How does the grant application process work?
All applications entail a multi-stage process, modelled on the existing Brandon BioCatalyst process. All applications commence with an Expressions of Interest (EOI) application which must be submitted online at: https://cureator.awardsplatform.com/
The application platform has supporting information to guide your submission. You will need to select which funding stream you are applying for as part of the application process. All EOI submissions must be submitted by 5:00pm AEST (Australian Eastern Standard Time) on Thursday 29 June 2023. Late applications will not be considered.
Successful EOI applications will then be invited to submit a full application for further review and due diligence. Full applications that successfully complete due diligence will then proceed to grant offer and acceptance in late-Q4 2023.
Applications for CUREator funding follow a three-stage process:
What is the timeline for applying?
Expressions of interest open: 25 May 2023 at 9.00 am AEST
Final date for EOI submission: 29 June 2023 at 5.00pm AEST
Notification for shortlisting of EOI applications: Late-July 2023
Full applications from shortlisted applicants due: Late-August 2023
Who is eligible?
Any Australian small to medium size enterprise (SME), or life science researcher at an Australian university or research institute is eligible to submit an application. The proposed research must be performed in Australia (where possible).
If your project has not yet incorporated, you can still apply. However, depending on the stream of funding, you may need to be incorporated prior to award (Q4 2023) to receive the funding. CUREator may be able to assist successful applicants in establishing an eligible, incorporated company, where required.
Please refer to the funding guidelines here for further detail regarding the requirement to be a SME to receive.
What are we looking for?
Innovative science – what does the science behind the project enable?
Highly differentiated – how is this approach distinguished from existing solutions?
Biomedical applications – unmet medical need and how it can be addressed?
Clear achievable plan – a credible plan to investability or commercial licence
What does the Clinical Stream fund?
The Clinical Stream offers (non-dilutive) grant funding of up to $1,500,000 per project. Opportunities that successfully receive funding through this stream, will also have the opportunity to apply for matching (dilutive) investment from Brandon BioCatalyst/Brandon Capital or third-party funding.
Funding for the Clinical Stream is open to companies to progress the early clinical development of novel drugs, or novel uses for existing drugs with commercial potential. Funding for projects will focus on supporting to design, commence or complete phase 1 and phase 2 clinical studies, including investigator led and multi-centre studies. Patient studies (phase 1b and 2a and beyond), will be designed to validate safety but also to generate evidence of efficacy, by using both traditional measures of disease and novel, cutting edge biomarkers and analysis.
What does the Minimising Antimicrobial Resistance Stream fund?
The Minimising Antimicrobial Resistance Stream offers (non-dilutive) grant funding of up to $500,000 per project.
Funding for the Minimising Antimicrobial Resistance Stream is open to researchers and companies that address the antimicrobial resistance challenge. Funding for projects will focus on the development of new and emerging technology-based interventions to help prevent, understand, and control antimicrobial resistance, aiming to prevent the evolution and spread of resistance, and to maintain and extend the effectiveness of antibiotics for longer.
Applicants choosing this stream of funding will not be required to form a for-profit entity (company) prior to receiving grant award but it is strongly encouraged to support commercial activities.
Do I need to be associated with a Brandon BioCatalyst member institution to apply?
No. CUREator is a national biotechnology incubator run by Brandon BioCatalyst. Applications are open to any Australian SME, or life science researcher at an Australian university or research institute. Applicants do not need to be from a Brandon BioCatalyst member institution to be eligible for funding. We have included a list of Brandon BioCatalyst member institutes and non-members in the application process to assist us with reporting.
What kinds of organisations are able to receive CUREator funding and how is this defined for eligibility?
The EOI and Full application process is open to any Australian SME, or life science researcher at an Australian university or research institute.
For the Minimising Antimicrobial Resistance Stream, successful applicants can be researchers or SMEs.
For the Clinical Stream, successful applicants will need to be incorporated (if not already) prior to award (Q4 2023) to receive the funding. Successful applicants may be a private or public, listed or unlisted (Pty Ltd. or Ltd.) Australian SME. An Australian SME is defined as a business that employs less than 200 people, is based in Australia and is a registered Australian corporate entity (i.e., registered with ASIC). Unfortunately, not-for-profit organisations (NFPs), university TTO’s/IP holding companies, companies registered outside Australia, Australian companies with 200 or more employees and other Australian business entities and structures are not eligible to receive CUREator funding. These criteria reflect the requirements of the Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) grant that CUREator operates.
Can I submit more than one application?
Only one application may be submitted by the same business entity or project per Stream (universities, research institutes or other publicly funded research organisations (PFROs) may submit applications on behalf of multiple projects within their portfolio across either stream as relevant). Applicants are eligible to submit an application for all Streams, as long as each application submitted meets the criteria. Where universities, research institutes or other PFROs are coordinating proposals on behalf of multiple projects, the project (and ABN/ACN) must be clearly identified and distinguishable for each application to enable the review panel to differentiate between proposals.
Is this research funding, a commercial grant or will CUREator/Brandon BioCatalyst take equity?
CUREator provides commercial grant funding (equity free) to projects. This funding is best considered as non-dilutive capital rather than a research grant. This means successful projects will receive tranched funding, matched to achievement of commercially relevant milestones, that will be defined and agreed together with CUREator as part of the due diligence process.
For the Clinical Stream, successful applicants who receive CUREator funding (up to $1.5 million) will also have the opportunity to apply for matching (dilutive) investment from Brandon BioCatalyst or third-party funding on an investment for equity basis. Projects are not required to accept matching equity-based funding to receive the grant.
For applicants to the Minimising Antimicrobial Resistance Stream, CSIRO will have the option, but not the obligation, to contribute further funding to recipients of the Minimising Antimicrobial Resistance Stream funding. Further funding terms outside of CUREator will be negotiated between potential recipients and the CSIRO. The nature of such funding may include further non-dilutive grant funding or commercial investment and/or partnerships.
What happens if my project has grant funding, equity investment, or matching capital from other sources?
Matching capital (and in-kind support) will be well regarded as part of application review. Applicants should ensure that it is clear what the CUREator funding will be used to achieve and how this is measurably distinct from use of any other funding or support from other sources.
What is the period for use of the funds and what outcomes are expected?
Successful projects will have 1-2 years to complete project activities and achievement of milestones, agreed as part of the full application process. Successful applicants will be expected to commence project activities in Late 2023-Early 2024.
Can I re-apply, or submit an application if I have previously submitted a proposal to Brandon BioCatalyst that was not successful?
We encourage previous applicants with projects that have commercial potential to reapply. If you are unsuccessful at the full application stage, it is essential that you address the feedback from the review process before applying again. Similarly, unsuccessful EOI applications are encouraged to make progress towards their objectives in any intervening period before applying again. Remember, a key feature of successful start-ups is their tenacity in the face of obstacles and their ability to work around (or through) constraints.
How confidential/independent is the proposal review process?
All applications will be treated under standard Brandon BioCatalyst confidentiality arrangements. If confidential information is provided, please preface this with [Confidential]. It is not expected that you will disclose confidential information in the application to submit a successful EOI application. It is imperative that you can share enough technical information to demonstrate differentiation and novelty in the EOI but it may not be necessary to disclose confidential information in order to do so.
Applications will be reviewed by the CUREator Investment Review Committee (IRC), consisting of independent members, Brandon Capital delegates, a nationally representative sub-committee of the Brandon BioCatalyst IRC, and the Brandon Capital Investment Committee.
What is CUREator’s IP policy/what claims does CUREator/Brandon BioCatalyst have on any IP associated with my project?
All funding streams are non-dilutive grants and no claims are made on the background or project IP associated with projects on the basis of these grants. Successful CUREator awardees may apply for Brandon BioCatalyst funding and this is on an equity investment basis.
Can I get any feedback on submitting an EOI application or on my submitted EOI application?
The CUREator team run information sessions/webinars during the EOI period. Where appropriate, questions asked at these sessions will be added to the CUREator website FAQ.
Applicants may meet with the CUREator team during the EOI open period. To schedule a meeting, contact us at info@cureator.com.au
Unsuccessful EOI applications will be advised as soon as possible during the review process. However, owing to the volume of applications we receive, applicants are not expected to receive further feedback at the EOI stage.
What will the full application form entail?
The full application will expand on the information provided in the EOI to provide a full outline of the project. Successful applicants will have 4 weeks to prepare a full application (details and template documents will be provided) via the application platform.
My application is stuck/lost in the system. What should I do?
Although we strive to offer a fantastic application experience, sometimes these things happen. Please get in touch by emailing the CUREator team at info@cureator.com.au with specific details of the issue you are facing.
