The free eight-week online program, delivered by Australia's national science agency, CSIRO, helps SMEs turn early-stage ideas into actionable research and development (R&D) plans while building connections with expert facilitators and researchers.
Since its commencement in 2020, more than 900 SMEs have taken part in the program.
Dr Mat Cook, Aquaculture Research Director at CSIRO, said the field of aquaculture offers significant opportunities for Australian businesses developing new products and technologies.
"Whether it's breeding, animal health, nutrition or new production systems, good ideas often stall because businesses aren't sure what evidence they need or where to start with R&D," Dr Cook said.
"Innovate to Grow connects SMEs with researchers and gives them a clear, practical process for working out what R&D their idea actually needs."
Rebecca Parlett, Director of Bio Tribute Systems, participated in a previous Innovate to Grow program. The Australian startup develops circular innovations to support soil health and environmental recovery and joined the program seeking scientific validation and feasibility data to help transition its early-concept innovations into market-ready, scalable solutions.
"The program helped me to clarify the real status of my innovation and better understand the R&D pathway required to progress it," Ms Parlett said.
"It also helped me identify that my project is not simply a product-development issue, but requires regulatory clarification, claims discipline, independent validation, a funding strategy and a staged evidence pathway. The program gave me a more structured and realistic framework for deciding what needs to happen next."
CSIRO's Innovate to Grow: Aquaculture is open to Australian SMEs developing or supplying solutions in the following subsectors:
- Breeding
- Health
- Nutrition
- Production systems and optimisation
- Digital and AI
- Sustainability and circular agri-aquaculture
- Packaging
- Enabling Indigenous-led aquaculture.
Applications are now open and close on 16 August 2026. The program will commence in September.
