CUREator, in partnership with Australia’s national science agency, CSIRO, is delivering a national program to accelerate the development of early-stage therapeutics addressing significant unmet medical needs across the drug discovery, preclinical and clinical development stages.
Successful small-to-medium enterprises (SMEs) will gain access to significant non-dilutive funding (up to $5 million per project), as well as commercial and scientific guidance, international expertise and networks, hands-on support, national training programs, and mentorship, to drive the translation and commercialisation of early-stage therapeutics.
By aligning funding incentives and milestone-driven progress, CUREator will provide an important bridge to overcome the stop-start nature of translational research, assisting SMEs to secure follow-on funding and partnerships, as well as nurturing the next generation of innovators.
CUREator is funded by the Australian Government’s Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) through the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing, to deliver the BioMedTech Incubator (BMTI) 2024 Program.
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Interested entrepreneurial researchers, clinical innovators, founders and biotech start-ups are invited to apply during open funding rounds via: https://cureator.awardsplatform.com/
CUREator will conduct two open, competitive funding rounds for SME cohort intakes (Stage 1 funding) during the five-year BMTI program.
The EOI timing didn’t get updated. It should be:
Expressions of Interest (EOI) for the 2025 round of funding:
While voluntarily accessed through a single application, the CUREator, AbbVie Green & Gold, and CSL RAI awards and investment opportunities, as well as Brandon BioCatalyst and Brandon Capital investment opportunities, remain separate programs, each with its own independent assessment process.
Download the CUREator BMTI funding guidelines 2025 for more information on eligibility, funding rounds, key dates, and the application and evaluation processes.
Funding is available to advance therapeutic programs from early drug discovery through to preclinical and clinical development, supporting projects that demonstrate strong potential for commercialisation and patient impact.
Eligible applicants include:
· Australian SMEs (Australian-based, for-profit companies) with less than 200 employees
· Researchers at Australian universities/research institutes, and willing to incorporate a new company prior to award
Strong applications will:
· Address a significant unmet need
· Be highly differentiated from existing standard of care and competitors
· Present a credible, milestone-driven development plan
· Have a clear intellectual property (IP) position and protection strategy
· Show strong commercial potential
· Be led by a capable and committed team
CUREator will provide up to a maximum of $5 million per project over two funding stages.
Stage 1: Initial project funding
· Preclinical stage: $1 million to $1.5 million
· Clinical stage: $1 million to $2.5 million
Stage 2: Top-up funding
· Top-up funding (up to a maximum total of $5 million per project across Stages 1 and 2) will be available on a competitive basis to successful SMEs who achieve their milestones during the Stage 1 period.
CUREator conducts a multi-stage, competitive application and evaluation process modelled on the established review processes of the Brandon BioCatalyst investment model. The process ensures independent expert review from the CUREator Investment Review Committee (IRC), as well as international industry input from the International Pharma Advisory Committee (IPAC), and comprehensive due diligence to identify and support the most promising biotech opportunities.
Applicants will follow a multi-stage application and evaluation process:
· Expression of Interest (EOI): Applicants submit a non-confidential application outlining their project novelty, IP position, clear clinical and commercial differentiation, developable modality, market opportunity, as well as maturity and developmental stage.
· Full Application: Selected applicants are invited to submit a detailed application and present to the CUREator IRC.
· Due Diligence: Final shortlisted projects undergo comprehensive technical, commercial, and corporate due diligence, and address feedback from the CUREator IRC and IPAC.
Upon formal funding endorsement, successful applicants enter into grant agreements, with funds released in tranches linked to agreed milestones and reporting requirements.
· CUREator Investment Review Committee (IRC): The IRC comprises independent members with significant sector expertise, CSIRO Biomedical Manufacturing subject matter experts and a nationally representative cohort of commercialisation experts from leading medical research organisations. The IRC has broad experience across research translation, clinical development, manufacturing, regulatory, intellectual property, business development, and commercialisation.
· CUREator International Pharma Advisory Committee (IPAC): The IPAC comprises senior-level international experts from the pharmaceutical, biotechnology and venture capital sectors, who will bring considerable experience relevant to drug development and commercialisation.
All reviewers and advisors operate under CUREator’s Confidentiality and Conflict of Interest Policy.
CUREator is expanding its support for applicants through new collaborations with global pharmaceutical leaders, enabling them for the first time to opt-in via a single CUREator application to have their Expression of Interest reviewed by AbbVie and CSL for their respective programs and for potential investment through Brandon BioCatalyst or Brandon Capital.
Participation is entirely optional and will not influence the outcome of CUREator’s assessment process. Applicants may choose to share their submission for separate partnering opportunities, with more information about each program available on the links below:
· AbbVie Green & Gold Innovation Award
· CSL Research Acceleration Initiative (RAI)
· Brandon BioCatalyst or Brandon Capital
While voluntarily accessed through a single application, the CUREator, AbbVie Green & Gold and CSL RAI awards and investment opportunities through Brandon BioCatalyst or Brandon Capital investment opportunity remain separate programs, each with its own independent assessment process.
CUREator provides multiple opportunities for engagement and guidance throughout the EOI period.
National information webinar
· Learn about the new program, eligibility and application process
· Monday, 20 October 2025 at 1:00pm AEDT
· To register, visit: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_4hMdYGGnSqyhJnhuLu9jbA#/
National roadshow series
· Information session with panel and networking across Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Sydney and Perth during October and November
· For details and to register, visit: https://brandonbiocatalyst.com/cureator/events/
1:1 meetings during the EOI period
· Book a 30-minute meeting with the CUREator team to discuss your opportunity or ask general questions about the program
· To organise a meeting, visit: https://scheduler.zoom.us/d/195fif99/cureator-2025-expression-of-interest-meeting
Contact
For questions about eligibility, scope, or the application process, please contact the CUREator team at: info@cureator.com.au
