Got a smart AI or tech idea? CSIRO’s giving small businesses a leg-up to turn it into reality

Got a cracker of an idea in AI or digital tech but not sure how to take it to the next level? Australia’s national science agency, CSIRO, is here to help.

Their free Innovate to Grow program is back — and this time, it’s all about helping small businesses tackle the big stuff: artificial intelligence, digital manufacturing, robotics, cybersecurity and more.

Running over eight weeks, this online program is perfect for small and medium-sized businesses that are still in the early stages of their R&D journey. Whether you’re dabbling in machine learning, building out a robotics solution, or looking to strengthen your cyber security chops, this course connects you with the right experts to turn your idea into a research-backed, investor-ready plan.

And the best bit? It won’t cost you a cent.

Why sign up?

If you’re wondering whether it’s worth your time, just ask Luis Elneser from Melbourne-based start-up Lurra Systems. His business specialises in high-precision navigation and geospatial tech, and he says Innovate to Grow helped him take his ideas from fuzzy to focused.

“I’m now actively executing my R&D plan and collaborating with my mentor on a new project that emerged during the course,” Luis says.

Since launching in 2020, more than 650 Aussie small businesses have gone through the program — and Program Manager Michelle Armistead says there’s a growing appetite for support in the fast-moving world of AI and tech.

“Australian SMEs are at the frontier of our digital and AI opportunity,” she says. “Whether you’re training large language models, deploying robotics on the factory floor or hardening your cyber-defences, the pace of innovation is relentless. We’re here to help founders make the leap from idea to investable project.”

Who’s it for?

If your business is working in one of the following sectors, you’re exactly who CSIRO wants to hear from:

AI (including computer vision, natural language processing, ChatGPT/LLMs and machine learning)

Robotics and autonomous systems

Digital manufacturing

Quantum computing

Cyber security

The program includes expert mentoring, industry insights, and access to leading researchers to help shape a solid R&D plan and open doors to future funding.

How to apply

The Innovate to Grow: Digital Technologies and Artificial Intelligence program kicks off soon, and expressions of interest are open now. Applications close on 1 June 2025, so don’t muck about.

Click here to learn more or apply (link to be updated with correct URL).

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