Submit an expression of interest
EOI closes end October 2026.
$250,000
Maximum Queensland Government contribution per Flagship Project.
20%
Matched cash contribution required from the company.
Six months
Projects kick off once the Services Agreement is signed.
Three stages
EOI.
AI Roadmap.
Flagship Project.
The Queensland Manufacturing AI Uplift Trial Program is a partnership between the Queensland Government and ARM Hub’s AI Adopt Centre. It moves manufacturers past awareness and experimentation into AI that is built, deployed and measured.
The Department of Natural Resources and Mines, Manufacturing and Regional and Rural Development funds ARM Hub to deliver AI services to selected Flagship Companies. The Queensland Government covers 80 per cent of project value, between $150,000 and $250,000 per project. The company puts in the remaining 20 per cent as cash, plus staff to work with ARM Hub on delivery. A minimum of one Flagship Project will be allocated to regional Queensland.
A Flagship Company does not receive cash. It receives ARM Hub services and a private workspace on an AI platform hosted on sovereign Australian cloud infrastructure.
THE PROBLEM
AI adoption is becoming a baseline requirement for competitive manufacturing. Without targeted support, manufacturers risk falling behind larger firms with better access to data, AI and automation expertise.
THE OPPORTUNITY
Queensland can draw on the Commonwealth-funded ARM Hub AI Adopt Centre to deliver practical AI adoption in manufacturing.
THE VALUE
A targeted EOI, an AI Roadmap, competitive Flagship selection, and full implementation of the solution.
THE IMPACT
Productivity uplift, stronger supply chains, workforce capability, exemplar case studies and learnings others can use.
To be eligible, an applicant must meet every one of the following requirements.
Be a manufacturing entity whose principal activity and majority turnover comes from manufacturing, as defined under Division C of the ABS Australian and New Zealand Standard Industrial Classification (ANZSIC) 2006
Employ between 5 and 500 full time equivalent (FTE) staff, with at least 50 per cent of total FTEs employed in Queensland
For corporate groups, joint ventures or related entities, total FTE across the group must not exceed 500
Be registered for GST and hold an active ABN
Have a project site in Queensland
Have an existing manufacturing presence in Queensland at the time of application
Have operated in Queensland for at least two consecutive years before applying
Accept the terms and conditions through the online application form
Demonstrate the financial capacity and standing to complete the proposed project
Not be insolvent, and have no owners or directors who are undischarged bankrupts
Not be a federal, state or local government entity, statutory authority, special purpose vehicle, charity, partnership or not-for-profit
Not be receiving other local, state or federal government funding for the same project
Agree to act as an exemplar Flagship Company
Applicants may also be subject to due diligence and probity review, including bona fide checks, background and probity searches, and financial capability and viability assessment.
The program runs in three stages.
01
Expression of interest
An EOI invites eligible Queensland manufacturers to apply. ARM Hub assesses applications jointly with the Department of Natural Resources and Mines, Manufacturing and Regional and Rural Development. If we need to clarify anything about your eligibility or your project, you will have two business days to respond. Shortlisted applicants move to Stage Two.
02
AI Roadmap
You work with ARM Hub to build your AI Roadmap: prioritising the use case, assessing return on investment, running readiness diagnostics, testing or demonstrating where useful, and drafting a project plan. This stage is funded by the AI Adopt Center and needs no matched funding from you, but it does need your staff.
03
Flagship Project
You submit your AI Roadmap and project plan into a competitive process to become a Flagship Company. Successful applicants get ARM Hub services to implement AI across the business. Expect gains in areas like quoting and compliance time, throughput and quality assurance, rework reduction, forecasting accuracy, predictive maintenance and workforce capability.
The Queensland Government contributes 80 per cent of total project value. You contribute 20 per cent in cash, plus staff time.
Queensland Government contribution (80%)
Company cash co-contribution (20%)
Total project value
$250,000 maximum
$62,500
$312,500
$150,000 minimum
$37,500
$187,500
A Flagship Company does not receive cash. ARM Hub delivers the services. Any costs above the approved amount are met by the Flagship Company, in negotiation with ARM Hub.
Flagship Companies get a private workspace on an AI platform running on sovereign Australian cloud infrastructure: a production-grade data foundation, AI engineering capability and ongoing support, without building, licensing or running a platform.
Sovereign hosting
All Flagship Company data sits in Australian cloud regions. ARM Hub runs the platform on Microsoft Azure, with additional sovereign hosting through Australian-owned partners where higher assurance is needed. No Flagship Company data leaves Australia.
Shared platform, isolated data
Flagship Companies share the platform but not their data. Each gets a private workspace with its own identity boundary and encryption keys. No company can see, query or affect another company’s data.
Full lineage and governance
Every dataset, model and AI output is registered with lineage from operational source to result. The platform is auditable, supports responsible AI, and shows you what your AI systems are doing and why.
Query data where it sits
Where data cannot or should not move, such as a vendor-locked ERP module or a plant historian, the platform queries it in place instead of forcing a copy. That cuts delivery time and integration cost.
No lock-in
If you outgrow the shared service or want to bring the solution in-house, the data, models and governance configuration lift into your own environment with no proprietary lock-in.
End of September 2026
EOI opens
End October 2026
EOI closes
By end November 2026
Shortlisted companies for Roadmap are announced
November to December 2026
Roadmaps are delivered
By end of January 2027
Flagship companies announced
March 2027
Projects kick off once the Services Agreement is signed
Read the guidelines first, then complete the form below. Applications must be submitted through this form. The EOI closes end October 2026.
Program guidelines
The full guidelines for the Queensland Manufacturing AI Uplift Program. Read these before you apply.
Download the guidelines (PDF)
If you have a dispute about the application or assessment process, submit a formal complaint to ARM Hub at info@armhub.com.au.
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