Insights Lab

As the end of the 2026 financial year approaches, businesses planning to access the R&D Tax Incentive should be reviewing a range of strategic, technical and administrative considerations prior to 30 June.

The 2026–27 Federal Budget has landed. And while the headlines are dominated by major policy changes to negative gearing, CGT, discretionary trusts and other tax relief measures, there are some genuinely important developments for Australia’s R&D and innovation ecosystem.

As Australia calls for stronger innovation and commercialisation outcomes, recent reductions to key R&D programs are pointing in the opposite direction.

Since its inception in 2016, the CRC-P program has committed over $560 million in Commonwealth funding, demonstrating its growing importance within Australia’s innovation landscape. Across the 18 funding rounds to date, the program has supported a diverse portfolio of projects spanning advanced manufacturing, energy, agribusiness, life sciences, mining, defence and digital technologies.

A summary of the latest updates in the fast-moving world of competitive grant funding for start-ups and SMEs undertaking innovation and R&D in Australia.

The 2026-27 Federal Budget lands on 12 May. Before Treasurer Chalmers delivers his fifth budget announcement, we've put our cards on the table regarding which industries are positioned to benefit from serious government investment, and which will be left waiting.

The 2026-27 Federal Budget, to be handed down on 12 May, is shaping up as a possible decision point for the MRFF. Whether the government moves to lift the cap will determine not just how much funding flows into health and medical research over the next several years, but whether Australia seizes or squanders a genuine opportunity to lead in a moment when the global research funding landscape is being redrawn.

Before the Budget: the Ambitious Australia R&D Tax Incentive reforms could reshape how companies access and benefit from the program. Some changes are low-cost with outsized impact, while others shift cash flow, eligibility and collaboration dynamics.

Australia’s R&D system is under review, with the Ambitious Australia Report proposing significant changes to incentives, funding models, and national coordination. We explore key themes, potential impacts, and what businesses should be watching next.

Updated insights on IGP funding trends, sector impacts, and the implications of recent cuts for early‑stage innovators

Summary of the previous quarter of developments in the world of the R&D Tax Incentive (R&DTI) program.