A new grant scheme aimed at fostering technological collaboration between Australia and South Korea is set to provide Australian innovators with opportunities to commercialise emerging technologies.
The Global Connections Fund (GCF), administered by the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering (ATSE) with support from the Australian Department of Industry, Science and Resources, will allocate $680,000 to support joint research and development projects between Australian and Korean teams.
The initiative will provide grants ranging from $35,000 to $75,000 as seed funding for viable projects, enabling proof-of-concept, product development, and market testing.
The scheme focuses on national priority areas, including robotics, quantum technologies, biotechnology, and renewable energy and batteries, aiming to transform research into market-ready products and services while strengthening international partnerships.
ATSE CEO Kylie Walker highlighted the significance of the collaboration, emphasizing the importance of cross-border knowledge sharing and technological innovation.
“Technological innovation relies on partnership, knowledge sharing and common goals. Together, Australian and Korean teams will bring their creativity and commercialisation to life to respond to some of the most exciting technological opportunities in the world today,” Walker said.
ATSE has a long-standing history of facilitating international technological cooperation, with the GCF supporting diverse research-industry projects in fields such as medical products, food and beverages, and recycling.
In addition to the GCF, ATSE is leading the delivery of the Global Science and Technology Diplomacy Fund – Strategic Element, which is providing $6 million for nine priority research and development projects with partners in Japan, Singapore, Korea, and Thailand.
Applications for the GCF are now open, with projects set to run from mid-2025 to mid-2026.
All submissions will be reviewed by panels of expert ATSE Fellows from relevant disciplines. Further details are available on the ATSE website.
