NCRIS Synthetic Biology Voucher Scheme

Key Points

1. The aim of this Voucher Scheme is to enable projects addressing significant scientific challenges using synthetic biology capabilities at NCRIS SynBio and NCRIS Partner facilities.

2. Applications for a Primary Voucher will include a Lead Provider from one of the NCRIS SynBio facilities and a Partner facility. Primary Vouchers will be awarded to a maximum of $50,000 and will match the contribution of the applicant.

3. Applicants may also apply for a Secondary Voucher to incorporate another Partner facility which will bring an added capability to the proposed project. Secondary Vouchers will be awarded to a maximum of $25,000 and will match the contribution of the applicant.

Background and Aims

Through the National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Strategy (NCRIS) program, the Commonwealth committed $55M to Bioplatforms Australia in 2023 for a four-year program to provide a step change investment that would address critical gaps between Synthetic Biology research and its impact through economic and societal benefit. Approximately $20M of this investment has been invested to establish synthetic biology facilities at Macquarie University (Australian Genome Foundry) and the University of Queensland (IDEA Bio) who are focussed on providing synthetic biology infrastructure and expertise to the industrial fermentation sector of the Australian bioeconomy. A further $20M of this investment has been committed to establish facilities to enable plant synthetic biology and accelerate plant and agricultural R&D and industrial outcomes. Plant SynBio Australia nodes have been established at Adelaide University, Australian National University, La Trobe University and the University of Western Australia. Development of these facilities represents a first for global plant synthetic biology and provides an opportunity for Australia to capture a segment of the predicted $30T bioeconomy. This national network of facilities provides fee-for-service, research incubator and collaborative engagement for research providers, startups and industry users. The facilities will also play a pivotal role in supporting and further developing the Australian synthetic biology community, and training the next-generation of scientists who will go on to grow and staff the sector.

In order to deliver sovereign value for the Australian agricultural, industrial fermentation and biomedical sectors, Bioplatforms is partnering with multiple providers across the NCRIS system for seamless access to synthetic biology capabilities:

The aims of the scheme are to:

– provide a financial mechanism to enable experimental development activities that are typically difficult to fund through traditional national competitive grant schemes

– increase external business for NCRIS facilities from publicly funded research groups and SMEs by lowering the financial barrier to access expert services

– raise the profile of NCRIS facilities and their range of accessible services

– identify multi-disciplinary projects that require access to more than one NCRIS facility for support

– provide opportunities for early-mid career researchers to develop a track record in translational research for product discovery and development

 Key Dates

Scheme opens for applications:  4 July 2025
Scheme closes for applications:  12 September 2025, 5pm (AEST)
Applications assessed: September- October 2025
Awards made: October/November 2025
Projects commence: Strictly within 6 months of award*
Projects complete: Within 18 months of commencement

*Offers may be withdrawn if projects have not commenced within six months without an explanation satisfactory to Bioplatforms Australia.