Program guidelines · configuration v1
WA Commercialisation Hub Program
1. About the program
Commercialisation support for Western Australian technology companies in clean energy, critical minerals and batteries.
Who it is for. WA-headquartered technology companies at TRL 6+ with 2–200 FTE.
2. Program value and period
Intake opens 1 October 2026 and closes 28 February 2027. Cohort capacity is 9 companies.
3. Eligibility criteria
We cannot consider your application if you do not satisfy all eligibility criteria. Eligibility is assessed first; ineligible applications are not merit-assessed.
| # | Criterion | Evidence captured in portal |
|---|---|---|
| H1 | Registered in Australia with an active ABN; not an individual, partnership of individuals, or trust without a corporate trustee | ABN and entity type (pre-filled from the ABR lookup). |
| H2 | Principal place of business in Western Australia, or the majority of operations and headcount in WA | Address and headcount by state. |
| H3 | Technology-based product or service in clean energy, critical minerals processing, batteries, advanced manufacturing or an adjacent sector | Select your sector and describe the technology. |
| H4 | At TRL 6 or above with a demonstrated prototype, or a validated service with at least one paying customer | Choose the evidence type and attach the evidence. |
| H5 | Between 2 and 200 FTE in Australia | Declare FTE headcount by state. |
| H6 | Not insolvent or under external administration; no undischarged bankruptcy of directors | Declare solvency. Staff verify against ASIC. |
| H7 | Nominates a Company Administrator who is a director or authorised officer | Confirm your authority to act for the company. |
4. What the program provides and what you contribute
Portal access, assessment modules, commercialisation clinics and specialist engagements scoped to IP, regulatory, capital and go-to-market.
Participant contribution (in kind, no cash). Senior-leadership time for baseline and six-monthly re-assessments; at least two staff completing individual instruments under their own consent; attendance at peer group sessions; consent to de-identified research use; completion of 12- and 24-month outcome surveys.
5. The assessment criteria
You must address all assessment criteria in your single application. Applications are assessed against a merit threshold of 60%; eligible applications that meet the threshold are offered cohort places while places remain, then waitlisted.
| Criterion | Weighting | What highly rated applications demonstrate |
|---|---|---|
| W1. Commercialisation pathway and market opportunity | 25% | a defined route to market, evidence of addressable market and customer demand, and an IP position that supports it. |
| W2. WA economic benefit | 20% | jobs, investment and supply-chain activity retained or created in WA; intent to remain headquartered in WA. |
| W3. Leadership commitment and capacity to act | 20% | founder or CEO and one other executive commit named hours; prior evidence of acting on external advice. |
| W4. Additionality | 15% | program support changes the timing, scale or likelihood of the commercialisation outcome. |
| W5. Data readiness and willingness to share | 10% | can supply two years of financial statements and operating metrics; consents to research use. |
| W6. Participation by priority cohorts | 10% | regional or remote WA location; First Nations ownership or leadership; women-led or under-represented founders. |
6. How to apply
Applications are made through the Growth Navigator portal. You will register an account and your company (ABN lookup pre-fills your legal name), provide evidence for each eligibility criterion, and respond to each assessment criterion. One application per ABN per program instance; applications may be saved, resumed and withdrawn before a decision.
| Activity | Indicative timeframe |
|---|---|
| Eligibility and identity validation | Within 5 business days of submission |
| Merit assessment and recommendation | Within 5 business days of eligibility |
| Delegate decision and notification | Within 10 business days of merit submission |
| Baseline assessment | Within 30 days of agreement execution |
| Re-assessment | Every 6 months |
7. The selection process
Eligibility and merit are assessed by an AI-assisted system using a standardised scoring matrix; a Commercialisation Manager reviews the system's scores and rationale and may amend them with reasons. All AI output is advisory. Acceptance is decided by the Program Delegate (Chief Operating Officer). The CEO countersigns the Participation Agreement as a separate second-officer control. Conflicts of interest are declared and managed in the platform.
8. Notification and reviews
We advise you of the outcome through the portal and by email. If you are unsuccessful you may request a review within 10 business days; a written response is provided within 30 days. The review is limited to process; merit is not re-scored.
Appendix A — Modules by tier
Cohort: M01 Phase and Growth Readiness; M02 Governance; M03 Strategy; M04 Market and Competition; M05 Commercial Engine; M06 Financial Health; M07 Risk; M08 Operations and Scalability; M09 Systems and Digital; M10 Team Composition; M11 Culture and Leadership; M12 Commercialisation and Capital Readiness.