Research Infrastructure Support 2026

The 2026 Research Infrastructure Support program provides funding to eligible Western Australian medical research institutes, universities, and hospitals for the indirect costs of research and for costs associated with operating shared research-dedicated facilities, services and equipment.

‘Research infrastructure’ refers to resources essential for supporting quality research that are not directly funded by research grants, such as laboratory consumables, computers, support staff, research services, and equipment.

Under Stream 1, eligible entities receive a share of $17.5 million to support indirect costs of research, with a dedicated allocation for eligible medical research institutes. Stream 1 funding will be awarded based on each entity’s proven research excellence, demonstrated by eligible research grant income received by that entity in 2023, 2024 and 2025.

Under Stream 2, eligible entities receive a share of $7.5 million for operational costs associated with running shared research facilities, services and equipment, to make them more accessible to the health and medical research sector. Stream 2 funding is awarded based on reported eligible operational costs in 2023, 2024 and 2025.

Awarded amounts will be calculated based on eligible research grant income and eligible operational costs.

Program Status: Open for Applications

Applications close: 1.00pm (AWST), Tuesday 24 February 2026

The Research Infrastructure Support Guidelines and Conditions and the Research Grant Income and Operational costs worksheet can be accessed below.

The Application Form can be accessed and submitted via the Department of Health Grant Management System.

To view the application questions, after starting an application in the Grant Management System select ‘preview’ in the top right corner, which will download the application form questions (and your responses) as a Word or PDF document. For further instructions, please refer to page 9 of the User Guide ‘Downloading the application form’.

Queries related to the Guidelines and Conditions can be directed via email to DOH.OMRI@health.wa.gov.au with the subject line beginning with ‘Query – RIS2026’.

Queries regarding the application process can be directed via email to DOH.GMS@health.wa.gov.au with the subject line beginning with ‘GMS Application Assistance – RIS2026’.

Information on other FHRI Fund programs can be accessed by subscribing to updates or checking the FHRI Fund current opportunities.