Women in STEM and Entrepreneurship Grant Program 2026

The Australian Government is currently accepting applications for its Women in STEM and Entrepreneurship Grant Program 2026. This program supports transformative initiatives aimed at expanding opportunities for girls and women across Australia’s STEM and innovation ecosystems.

📖 About the Program

The Women in STEM and Entrepreneurship Program aims to:

• Remove systemic barriers.
• Strengthen workforce pathways.
• Encourage long-term participation in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).

Sponsor Organisation

• Australian Government Business

🎁 Benefits of the Program

• Total Program Funding: $9.77 million
• Grant Amount per Project: $1,000,000 to $2,000,000
• Funding Purpose: Support gender equity programs that create sustainable, systemic change in STEM and entrepreneurship.
• Project Focus Areas:
  • Capacity-building
  • Leadership development
  • Innovation pathway access
  • Organisational reform
  • Community engagement
  • Network strengthening

✅ Eligibility Criteria

Eligible applicants must be Australian organisations with an Australian Business Number (ABN). Accepted entity types include:

• Australian businesses
• Publicly funded research organisations (PFROs)
• TAFEs and VET institutions
• Not-for-profit organisations

Project Requirements

• Must be co-designed with stakeholders or target groups.
• Demonstrate measurable impact.
• Strengthen opportunities for women and girls in STEM or entrepreneurship.

Not Eligible

• Individuals
• Organisations without an ABN

📝 Application Date and Process

Step-by-Step Process

1. Confirm Organisational Eligibility
   Ensure your organisation holds an ABN and meets program criteria.

2. Design a Co-Created Project
   Engage stakeholders—women in STEM, industry partners, educators, community groups—to design an initiative with demonstrated need.

3. Develop a Detailed Project Plan
   Include objectives, outputs, budget, risk management, evaluation strategy, and evidence of systemic impact.

4. Prepare Supporting Documents
   This may include governance information, financials, letters of support, or partnership agreements.

5. Submit the Grant Application
   Complete the application through the Australian Government’s official grants platform.

6. Assessment
   Applications are assessed on impact, feasibility, alignment with program goals, evidence base, and stakeholder engagement.

📅 Application Deadline

• Deadline: 18 February, 2026

🌐 Application Portal

For more details and to apply, visit the official Australian Government Women in STEM and Entrepreneurship Grant Program.

• Total program funding: $9.77 million
• Grant amount per project: $1,000,000 to $2,000,000
• Funding purpose: Support gender equity programs that create sustainable, systemic change in STEM and entrepreneurship
• Project focus: Capacity-building, leadership development, innovation pathway access, organisational reform, community engagement, network strengthening