Application Process

The 2026/27 call for Expressions of Interest for Australia-Japan Innovation Fund Research Grants will open August 12, 2026 and close September 14, 2026 (11:59pm AEST). The Grant Guideline (English) is available here, and the Japanese version is available here. Please read them carefully before applying using the online form at the link below. For FAQs, click here, and to view examples of past successful projects, visit the funded projects page. Applicants should initially provide an Expression of Interest (EOI): the online EOI application form below.

Application form (EOI)

Applicants will be advised of the outcome of their EOI by October 22, 2026. Shortlisted candidates will be invited to submit full applications by November 12 and will have approximately two weeks to complete them. Final awards will be announced by the end of Mid January 2027, and research should commence no later than April 2027.

For any inquiries, please contact us at info@australiajapaninnovation.org.

Privacy Collection Notice: The personal and organisational information collected through this application form will be used solely for the purpose of assessing eligibility and administering the AJIF Grant Program, in accordance with our privacy policy. For more details, please refer to the attached Privacy Collection Notice.

 

Q&A sessions for EOI

Two Q&A sessions are scheduled for Monday 31 August and Monday 7 September at 4:00 pm AEST. If you have any questions as you go through the application process, we encourage you to attend and ask them during these sessions.

AJIF Q&A Session #1
📅 Monday 31 August, 4:00 pm AEST
🔗 Video call link: https://meet.google.com/ghb-rnrg-zty
📞 Or dial: (AU) +61 3 8594 6548 | PIN: 128 864 732#

AJIF Q&A Session #2
📅 Monday 7 September, 4:00 pm AEST
🔗 Video call link: https://meet.google.com/xwd-oegi-qjq
📞 Or dial: (AU) +61 3 8594 7501 | PIN: 953 173 828#

Register for Q&A session

 

Full Application

Requirements for full proposal

Shortlisted applicants will be invited by email on 22 October 2026 to submit a full application through the online form. Full applications close on 12 November 2026 (11:59pm AEDT).

The Selection Committee's recommendations go to the AJIF Board on 14 December 2026. Grantees will be announced in mid-January 2027.

The full application builds on the Expression of Interest. Applicants will be asked to provide:

Project title, priority area and a 100-word project summary in plain English

Note: In providing this project summary you are consenting to the AJIF and financial partners using this project summary for public announcement and promotion purposes.

Current Technology Readiness Level (TRL 4 to 7) and a short justification of the evidence behind it

Expanded project description (1,000 words maximum), covering the problem, project stage, methods, outcomes to date, significance, need for funding and roadmap

Ethics approval confirmation (if applicable)

Does the project require ethics approval? If yes, has this been obtained and from which institution?

Lead researcher short-form CV (maximum 500 words)

Please include a bio and/or CV for the lead researcher including 10 most significant publications.

Research team

Please include a table with the names, gender, current institutional affiliation, qualifications and date of PhD or highest degree awarded for each team member

Full budget proposal

  • There is no required format for the budget, but you should ensure that the budget is set out in a table or spreadsheet.

  • The content of the budget summary from the EOI may be re-used.

  • Please note that requests for salary support require detail of appointment level and duration.

  • Travel costs will be carefully considered, and only economy class airfares (if required) will be funded.

  • The maximum overhead funded by AJIF is 25% across all budget elements.

Budget justification (maximum 250 words)

Please briefly state the need and rationale for each of the main budget line items

Letters of agreement

Please attach a brief letter/email from an authorized representative indicating support for the project and agreement to accept funding (if awarded) from:

  • Lead applicant institution

Please attach a brief letter outlining agreement to participate in the project and form of cooperation and support from:

  • Industry partner (mandatory)

  • Partner institution (if applicable)