RMIT has received about $400,000 in Victorian Government funding through Innovation Victoria to back early-career researchers as they test whether their AI, deeptech and MedTech ideas can become viable startups.
The funding will support the delivery of the new DiscoveryHUB Pre-Accelerator, a 20-week program led by RMIT Activator in partnership with RMIT's Research and Innovation portfolio.
RMIT Activator is the University's entrepreneurship centre within the Strategy and Community Impact portfolio, supporting founders from idea through to commercialisation.
DiscoveryHUB will support RMIT-affiliated Victorian researchers working on projects with strong intellectual property potential. It will help them explore commercial pathways, develop startup skills and move promising ideas closer to market.
The program will include two cohorts across two years. The first will focus on multidisciplinary deeptech and AI-enabled ventures, while the second will be centred on MedTech, a priority area for RMIT.
RMIT Vice-President Strategy and Community Impact Tom Bentley said the grant recognised RMIT Activator's role in backing founders to take their ideas further.
"RMIT Activator has a strong track record of helping founders move from idea to action, and DiscoveryHUB brings that experience into the research translation process," Bentley said.
"This program will help researchers build the confidence, capability and connections they need to explore whether their ideas can become viable ventures."
An RMIT Activator workshop brings participants together to explore ideas and entrepreneurship. Building commercialisation capability
Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Research and Innovation, Distinguished Professor Calum Drummond AO, said DiscoveryHUB would support researchers to work through the early commercial decisions that can shape whether an idea moves beyond the lab.
"DiscoveryHUB will help research-led teams think through intellectual property, technical validation, industry engagement, investment readiness and whether a spin-out, licence or partnership is the best way forward," Professor Drummond said.
"It will also help build a stronger pipeline of opportunities for RMIT's pre-seed partnership with Innovation Victoria, creating more pathways for promising research to progress towards investment, commercialisation and broader impact.
"By combining RMIT Activator's founder support with the Research and Innovation Portfolio's commercialisation expertise, we can give researchers more practical support to progress ideas with confidence."
DiscoveryHUB will be free for participants and will include weekly growth sessions, one-on-one coaching, finance training, investor readiness support, founder mindset coaching and a final showcase.
Targeted support from the RMIT Artificial Intelligence Advanced Innovation Experience (RAIsE) Hub will help participants explore how AI could strengthen their ideas.
Participants collaborate during a workshop at RMIT Activator's startup co-working space. Connecting founders through City North
DiscoveryHUB will be delivered through RMIT Activator's startup co-working space in the City North Social Innovation Precinct, bringing researchers and founders into one of RMIT's key places for innovation and collaboration.
"It reflects the role of City North as a place where students, researchers, entrepreneurs, industry and community can come together around shared challenges and create practical responses," Bentley said.
After the program, graduates will receive 12 months of support through RMIT Activator Residency, including co-working space, mentoring and access to the broader startup community.
The DiscoveryHUB Pre-Accelerator program is expected to start in early 2027, with an official launch later this year.
The grant was originally awarded through LaunchVic, which became part of Innovation Victoria when the new Victorian Government agency launched in July 2026. Innovation Victoria brings together LaunchVic and Breakthrough Victoria.
