India Australia RISE Accelerator for Startups

If you’re an Australian startup or SME working on renewable energy tech, there’s a window of opportunity wide open—but it won’t stay that way forever. The India Australia RISE Accelerator could be your ticket to scaling your solution into one of the world’s fastest-growing clean energy markets.

Let’s unpack what this means, how it works, and why this round—focusing exclusively on renewable energy—might be the exact fit your business needs.

What is the CSIRO India-Australia RISE Accelerator?

The India-Australia Rapid Innovation and Startup Expansion (RISE) Accelerator is a 9-month cross-border program specifically tailored to assist startups and SMEs in their international growth journey. This is for businesses with mature technologies that are not only ready to go overseas but also want to test, pilot, and scale them in the new market.

Delivered by Australia’s national science agency CSIRO and India’s Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), the RISE Accelerator is about more than workshops. It’s about breaking into high-opportunity sectors with targeted support, funding, and deep networks on both sides of the border.

Round-Based Innovation: Where Are We Now?

Each round of the RISE Accelerator focuses on a specific sector. So far, we’ve seen:

• Round 1 – Circular economy and waste innovation
• Round 2 – Climate-smart agritech
• Round 3 – Renewable energy (current round)

That brings us to now.

Round 3 is specifically designed for Australian startups and SMEs with clean energy solutions seeking to enter the Indian market. Applications are now open and will close on 30 June 2025 at 11:30 PM AEST.

Why Round 3 of India Australia RISE Accelerator Is a Big Deal

India has unveiled the most rigorous non-fossil fuel energy targets for the year 2030—achieving a total of 500 GW with that energy form by that year. And it’s making real progress. Solar and wind installations are booming. Storage solutions are catching up. Green hydrogen is no longer “emerging”—it’s here and growing.

For Australian startups with:

• Solar PV systems
• Wind energy innovations
• Battery storage solutions
• Green hydrogen production or utilisation tech

Round 3 of India Australia RISE Accelerator is an obvious opportunity. It’s a clear entry point to validate your technology in a vast, fast-evolving market with government backing and partner support already lined up.

What the Program Offers (That You Actually Need)

This isn’t just another pitchfest or networking week. The RISE Accelerator is built for action.

Two phases, one goal: expansion

1. Discovery Phase
   1. Self-paced e-learning
   1. In-person immersion in both countries
   1. Access to market insights, mentors, and potential partners
   1. Funding: up to AUD 35,000 to support participation
2. Pilot Phase (by invitation)
   1. Demonstration projects with local partners
   1. Further funding: up to AUD 100,000
   1. Real-world testing, validation, and customer feedback

The funding is non-equity. That’s right—no dilution, support. But it’s performance-based, so you’ll need to hit milestones and deliverables to receive payments.

Are You Eligible for India-Australia RISE Accelerator?

If you’re an Australian startup or SME thinking about this program, here’s the quick checklist:

✅ Incorporated in Australia (ABN & ACN)

✅ GST registered

✅ Less than $20 million in revenue in each of the last three financial years

✅ Working on a renewable energy solution

✅ Your tech is at TRL 7 or above (or TRL 5–6 if there’s clear potential to scale rapidly via India)

Not sure what TRL means? It stands for Technology Readiness Level—essentially a measure of how developed and deployable your technology is. TRL 7 indicates that you’ve built and tested a pilot system in a real-world environment.

If you’re a sole trader, university, or already exporting to India, you’re likely not eligible.

Eligibility Criteria Breakdown

Requirement Category	Example Criteria
Registration	ABN, ACN, GST
Company Size	<$20M revenue, SME, not individual
Technology Readiness	TRL 7+ (or TRL 5–6 with strong case)
Sector Alignment	Renewable energy (Round 3 focus)

What Makes the RISE Accelerator Program Different?

Plenty of accelerators offer mentorship and pitch coaching. RISE goes further:

• Tailored support for tech transfer and cross-border operations
• Connections that count—not just warm intros, but serious business leads
• Immersion weeks to help you actually understand the Indian market
• Domain experts and an Expert-in-Residence to guide your pilot execution
• Ongoing support through reporting, impact evaluation, and networking

And it’s designed to help first-time exporters. If you’ve never done business overseas or if India is an entirely new market for you, this is where you learn, test, and scale with support—not guesswork.

What Happens After You Apply?

Here’s what the timeline looks like:

• 30 June 2025 – Applications close
• July 2025 – Shortlisted startups are interviewed and notified
• August to November 2025 – Discovery Phase
• December 2025 to April 2026 – Pilot Phase (if selected)

Throughout the program, you’ll need to complete:

• Market Entry Strategy
• Pilot Phase Plan
• Final Reports after each phase
• Optional post-program progress updates for up to 36 months

That might sound like a lot—but it’s structured, and the CSIRO team provides templates and support at every step.

Details Most People Miss About the India Australia RISE Accelerator

Most coverage of RISE focuses on eligibility and structure. But here’s what deserves more attention:

1. You’re expected to commit

RISE isn’t a fly-in, fly-out program. Your nominated participants (typically co-founders or executives) must attend immersion weeks and actively engage with the process. That’s good—it filters out the unserious applicants.

2. India isn’t one market

The program helps you figure out which state or region in India is the best fit for your solution. Energy needs in Tamil Nadu differ from those in Gujarat. RISE mentors help you localise your go-to-market strategy.

3. You don’t need to go it alone

Yes, you can bring your team, work with pilot partners, and even collaborate with research institutes—provided your company leads the application and meets all the criteria.

Ready to Apply? Let’s Make It Happen

Submitting a perfect application is not merely putting a checklist—it’s primarily putting the best evidence showing beyond doubt that your technology is the proper one for this opportunity. That’s where Pattens Group can help.

As a grant consultant who has worked with numerous Australian startups and SMEs, we are specialised in helping businesses like yours put together strong, targeted applications for programs such as the India Australia RISE Accelerator.

Here’s what we’ll do together:

• Confirm your eligibility and alignment with Round 3’s renewable energy focus
• Structure your responses around the weighted assessment criteria
• Craft a compelling Market Entry Strategy that reflects your strengths and vision
• Ensure your application meets CSIRO’s expectations—without the stress

The deadline is 30 June 2025 at 11:30 PM AEST. That gives us just enough time to submit a competitive proposal.

Want support with your application? Get in touch today and let’s make your cross-border expansion a reality.

Take Action Now

You’re building solutions that matter. Now’s the time to scale them where they’re needed.

The India Australia RISE Accelerator isn’t for everyone. It’s for ready startups—not just to talk about going global, but actually to do it.

If that sounds like you, apply before the deadline. Because market access doesn’t wait.

FAQs with Quick Answers