Women in STEM and Entrepreneurship Grant Round 5

Purpose and Program Overview

The Women in STEM and Entrepreneurship (WISE) Grant Round 5 provides large-scale funding for projects that tackle systemic and cultural barriers to the participation of girls and women in STEM education, STEM careers, innovation and entrepreneurship in Australia. It aims to increase awareness, participation, development and leadership of women and girls across the innovation ecosystem, including start‑ups, innovative businesses and senior decision‑making roles in government, research organisations, industry and business.

The program supports co‑designed projects that address inequality and discrimination, reduce intersectional barriers, and broaden networks and support structures for women and girls in STEM and entrepreneurship. A total funding pool of $9.77 million is available in Round 5, with individual grants between $1 million and $2 million to drive lasting, systemic gender equity change at scale.

Key Grant Details

• Grant amount or funding range: From $1,000,000 to $2,000,000 (estimated grant value per project).
• Total pool: $9,770,000 available for this round.
• Application close date: 18 February 2026, 5:00 pm ACT local time.
• Opening/publish date: 26 November 2025 (Round 5 current opportunity).​
• Eligible industries/business types: Incorporated entities, publicly funded research organisations/agencies, VET providers/TAFEs and incorporated not‑for‑profits delivering gender equity initiatives in STEM and entrepreneurship.
• Required co‑contributions: Cash and/or in‑kind co‑contributions are typically expected (refer to the grant opportunity guidelines for specific ratios and evidence requirements).​
• Location applicability: Projects must benefit Australia; eligible applicants can be based in ACT, NSW, VIC, SA, WA, QLD, NT, TAS and administered territories.​

Priority Sectors

The grant focuses on initiatives that support women and girls in science, technology, engineering and mathematics disciplines and related entrepreneurship activities across the innovation ecosystem. The guidelines do not restrict funding to specific industries; the opportunity is open to a broad range of sectors, provided the project clearly targets women and girls in STEM education, careers, innovation and entrepreneurship.

Funding Scope

Round 5 offers grants of between $1 million (minimum) and $2 million (maximum) per successful applicant. The total funding pool of $9.77 million will be allocated on a competitive basis to projects that best meet the objectives and assessment criteria.

Projects are expected to commence from around June 2026 and may run for up to five years, with activities to be completed by 31 March 2031. Funding supports co‑designed gender equity initiatives rather than being divided into formal streams (such as feasibility or capital works), so applicants may scope a mix of program design, delivery, evaluation and associated activities within an approved project period.

Eligibility Criteria

Applicants must:​

• Hold an Australian Business Number (ABN).​
• Be one of the following entity types:
  • An entity incorporated in Australia.​
  • A publicly funded research organisation (PFRO) or publicly funded research agency (PFRA) as defined in the guidelines.​
  • A government or non‑government VET provider, or a TAFE institution.​
  • An incorporated not‑for‑profit organisation.​
• Meet any additional eligibility requirements in section 4.2 of the grant opportunity guidelines (for example, governance, capability and compliance).​

Applicants are not eligible if they are (or have a project partner that is) on the National Redress Scheme list of institutions that have not joined or signified intent to join, a non‑compliant employer under the Workplace Gender Equality Act, an individual, partnership, primary or secondary school, unincorporated association, ineligible government agency/body or a trust (unless an incorporated trustee applies on behalf of the trust). Joint applications are allowed, provided the lead entity is an eligible organisation.

Eligible Activities and Expenses

Eligible projects will generally involve co‑designed initiatives that directly contribute to lasting systemic and cultural change for women and girls in STEM and entrepreneurship. Examples of supported activities include:

• Designing and delivering change‑management programs and industry transformation activities to reduce systemic and cultural barriers.
• Education and professional development programs to reduce cognitive biases and gender‑based barriers in STEM industries.
• STEM and entrepreneurship education, leadership and capability‑building to support entry, retention, promotion, career change and return‑to‑work pathways for women.
• Research, evaluation and business‑related activities that underpin gender equity initiatives, including program evaluation frameworks and data collection.
• Co‑design, consultation and engagement activities with the target audience (girls and women in STEM and entrepreneurship).

All activities must be directly related to the approved project and clearly aligned with the program objectives and intended outcomes.

Assessment Process

The WISE Round 5 grant is an open, competitive program; applications are assessed against merit criteria and ranked relative to other proposals. Assessment focuses on whether the project will:

• Reduce or mitigate systemic and cultural barriers for girls and women in STEM education, careers, innovation and entrepreneurship.​
• Address intersectional barriers and inequities, including for women facing multiple forms of disadvantage.​
• Demonstrate clear outcomes such as increased participation, retention, development, leadership and visibility of women and girls in STEM and entrepreneurship.
• Offer value for money, with a credible budget, co‑contributions and an evaluation plan that measures impact over the project period.​

Projects must also show that they are co‑designed with the target audience and that the applicant has the capability, governance and partnerships needed to deliver the proposed activities.

Recent Program Updates

Round 5 represents a new funding round of the Women in STEM and Entrepreneurship program, with up to $9.77 million available nationally. This round maintains the focus on systemic and cultural change but places strong emphasis on co‑design, evaluation and addressing intersectional barriers for women and girls in STEM and entrepreneurship.

The current opportunity opened following the 26 November 2025 publish date and closes on 18 February 2026, 5:00 pm ACT local time. Applicants should review any addenda or updates issued on GrantConnect and on business.gov.au during the round to ensure applications comply with the latest guidelines and conditions.​

Application Tips

• Review the full grant opportunity guidelines, including section 4.2 on additional eligibility requirements and all merit criteria, before starting an application.​
• Confirm organisational eligibility (entity type, ABN status and compliance with workplace gender equality obligations) and ensure any project partners are also eligible.​
• Develop a clear project logic that links activities to measurable outcomes such as participation, retention, promotion and leadership outcomes for women and girls in STEM and entrepreneurship.
• Demonstrate co‑design with the target audience through consultation, collaboration and ongoing feedback mechanisms built into the project plan.
• Prepare key documents early, including budget and co‑contribution evidence, governance arrangements, risk management, evaluation framework and project timeline aligned to the maximum five‑year period.
• Align the proposal with Australian Government priorities on gender equity, STEM skills development and inclusive innovation, and clearly articulate broader economic and social benefits.

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 get connected with one of Australia’s most experienced grant specialists, with decades of experience and a proven record of successful outcomes. For official guidelines, application details, templates and further information, applicants should refer to the program’s official business.gov.au page and the GrantConnect opportunity, as well as other relevant Australian Government websites.​