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 will conduct two open, competitive funding rounds for SME cohort intakes (Stage 1 funding) during the five-year BMTI program. The first round opens in 2025.

CUREator will provide up to a maximum of $5 million per project over two funding stages.

Stage 1 - Initial project funding will depend on the maturity level of the opportunity:

• Preclinical opportunities: $1 million to $1.5 million
• Clinical opportunities: $1 million to $2.5 million

Stage 2 - Top Up funding (up to a maximum total of $5 million per project across Stages 1 and 2).

Applicants must be:

• An Australian SME that is private or public, listed or unlisted (Pty Ltd. or Ltd.). An Australian SME is defined as a for-profit business that employs less than 200 people, is based in Australia and is a registered Australian corporate entity (i.e., registered with ASIC).
• Researcher(s) at an Australian university or research institute and if successful, will incorporate a new company (NewCo) that meets the above SME requirements prior to the award of funding.

Applicants must own or have exclusive rights to the background and project intellectual property (IP) relevant to the project.

Applicants must provide a letter of support from their:

• Board or CEO for established companies, or
• Business development manager/tech transfer office for researchers.

Applicants must be willing to commercialise the technology.