looking to quickly validate whether a concept is viable.
For technologies that have moved beyond initial testing, the Concept to Pilot stream provides $50,000 to $200,000 to support prototype development and pilot-scale validation.
At the later stage, the Major Project pathway offers $200,000 or more to assist with manufacturing and commercialisation, supporting businesses preparing to bring technologies to market.
TRaCE has indicated that funding is limited and is encouraging early applications from interested businesses.
Access to capability beyond in-house teams
Alongside funding, the webinar will outline how businesses can access university facilities, technical expertise and research infrastructure. This includes support that may not be feasible for SMEs to build internally.
Hansen pointed to several practical outcomes from these partnerships, including the ability to validate technology before scaling, strengthen credibility with customers and investors, and draw on specialist capability when entering new markets.
Partner insights from CO2 Australia
The session will also include input from Mark Armstrong of CO2 Australia, a TRaCE partner, who will discuss how the organisation has used the program to support its innovation work.
Armstrong’s contribution will focus on how expertise in ecology, land management and carbon services is being applied to emerging opportunities such as sustainable aviation fuel, providing a case example of how collaboration can extend into new markets.
Invitation to engage
The webinar is open to businesses at any stage, from early concept testing through to market-ready technologies. It is designed as an interactive session, with time allocated to explain the application process and answer questions about participation.
As Hansen noted, “Right now, clean energy investment is accelerating, the need for sovereign capability is rising, and new markets are taking shape.”
For NSW-based SMEs, the session sets out a structured pathway to access funding, research capability and industry partnerships through the TRaCE program.
