UQ Dow Centre

Seed Grants

2026 Accelerating Future Decarbonisation Technologies Seed Grants

The Accelerating Future Decarbonisation Technologies Seed Grants (“Grant”) provide seed funding to support cross‑disciplinary research projects that accelerate the translation of decarbonisation technologies into real‑world impact. The scheme fosters collaboration across The University of Queensland (UQ), strengthens internal research capability, builds strategic partnerships, and enables broader adoption of technologies across industry, government, and community sectors.

1. Overview

Purpose: To support early‑stage, cross‑disciplinary projects that advance decarbonisation technologies toward translation and broader uptake.

Grant value: Up to AUD $50,000 per project

Project duration: Up to 12 months

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2. What the Grant Supports

Funded projects must clearly demonstrate cross‑disciplinary collaboration and a strong pathway to technology translation. Projects may include activities such as:

  • Developing and validating prototypes or new technologies
  • Conducting preliminary Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), Techno‑Economic Assessment (TEA), or environmental, social and governance (ESG) studies
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3. Eligibility Requirements

Applicant Eligibility

  • All named investigators must be employed by UQ for the duration of the project.
  • The lead investigator must be from one of the following UQ units: EAIT, AIBN, BEL, Science

Team Composition

  • Each project must include at least two and no more than three named investigators
  • Investigators must be from at least two different UQ organisational units 
  • At least one named investigator must be an Early‑ and Mid‑Career Researcher (EMCR), i.e. less than 10 years post‑PhD. Career interruptions may be considered.
  • A researcher may be named on only one Grant application or active award at a time.
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4. Application Preparation

Please read the Guidelines, Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ), Application Form and Conditions of Award prior to starting an application. Before applying, please ensure that all eligibility requirements as listed in the Guidelines are met.

Applicants will be required to confirm that the proposal has been discussed with relevant Heads of School, Centre, or Institute prior to submission.

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5. Timeline

Applications open: 8 April 2026

Applications close: 6 May 2026

Outcomes communicated and grants awarded: mid-June 2026

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6. Documents

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7. Submission Process

Combine the completed application form and all supporting documents into a single PDF

Email the PDF to dowcentre@uq.edu.au, using a clear subject line, for example: “2026 Seed Grant – Lead CI Name”

For all enquiries, please email dowcentre@uq.edu.au.

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Contact

For all enquiries, please email dowcentre@uq.edu.au