Up to $50 million in research grants have been approved for local innovators. 

In a significant boost to Australia's deep technology and science-based sectors, twenty-four pioneering firms have been selected to receive a total of $50 million in collaborative research grants. 

The grants, announced by Minister for Industry and Science Ed Husic, mark the 14th round of funding under the government's Co-operative Research Centres Projects (CRC-P) initiative. Notably, these firms could also become eligible for further grants from the National Reconstruction Fund, which controls around $15 billion in funding.

Among the grant recipients are firms from fields including quantum computing, renewable energy, and advanced materials. 

The list includes Diraq, a Sydney-based quantum computing company founded by Professor Andrew Dzurak, making strides in developing quantum logic gates for building quantum computers.

MicroTau, another grant recipient, has successfully secured funding for potentially revolutionary aeroplane technology. The company has devised a method to apply lightweight stickers coated with microscopic, three-dimensional “riblets” to aircraft, emulating the unique scales found on shark skin. The addition reduces wind drag by up to 12 per cent, resulting in substantial fuel savings.

Australian Vintage, an Adelaide-based winemaker, is also among the major grant beneficiaries. The funding will be put toward research into the production of no- and low-alcohol wines, addressing a growing consumer demand for these products.

CSIRO-spinoff OmnisOva has received $1.5 million to develop an advanced breeding technology capable of eliminating the major allergenic proteins from chicken eggs, making them safe for consumption by people with egg allergies.

The grants were awarded through a competitive process, and recipients are required to match the federal funding with industry commitments. 

Ranging from $100,000 to $3 million, the grants will support projects spanning up to three years.