Businesses considering an application for the NSW Government’s Clean Technology Innovation Grant can look to last year’s funding recipients for an indication of the technologies the program is designed to support.
The current grant round remains open until 8 September 2026, offering between $500,000 and $5 million for eligible projects. Funding can cover up to 50 per cent of eligible project costs for technologies that have progressed beyond proof of concept and are ready to demonstrate their commercial potential.
The program forms part of the NSW Government’s Net Zero Manufacturing Initiative, which supports businesses developing technologies that can reduce emissions while building new manufacturing and industrial capability in the state.
From laboratory success to commercial demonstration
Rather than supporting early stage research, the grants are intended to help organisations test and demonstrate technologies in real world conditions before they enter the market.
Funding is available for activities including technology development, product verification, prototyping, Front End Engineering Design studies, demonstration projects, technical feasibility studies and construction of dedicated testing infrastructure.
Eligible applicants include small and medium sized businesses, technology developers, start ups, research organisations and university spin out companies.
Projects must be based in NSW and demonstrate how the proposed work will move a technology closer to commercialisation.
Diverse projects received funding
The previous funding round awarded more than $26.2 million to 13 projects spanning clean energy, advanced manufacturing, mining, transport and agriculture.
Among the recipients were Shortland based Kardinia Energy, which received funding to establish what it described as the world’s first commercial manufacturing facility for Printed Solar, and Mayfield West company FPR Energy, which secured $4.85 million to commercialise particle based concentrated solar thermal technology capable of supplying long duration renewable heat and power.
Battery recycling start-up Renewable Metals received support to assess the feasibility of NSW’s first commercial lithium battery recycling refinery in Muswellbrook, while Gosford company H Nu was funded to establish a production line for fibre optic current and voltage measurement systems for high voltage electricity networks.
Other funded projects included robotic hull cleaning systems to reduce fuel consumption in shipping, cleaner lithium extraction technology, solar inspection systems, advanced battery materials, renewable hydrogen and ammonia production from farm waste, low emission fertiliser production and new solar panel installation technology.
When announcing the funding in 2025, the NSW Government said the projects were selected because they had the potential to deliver environmental and economic benefits while progressing technologies that are not yet commercially established.
The government also reported that the funding attracted a further $46.9 million in private investment, demonstrating industry confidence in the technologies being developed.
Support aimed at commercial readiness
The current funding round continues that approach, providing assistance for projects that have already established proof of concept and now require further testing, verification and demonstration before entering the market.
Applicants can seek funding for projects expected to be completed within three years and must provide matching cash contributions on at least a one to one basis.
Applications are assessed on technical deliverability, project capability, financial and commercial feasibility, Technology Readiness Level and the project’s contribution to NSW Government objectives.
Building industries around emerging technologies
Announcing the previous funding recipients, Minister for Climate Change and Energy Penny Sharpe said, “This investment will see these projects transition into practical, real-world solutions for emissions reduction that also boost innovators, investment and new jobs.”
Minister for Innovation, Science and Technology Anoulack Chanthivong said, “Building a green innovation economy is critical to NSW’s long-term prosperity.”
For businesses with technologies approaching commercial deployment, the grant provides an opportunity to undertake the engineering, testing and demonstration work often needed before attracting customers and private investment, with the previous funding round showing support for projects across renewable energy, advanced manufacturing, resource recovery and industrial decarbonisation.
