The Ignite Program Stream B is a Northern Territory Government initiative offering competitive grants of up to A$15,000, excluding GST. It supports eligible Northern Territory businesses in progressing validated innovations towards commercial readiness, market entry or investment readiness through practical development and commercialisation activities.
Program Objectives
• Aim: To help Northern Territory businesses identify, validate, develop and commercialise innovative products, services, processes, technologies or business models.
• Goal: To increase the number of innovative businesses capable of attracting customers and investment while contributing to economic growth, employment and industry development in the Territory.
• Focus: To support minimum viable product development and early commercialisation activities while building a pipeline of high-quality, investible early-stage startups.
• Target Audience: Northern Territory businesses with a completed Innovation Project Plan or equivalent document that are ready to undertake practical development or commercialisation activities.
Funding and Timeline
• Grant Amount: Up to A$15,000, excluding GST, per eligible recipient.
• Award Basis: Funding is awarded competitively, with eligible applications assessed on merit by a departmental assessment panel.
• Project Duration: Successful recipients have a maximum of six months to complete the approved works or services.
• Payment: Funding is generally provided in two instalments: the first after the funding agreement is executed and the second following satisfactory milestone completion, reporting and acquittal.
Eligibility Criteria
• Applicant Status: The applicant must be a legal entity, hold a valid Australian Business Number and qualify as a Territory Enterprise.
• Excluded Applicants: Government agencies, government-owned or controlled bodies, statutory corporations, schools, universities and other educational institutions are not eligible.
• Prerequisite: Applicants must have completed an Innovation Project Plan through Stream A or prepared an equivalent document independently.
• Project Requirement: The proposed project and budget must directly relate to the innovation described in the Innovation Project Plan.
• Delivery Capacity: Applicants must demonstrate that they have the capability and resources required to complete the proposed project.
Supported Activities
• Minimum viable product development
• Prototype development or refinement
• Product testing
• Customer or market validation
• Technical development
• Specialist professional advice
• Intellectual property advice or protection
• Regulatory or compliance activities required for market entry
• Commercialisation planning
Ineligible Expenditures
• Retrospective costs or expenditure incurred before funding approval
• Ordinary business operating expenses
• Wages or salaries not directly related to the approved project
• Debt repayment
• Purchases of land or buildings
• Activities not directly related to the approved innovation
• Activities already funded through another government program
Application Details
• Application Deadline: 06 September 2026, 16:00 GMT+1
• Original Closing Time: 07 September 2026, 00:30 ACST
• Application Method: Applications must be submitted through the GrantsNT portal.
Applicants should review the official Ignite Program Guidelines and the current GrantsNT listing before submitting an application. The program is administered by the Northern Territory Government Department of Trade, Business and Asian Relations.