Application Process

The 2024 call for Expressions of Interest for Australia-Japan Innovation Fund Research Grants will open September 15, 2024 and close October 31, 2024. 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.

Applicants will be advised of the outcome of their EOI by mid November, 2024. Shortlisted candidates will be invited to submit full applications by November 30. Invited applicants will have approximately 2 weeks to complete the full application. Final awards will be announced by the end of December 2024, and research should commence no later than March 2025.

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

Full Application

Requirements for full proposal

A select number of applicants who submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) will be invited to submit a full proposal.

The full proposal is an expansion of the information provided in the Expression of Interest (EOI) process.

Applicants are invited to re-use and expand on the information they provided in the EOI in the following ways:

Project summary (maximum 100 words)

A summary of the project in non-technical language suitable for a public audience

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.

Expanded project description (maximum 1000 words)

Please ensure that this includes (a) the problem definition; (b) the stage of research that you are at (e.g. exploratory, mid-project, nearing completion, working towards commercialization); (c) the methods used or proposed in the project (additional requirement for full proposal) (d) a short summary findings/outcomes to date (e) significance; and (f) need for funding; and (g) brief roadmap for future development.

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:

  • Partner institution (if applicable)

  • Industry partner (if known)