ARENA Future Made in Australia Innovation Fund

Purpose and Program Overview

The (FMA) Future Made in Australia Innovation Fund is an Australian Government program administered by the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA). It provides up to $1.5 billion to support pre-commercial innovation, demonstration, deployment and commercialisation of renewable energy and low-emissions technologies that contribute to Australia’s transition to net zero.

The program is designed to increase uptake of eligible technologies, build Australian manufacturing capability, strengthen domestic supply chains, and improve workforce skills and participation. It operates under the Future Made in Australia framework and considers related Community Benefit Principles in funding decisions.

The fund launched in December 2025 as an ongoing program. It remains open until available funding is exhausted or ARENA closes the program.

Key Grant Details

• Grant amount: Up to $1.5 billion is available across the program; individual grant limits are set in the relevant Technology Focus Area documents rather than in the overarching program guidelines.newtab
• Grant funding range: ARENA generally expects to provide the minimum funding required for a project to proceed; grant requests above 50 per cent of project costs require a strong value-for-money and broader-project-benefit justification.newtab
• Application dates: The program launched in December 2025 and is open on an ongoing basis; there is no fixed closing date.newtab
• Eligible industries: Renewable energy, energy efficiency, electrification, green metals, low-carbon liquid fuels, and renewable energy technology manufacturing.newtab
• Co-contribution: Matched funding is typically expected, with higher co-contributions generally assessed more favourably. Cash and eligible in-kind contributions may be considered.
• Location: Projects must primarily take place in Australia. GrantConnect lists coverage across Australian states and territories, including administered territories.newtab
• Application method: Applicants should first seek ARENA endorsement through an ARENA client manager or the ARENANet Funding Advice process before lodging an application through ARENANet.newtab

Priority Sectors

The program is limited to three Technology Focus Areas:

• Green Metals: Low- and net-zero-emissions production of iron, steel, alumina and aluminium.
• Renewable Energy Technology Manufacturing (RETM): Development and production of renewable energy technologies that are important to the net-zero transition and address clean-energy supply-chain constraints.newtab
• Low Carbon Liquid Fuels (LCLF): Development and deployment of domestic low-carbon liquid-fuel supply chains, including sustainable aviation fuel and renewable diesel.newtab

ARENA has identified up to $750 million for Green Metals, an initial $200 million tranche for RETM, and up to $250 million for Low Carbon Liquid Fuels.

Funding Scope

Innovation: Early-stage technology development and validation: prototypes, pilots, pre-commercial demonstrations, small-scale deployment, feasibility studies, FEED and engineering studies. newtab

Deployment: Technology scale-up and larger industrial application. Large-scale deployment and testing of technologies that have been proven at smaller scale but require further validation for commercialisation. newtab

The overarching guidelines do not prescribe universal minimum or maximum grant values for the Innovation and Deployment streams. Applicants must review the applicable Technology Focus Area documents, as grant limits may vary by priority area.

No standard project duration is specified in the overarching guidelines. Deployment applications must include objectively verifiable milestones, deliverables and indicative project start and end dates, while final timing and payments are governed by the executed Funding Agreement.

Eligibility Criteria

Applicants must satisfy all eligibility requirements before ARENA will conduct a merit assessment. Key requirements include:

• Hold an active Australian Business Number (ABN).newtab
• Be an Australian corporation incorporated under the Corporations Act 2001, an eligible Commonwealth, state or territory entity, local government body, Australian university or research institution, or an entity operating a Cooperative Research Centre.
• Propose a project with activities that primarily occur in Australia.
• Demonstrate that the technology has reached at least Technology Readiness Level 3, meaning a proof of concept has been established.
• Use or investigate a technology that ARENA can lawfully fund: renewable energy, energy efficiency or electrification technology.
• Hold or have access to the intellectual property required to undertake the project.
• Comply with the Workplace Gender Equality Act 2012 where applicable, Australian sanctions laws, anti-terrorism requirements and National Redress Scheme requirements.
• Maintain suitable accounting systems capable of separately identifying eligible expenditure and project contributions, with a clear audit trail.

The guidelines do not set a minimum or maximum turnover threshold, specific business-size requirement, or universal GST-registration requirement. Eligible expenditure is generally assessed net of GST.

Eligible Activities and Expenses

Eligible activities must directly support the approved project and align with a Technology Focus Area. Depending on the project, support may include:

• Technology development, prototypes, feasibility studies, pilots, demonstrations and deployment activities.newtab
• FEED studies, engineering studies, project design and technical development.newtab
• Capital equipment, plant and directly related installation or construction costs.
• Labour costs, including salaries, wages and reasonable employment on-costs for personnel working directly on the project.newtab
• Contractor costs supported by written contracts, purchase orders or supplier evidence.newtab
• Recruitment, travel, communications, accommodation, computing, printing and similar administrative costs directly related to the project.
• Knowledge-sharing activities, databases, websites, web applications, reports and information collection.newtab
• Direct project-related legal, audit, accounting, licensing, intellectual-property and government-approval costs.newtab

Ineligible costs include general business operations, land acquisition, loan interest, donations, membership fees, ordinary promotional activity, and expenditure not directly connected to completing the project.

Assessment Process

The program is an open, non-competitive opportunity on GrantConnect, although applications undergo eligibility checks and merit assessment, and ARENA applies a portfolio approach when selecting projects.arena+1

The standard process is:

1. Seek ARENA endorsement: Applicants should discuss the proposal with ARENA and obtain endorsement before submission; ARENA may decline to assess an application lodged without endorsement.
2. Submit an Expression of Interest: An EOI generally includes a project plan, budget and, where requested, a financial model. ARENA may waive the EOI stage in defined circumstances, including certain Innovation Stream applications.
3. Submit a Full Application: Applicants provide a detailed project plan, budget, risk management plan, evidence of partner support and other required documents. Deployment applications must also provide measurable milestones and deliverables.
4. Assessment and decision: ARENA assesses eligibility, then merit. The ARENA Board or delegated CEO may approve grants of up to $50 million; proposed grants above $50 million require ministerial approval.

ARENA assesses applications against five equally weighted merit criteria:

• Alignment with Technology Focus Area objectives and outcomes.
• Applicant and partner capability and delivery capacity.
• Project design, methodology, risk management and compliance.
• Financial viability, co-funding commitment, value for money and additionality.
• Knowledge-sharing approach and willingness to comply with ARENA’s Knowledge Sharing Plan.

Applicants must also demonstrate that the project requires ARENA funding and would not proceed without it.

Recent Program Updates

The FMA Innovation Fund was announced in the May 2024 Federal Budget and launched in December 2025. The program is designated as Future Made in Australia support under the Future Made in Australia Act 2024.newtab

ARENA may update the Technology Focus Area documents and FAQs over time. It may also establish targeted funding rounds with separate dates, conditions, funding allocations or ranked assessment processes.

Application Tips

• Confirm that the proposed technology and project clearly fit one of the three Technology Focus Areas before contacting ARENA.
• Seek ARENA endorsement early and use the discussion to confirm the appropriate stream, likely evidence requirements and application pathway.
• Prepare a realistic, evidence-based budget that distinguishes eligible costs, ineligible costs, cash contributions and in-kind contributions.
• Demonstrate why grant funding is necessary for the project to proceed and why the proposed funding request represents value for money.
• Provide clear evidence of technical maturity, including proof that the technology has achieved at least TRL 3.
• Document project governance, partner roles, approvals, procurement status, delivery milestones and risk controls.
• Show organisational capability through relevant expertise, previous delivery performance, available facilities and financial capacity.
• Address the Community Benefit Principles, including workforce outcomes, skills development, local supply chains, community engagement and First Nations considerations where relevant.
• Plan for knowledge sharing, including how project data, lessons and outcomes will be collected, managed and communicated.

Where to Get Help for the Future Made in Australia Innovation Fund

Consider consulting a grant specialist for a personalised eligibility assessment and expert assistance in preparing a strong, compliant and competitive application. Contact us today, and we will connect you with Australia’s best grant specialist with over 35 years of experience in the industry and a 100% success rate. For official guidelines, application details, templates and further information, visit the Future Made in Australia Innovation Fund official website and other associated Australian government websites.