Service requirements
AgriFutures Australia welcomes Preliminary Research Proposals, that address one or more of the strategies within the R&D objectives for the industry and outlined in the AgriFutures Australia Thoroughbred Horses 5-year RD&E Plan 2022-2027. The RDE Plan is structured around 4 key priority areas:
- Thoroughbred horse welfare, workforce safety and environmental sustainability
- Thoroughbred breeding
- Workforce, industry and community engagement
- Thoroughbred diseases and parasites
We also support and encourage proposals that address the following key areas:
- Conduct baseline research on the carbon footprint of the Australian Thoroughbred breeding industry.
- Investigate the extent of inbreeding within the Australian Thoroughbred population.
- Undertake a Thoroughbred foal crop population analysis and scenario planning to forecast long-term trends and support informed, strategic decision-making for the sustainability of the Australian Thoroughbred breeding industry.
- Investigate the effects of heat, transport and environmental factors on fertility in Thoroughbred mares.
- Develop innovative approaches to improve breeding outcomes and efficiency in Thoroughbreds.
Proposals must address strategies, consider the justification, be linked to an indicative activity, and deliver on a Key Performance Indicator (KPI) listed within each Priority of the RD&E Strategic Plan.
Download the full Open Call document
This Open Call closes 1pm (AEST) on Thursday, 23 April 2026.
Timeline
Activity |
Date |
Open Call – Preliminary Research Proposal (PRP) applications open |
Thursday, 5 March 2026 |
End of period for questions or requests for information |
1pm AEDT Thursday, 26 March 2026 |
Open Call – applications close |
1pm AEST Thursday, 23 April 2026 |
Intended completion date of evaluation by Panel to progress to FRP submissions |
Late-May 2026 |
Open Call – Full Research Proposal (FRP) applications open |
Tuesday, 2 June 2026 |
Open Call – FRP applications close |
1pm AEST Wednesday, 8 July 2026 |
Intended completion date of evaluation of FRP submissions |
Mid-August 2026 |
Negotiations with respondents (if applicable) |
August – October 2026 |
Expected execution of contract or issue of agreement |
November 2026 |
Assessment criteria
The following criteria will be used to assess your application:
- How relevant is the project to the research priorities of AgriFutures Australia?
- How relevant is the project to the research priorities of the Program?
- How much value do the benefits of this research provide to industry?
- How important is this research to industry?
- How important are the expected outcomes of this project to industry?
- How important are the outputs/deliverables from this project to the industry?
- The value for money for this project.
- The project design – how conceptually sound and technically feasible is the project?
- The potential for adoption in industry.
- The potential for commercial pathways.(where applicable)
- The value of any potential IP resulting from this project (where applicable)
- The capability and experience of the Project Lead.
- The capability and experience of the Research Organisation.
Proposals should clearly indicate the following:
- The project benefits and impacts for the Australian thoroughbred breeding industry.
- The objectives and outcomes of the proposed project and the link to the R&D objectives.
- Who will be undertaking all aspects of the work, including statistical analysis (it must be clear if new staff and/or students are to be employed to undertake the work).
- The plan for extension and adoption of research outcomes from the project activity work, i.e. beyond distribution of summaries, journal papers and conference presentations.
- Where relevant, any proposed collaboration with experts in the field.
- The researcher’s understanding of past research in this field.
Researcher submission checklist
The researcher must complete the checklist prior to the submission being accepted:
- If the project requires statistical analysis, has a qualified statistician been engaged to undertake project design and data analyses?
- Is the Principal Investigator an early career researcher (less than five years since postgraduate study completion)?
- Have you checked the FAQ section on the AgriFutures website?
- Has the proposal been discussed with people in the Program industry?
- Does the proposal identify if the work potentially relates to the Program objective?
- Does the proposal clearly identify who will be undertaking the bulk of the work (might not necessarily be the Principal Investigator)?
- Does the proposal clearly articulate what the applied outcome and impacts for industry will be? (even if it is a long-term applied project there should still be a focus on an applied outcome).
- Does the proposal clearly outline what the potential process might be for identifying extension opportunities? (Excluding publications and opportunities for presenting the work at conferences).
- Does the proposal take into consideration where the international expertise is in the area of research?
- The Principal Investigator must comply with the application process within K2
Submitting an application
Applications for this Open Call must be submitted online using the PRP application in K2.
New users need to register for access to the K2 platform, please note the provision of login details may take up to two business days.
Users must create a K2 account before submitting a proposal. To set up a secure account before submitting a proposal, please visit the login page below to access our new user or new company request forms.
Usernames and passwords will only be issued while the applicant round is open.
If you require assistance, please contact
Terms of reference
AgriFutures Australia uses standard form contracts and agreements for projects and research procured by AgriFutures Australia (please refer to https://agrifutures.com.au/contracts-and-agreements/). These contracts and agreements set out the terms on which AgriFutures Australia will engage successful applicants to carry out the project.
Applicants must be familiar with the contracts and agreements before submitting a response, and are advised to seek legal advice beforehand.
These contracts and agreements have been developed to reflect AgriFutures Australia’s statutory and other procurement responsibilities.
If you require any amendments to the standard agreement please complete the statement of non-compliance for each of the relevant clause. AgriFutures will then assess those requests.
Applicants will be taken to have agreed to all clauses in the Research Agreement that are not referred to in a statement of non-compliance. The extent of any non-compliance will be a factor in AgriFutures Australia’s evaluation of the application.
If you require further information regarding these contracts and agreements please, contact:
Frequently asked questions
Is there a limit on the number of proposals each Principal Investigator can submit in this call?
There is no limit to the number of applications a Principal Investigator may submit, provided they can genuinely fulfil the obligations should more than one proposal be successful.
Please clarify whether racing‑related proposals are eligible for submission.
The Thoroughbred Program’s priority is to support projects that deliver benefits to the Thoroughbred breeding industry, as the levy is paid by Thoroughbred breeders. However, racing related proposals can be submitted where there is a clear alignment with the AgriFutures Thoroughbred Horses Program RD&E Plan (2022-2027) priority areas and there is Thoroughbred breeding industry benefit.
Will Australian research organisations that wish to partner with international organisations be considered?
Applications involving more than one organisation to deliver the required research can be submitted, and they can be international organisations. It is the responsibility of the applicants to determine which organisation will be the lead research organisation. Furthermore, AgriFutures is unable to provide guidance on potential partner organisations.
Is this project open to non-Australian-based companies?
Yes it is, as long as they can demonstrate that they can produce suitable recommendations for Australian producers.
Can I talk to the Panel about my proposal?
Please do not contact Advisory Panel members to discuss your project proposal ideas or ask them about any of the specific priorities identified in the open call.
We do encourage you to contact other industry members for input on your proposal ideas so that they can align to the needs of industry. We also encourage you to list in your proposal who within industry you have spoken to.
Can you provide feedback on my proposal idea?
Unfortunately, AgriFutures and the Advisory Panel are unable to answer questions directly related to your proposal. We suggest that you examine the strategic plan to provide direction on the needs and priorities for industry and consult with other industry members to find out what is important for industry.
The Advisory Panel will consider all research proposals that are submitted.
Can I collaborate with other research providers or consultants?
Yes, you can submit a collaborative proposal. In fact, we encourage it because it can enhance research outcomes and commercialisation opportunities.
Will my proposal be considered if I do not have an industry partner?
All submitted proposals will be considered. A proposal does not need an industry partner or contribution to be considered.
We encourage you to read the Program’s RD&E Plan and to contact someone from industry to ensure that your proposal aligns with the needs and priorities of industry and to contact someone from industry to ensure that your proposal aligns with the needs and priorities of industry.
What is the budget for this open call?
The AgriFutures Thoroughbred Horses Program has an annual budget that is available for RD&E. This open call will consider and invest in multiple projects in line with the RD&E Plan to meet industry priorities.
In K2, there is a question relating to steering committees. Do you intend to use a steering committee for your project? If yes, who would be represented on the committee?
Steering committees provide useful guidance and feedback on projects. If your project is successful, AgriFutures Australia will help to develop a steering committee if one is needed.
We welcome any recommendations regarding who should be on the steering committee.
In the budget, is the contribution from the partner or University required?
If there is any in-kind or cash contributions that will be made to your project, these must also be shown in the budget.
Do I need to provide a CV of the each project member for the PRP, or they would be needed for FRP?
You do not need to provide a CV of all project members in the PRP. You are asked to provide the capability and experience of the research organisation in 250 words or less. Please name any additional people that will be involved in the project. If you are asked to submit a Full Research Proposal, the capabilities and experience of all project team members will be required.
Is there a preferred timeframe for research proposals for this Open Call?
The Panel will assess projects on a case-by-case basis. AgriFutures welcomes project proposals of all lengths.
How many research projects will be contracted in this Open Call?
The number of research projects contracted for this Open Call will depend on the applications received and the budget.
Will there be an opportunity for researchers to consult with the Panel on their proposal?
The Advisory Panel cannot be contacted to provide advice on project proposal ideas. In the past, proposals that have reached the FRP stage have been invited to the Panel meeting to answer any questions the Advisory Panel may have about their proposal.
Do we require/or is it beneficial to have a university institution on the application?
All submitted proposals will be considered. A proposal does not need a university institution to be considered. It is the responsibility of the applicants to determine which organisation/s will be involved in the proposal. Furthermore, AgriFutures is unable to provide guidance on potential partner organisations.
I have not previously been a Project Lead/Principal Investigator on a grant. Are there other requirements for the Project Lead/Principal Investigator to be eligible?
There are no specific eligibility requirements for the Project Lead. The capability and experience of the Project Lead will form part of the assessment of your application.
Are there any resources which list current projects funded by the Thoroughbred Horses program including their start and finish dates?
Ongoing projects funded by the Thoroughbred Horses program can be found here. This includes the project start and finish dates.
Does AgriFutures cover any overhead costs of research organisations?
All overhead or in-direct costs are to be included within the budget provided in the submitted proposal. Applicants should present the budget with all overhead costs and in-direct costs itemised.
Is there a maximum funding amount available per project under this Open Call?
The AgriFutures Thoroughbred Horses Program does not set a maximum funding amount per project. The Program operates with an annual RD&E budget which has in recent years been around $1 million per year and funding allocations are determined by the scope, merit, and cost of the proposals received.
Is there a maximum allowable project duration for proposals submitted to the Thoroughbred Horses Program?
The Panel will assess projects on a case-by-case basis. AgriFutures welcomes project proposals of all lengths. In recent years, projects typically run for up to four years.