The Future Made in Australia (FMIA) Innovation Fund is now open for applications, offering $1.2 billion in grant funding to accelerate clean energy innovation and develop low-emission industries.
Launched by the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA), this program supports projects that cut emissions while building our industrial capability in clean manufacturing and sustainable fuels. It's about ensuring the technologies that get us to net zero are invented and made here.
FMIA funds innovative projects that benefit Australia's transition to net zero through the development, demonstration and deployment of emerging clean technologies. It targets hard-to-abate sectors crucial to both our climate goals and economic future, with outcomes including accelerating uptake of new clean technologies, improving domestic manufacturing capacity, strengthening supply chains and boosting skills and jobs. The program helps companies bridge the valley from lab to market — whether it's green steel production, advanced battery manufacturing or sustainable aviation fuels.
The Fund is one of Australia's largest industry innovation support programs. All funding is delivered as grants (non-repayable or recoupable depending on the project), not loans — vital for projects that may not attract private finance in early stages. The program accepts applications on a rolling basis until funds are committed, with no fixed closing date. Early movers can tap into support while it's available.
The funding is allocated across three priorities critical to Australia's net zero transition:
Projects should involve renewable energy, energy efficiency or electrification technologies and primarily take place in Australia.
Applicants nominate one stream, ensuring comparison against similar-stage projects.
The Fund is open to private companies of any size, industry consortia, research institutions, universities, government-owned corporations, local councils and CRCs, provided the lead applicant is an Australian entity with an ABN. Collaborations are encouraged, and international partners can be involved if work primarily occurs in Australia.
1. Expression of interest (EOI): Submit via ARENA's online portal (ARENANet) with a project overview, alignment with Fund objectives and indicative budget and timeline. Before submitting, talk to ARENA for guidance – it welcomes prior discussion to ensure your proposal fits. This isn't mandatory but strongly encouraged.
Throughout the process, ARENA may provide feedback or connect applicants with potential collaborators. There's no hard deadline, but funding is finite – earlier applications may have an advantage.
Detailed program guidelines and FAQs are available on the ARENA website. If you're working on a project that could transform Australia's clean energy supply chains or cut industrial emissions, now is the time to act. Visit ARENA's FMIA program page and submit an EOI as soon as you're ready. Let's make sure the breakthroughs driving Australia's net zero transition are future made in Australia.
David is Director of Emerging Industries and Innovation at Australian Industry Group.
He has been part of Australia’s innovation ecosystem for more than 15 years and has worked at the executive level across multiple industries in large and small organisations to facilitate innovative solutions to complex problems.
David has maximised opportunities for Australian industry in $88 billion of major projects, delivered financial assistance of more than $22 million to innovative SMEs and pulled together over 150 commercially astute leading-edge research/industry collaborations that have resulted in novel technology and jobs of the future.
