Future Drought Fund Drought Resilience Innovation Challenges Pilot Program
Closes 22 October 2025 (9pm ACT Local Time)
The Australian Government is inviting applications in an open competitive process to apply for a grant under the Future Drought Fund Drought Resilience Innovation Challenges Pilot Program.
The Innovation Challenges Pilot Program (the Program) poses 3 complex and multi-dimensional cross-regional, industry or system wide challenges imposed by drought and climate impacts, for applicants to respond to with innovative and tailored solutions.
The aim of the Program is to help drive and fast-track the availability of existing and emerging high-impact drought resilience approaches, innovative practices, tools and technologies. Farmers, agricultural sectors, regions and farming communities will benefit from accelerated access to high-impact, evidence-based innovation to adapt to drought and climate impacts at scale.
The Program is intended to attract innovators and researchers with technologies or practices that have reached applied research stage that have potential to be scaled up and adopted at a cross-regional, industry or system-wide level.
It is anticipated that consortiums of innovators, farmers, communities would benefit from accelerated projects to increase the evidence base and speed of development of their innovative solution. It is anticipated that consortiums of commercial partners and innovators, farmers, farming communities, and/or other regional stakeholders may be formed.
Eligibility
To be eligible, the lead applicant of a consortium must be an Australian-based organisation, capable of entering into a legally binding and enforceable agreement with the Commonwealth. This includes the following entity types:
Company
Cooperative
Corporate Commonwealth Entity
Corporate State or Territory Entity
Non-corporate State or Territory Entity
Non-corporate State or Territory Statutory Authority
Incorporated Association
Indigenous Corporation
Local Government
Statutory Entity.
Timeline
Assessment of applications - Within 12 weeks from the closing date
Approval of outcomes of selection process - Within 18 weeks from the closing date
Notification to applicants - Within 19 weeks from the closing date
Negotiations and award of grant agreements - Within 23 weeks from the closing date
Earliest start date of grant activity - May 2026
End date of grant activity - 30 June 2028.
How to proceed
To apply:
complete the online application form on GrantConnect
provide all the information requested
address all eligibility criteria and assessment criteria
include all necessary attachments (see section 7.1 of the Grant Opportunity Guidelines)
submit your application/s to the Community Grants Hub by 9:00 pm AEDT on 22 October 2025.
For more information
Community Grants Hub
support@communitygrants.gov.au
