WA Innovation Pathways Program (IPP)

Purpose and Program Overview

The Innovation Pathways Program (IPP) is a competitive Western Australian Government grant that funds accelerator, entrepreneur education and investor education programs to strengthen the State’s innovation ecosystem. It is designed to help startups and innovative SMEs become investment-ready, support entrepreneurs to commercialise and scale their businesses, and equip current and potential investors to make informed early‑stage innovation investment decisions.

The program is funded through the $40 million New Industries and Innovation Fund (NIIF) for 2025–29, which is the State’s primary mechanism for delivering the WA Innovation Strategy and supporting economic diversification under Diversify WA. The current IPP round has a total grant pool of $2 million, with increased maximum grant amounts to expand the reach and impact of accelerator and education initiatives targeted at Western Australian innovators and investors.

The IPP plays a broader role in building a self‑sustaining innovation environment by increasing the number of accelerators and education programs, lifting the capability among founders and investors, and growing the volume of investment flowing into Western Australian startups. It also aims to expand support for regional, First Nations and female founders, thereby improving diversity and inclusion within the State’s innovation ecosystem.​

Key Grant Details

• Grant amount or funding range:
  • Up to $300,000 per application under Stream A: Accelerator support.
  • Up to $200,000 per application under Stream B: Entrepreneur Education.
  • Up to $200,000 per application under Stream C: Investor Education.
• Total grant pool (current round): More than $2 million available across all streams in this round.
• Application open date: Tuesday, 9 December 2025, 10.00 am (AWST).
• Application close date: Friday 30 January 2026, 4.00 pm (AWST).
• Eligible industries or business types:
  • Reputable organisations and service providers that deliver accelerator and education programs for startups, innovative SMEs and scaleups, including local, interstate and international providers expanding services into WA.
• Required co‑contributions (matched funding):
  • Tiered matched funding required as cash:
    • 25% for programs targeting regional WA, First Nations participants or female participants (Tiers 1–3).
    • 35% for all remaining programs (Tier 4).
  • Non‑matched applications may be considered case‑by‑case, where a strong market need is demonstrated, at the Department’s discretion.
• Location/state/territory applicability:
  • Programs must be delivered in Western Australia and align with one or more IPP streams.
  • Applicants may be based in WA, elsewhere in Australia, or overseas, provided there is representation and a registered business presence in WA (or a commitment to establish this).

Priority Sectors

The Innovation Pathways Program is open to programs serving startups and innovative SMEs across the Western Australian innovation ecosystem and is not restricted to a single industry. Programs may be tailored to specific industries where they align with one or more Diversify WA priority sectors, as required under the Government priorities evaluation criterion.

Accordingly, the grant is open to a broad range of sectors, provided proposed programs support innovation‑driven ventures and contribute to economic diversification in line with Diversify WA’s priority sectors.

Funding Scope

The Innovation Pathways Program is structured around three streams with defined maximum grant amounts and matched funding expectations. Funding is available for up to 12 months after the awarding of the grant, and programs must be delivered within 12 months from execution of the Financial Assistance Agreement (FAA).

• Minimum and maximum amounts per stream:
  • Stream A: Accelerator support – up to $300,000 per application.
  • Stream B: Entrepreneur Education – up to $200,000 per application.
  • Stream C: Investor Education – up to $200,000 per application.
  • No explicit minimum grant amount is stated in the guidelines.
• Categories/streams of funding:
  • Stream A: Accelerator support – accelerator programs for startups, innovative SMEs and scaleups to become investment-ready, including programs tailored to specific industries aligned with Diversify WA sectors.
  • Stream B: Entrepreneur Education – non‑accelerator education programs that build investment readiness for startups and innovative SMEs or scaleups, including incubators, masterclasses, workshops on innovation, strategy, pitching and scaling, entrepreneurs in residence, and mentorship/coaching.
  • Stream C: Investor Education – programs that educate and encourage investors of all classes (including corporates) to invest in innovative ventures in WA, using best practice tools for evaluation, due diligence and investment decision‑making.
• Project timeline / eligible funding duration:
  • Grant funding is available for up to 12 months after award, with program delivery required within 12 months of FAA execution.​
  • Follow‑on funding for a second year of delivery may be considered where the program has achieved agreed deliverables and KPIs, demonstrated measurable success and market need, and where funds are available, at the Minister’s discretion.

Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible, applicants must meet all core requirements outlined in the IPP guidelines. Key criteria include:

• Business structure and legal status:
  • Must be a valid legal entity able to enter into a funding agreement with the WA Government and hold a current ABN, and/or ACN and/or ICN.
• Registered business location:
  • Organisation must either have a registered business address in Western Australia, or, if based interstate or overseas, agree to use best endeavours to register a WA business address and have physical representation to operate in WA.
• Project delivery location and alignment:
  • The proposed program must be delivered in Western Australia and align with one or more of the three IPP program streams.
• Funding limits:
  • Application must not seek funding above the maximum amount for the relevant stream (up to $300,000 for Stream A and $200,000 for Streams B and C).
• Financial viability:
  • Applicant must be solvent and able to pass due diligence checks.
• Program timing:
  • Grant and matched funding must be used for a future education program delivered within 12 months from FAA execution.
• Matched funding source:
  • Matched funding must be cash, cannot include other WA Government funding sources, and may be audited.
• Application lodgement:
  • Application must be submitted via the online Good Grants platform by the stated closing date and must include a comprehensive Program Plan of up to four pages addressing specified elements.
• Exclusions:
  • Applicants cannot be employees or officers of the Department or their immediate families, and cannot be Government Trading Enterprises or State Government departments.
• Previous recipients:
  • Previous X‑TEND WA recipients may reapply for the same program if it aligns with IPP objectives and demonstrates strong market need and measurable success.

Eligible Activities and Expenses

IPP funding must be used for direct service delivery costs associated with the proposed accelerator or education program. Eligible expenditure is focused on activities that increase the investment readiness of startups and innovative SMEs and enhance investor capability in Western Australia.

Eligible activities and expenses include:

• Program delivery costs for accelerator and education initiatives under Streams A, B and C, including subsidies for WA participants to take part in the program.
• Design and delivery of accelerator programs, incubators, masterclasses, educational forums and workshops on innovation, strategy, pitching and scaling, entrepreneurs in residence, and mentorship and coaching.
• Programs that strengthen collaboration and improve access to or participation in the WA innovation community, including initiatives targeting regional, First Nations and female participants.
• Reasonable domestic travel and accommodation to or within regional Western Australia for program delivery, excluding business‑class or first‑class travel.

Ineligible expenditure includes organisational establishment and operational costs (e.g. licences, insurance, rent, general overheads), infrastructure development, retrospective expenses, general ideation‑stage support, generic SME assistance and general business advisory services, which the grant or the matched funding cannot fund.

Assessment Process

The Innovation Pathways Program is a competitive grant program assessed against published evaluation criteria, with funding decisions made at the discretion of the Minister for Science and Innovation. All eligible applications are scored by an independent Evaluation Panel, with each criterion marked out of 10 for a maximum score of 50.

Key evaluation criteria include:

• Program Plan (10 points): Program description, deliverables, timeline, budget (including allocation of grant and matched funding), resources, risk management, stakeholder engagement, IP management and impact measurement.
• Impact (10 points): Market need, alignment with IPP objectives and streams, and focus on regional, First Nations and/or female participants.
• Need for funding (10 points): Financial need, reasons the program cannot be self‑funded, and how grant funds will be used to implement the program.
• Capacity, Capability and Resources (10 points): Team skills, experience, track record, relevant resources and ability to deliver programs for the target cohort.
• Alignment to Government priorities (10 points): Contribution to economic diversification, alignment with Diversify WA priority sectors, job creation, and tangible benefits such as capital raising, income growth and new markets.

The assessment process follows staged steps: application submission, eligibility checks (up to one week), evaluation by the independent panel (up to six weeks) and Ministerial decision and outcome notification (up to two weeks).​

Recent Program Updates

The Innovation Pathways Program was previously branded as X‑TEND WA and has been updated and expanded under the New Industries and Innovation Fund from 2025. The total grant pool for the current round has more than doubled to over $2 million, with maximum grant amounts increased from $150,000 to $300,000 for accelerator programs and to $200,000 for entrepreneur and investor education programs.

Applications for the current round opened on 9 December 2025 and close on 30 January 2026, reflecting the latest program timelines published in the guidelines. The program places strengthened emphasis on targeting regional, First Nations and female participants, with reduced matched funding requirements for these priority cohorts and explicit weighting in the evaluation process.

Application Tips

Applicants should review the Innovation Pathways Program guidelines carefully to confirm eligibility, funding limits and co‑contribution requirements before preparing an application. It is advisable to prepare a clear, evidence‑based Program Plan that directly addresses each of the evaluation criteria and demonstrates strong alignment with IPP objectives and WA Government priorities.

Practical tips for a stronger application include:

• Double‑check eligibility: Confirm legal entity status, WA presence or plans to establish it, delivery within Western Australia, stream alignment and matched funding availability before submitting.
• Prepare key documentation early: Develop a concise Program Plan (up to four pages) covering program design, deliverables, timelines, budget, risks and stakeholder engagement, and gather evidence of team capability and past performance.
• Align with priority sectors and cohorts: Clearly show how the program supports Diversify WA priority sectors and how it engages regional, First Nations and/or female participants where applicable.
• Demonstrate need and value for money: Clearly outline why grant funding is required, how it will be spent on eligible expenditure, and the scale of expected outcomes relative to the grant and matched funding.
• Show impact and sustainability: Explain how the program will deliver measurable benefits for participants, how feedback will be collected and used, and how the program could continue beyond IPP funding (including potential follow‑on funding).​

Where to Get Help

Consider consulting a grant specialist like Pattens Group for a personalised eligibility assessment and expert assistance in preparing a strong, compliant and competitive application. Contact us today, and we will connect you with Australia’s best grant specialist, boasting over 35 years of experience in the industry and a 100% success rate. For official guidelines, application details, templates, and further information, visit the official webpage of IPP by WA government websites.