Centres of Excellence
Centres of Excellence are prestigious hubs of research expertise supported by the Australian Research Council. Centres are selected to further Australia’s research in areas of national priority, and help develop successful collaborations between universities, research organisations, government and industry.
The NSW Premier’s Department (Department), through the NSW Office of the Chief Scientist & Engineer (OCSE), is offering co-investment support for NSW applicants who were successful in the ARC Centres of Excellence 2026 funding round.
Grants will be awarded on a targeted competitive basis. Available funding for this round of CoE co-investment is $1,200,000. Applications will be reviewed by an Assessment Panel of independent representatives from the NSW public sector and/or the broader research community. The Panel will provide recommendations to the Minister for Innovation, Science and Technology or delegate on the suitability of each proposal for funding.
For further information about the 2026 co-investment round for Centres of Excellence, please refer to the Guidelines for Applicants below.
Key Dates
| Activity | Date/Time |
|---|---|
| Applications open | 14:00 AEST Monday 23 February 2026 |
| Applications close | 14:00 AEST Monday 16 March 2026 |
| Applicants notified of outcome | April 2026 |
Guidelines
Application Form
Tips for Applicants
- Focus on why your proposed activities are important and how they would benefit NSW (for example, alignment with the NSW 20 Year R&D Roadmap , NSW Innovation Blueprint and NSW Industry Policy)
- Include an accurate budget with appropriate detail
Previous Funding
In previous years, OCSE has provided co-investment support to the following Centres of Excellence.
Contact