Melbourne Connect Activation Fund

Melbourne Connect is a digital innovation ecosystem that represents a physical and programmatic convergence of many organisations and interdisciplinary institutions. With a shared vision to leverage research and emerging technologies, Melbourne Connect aims to drive disruptive and transformative change throughout our society.

Melbourne Connect is committed to supporting student engagement, local not-for-profit organisations, and emerging talent within our ecosystem. To help achieve this, we have developed the Melbourne Connect Activations Fund to provide aid to eligible groups looking to host aligned events in our commercial venue spaces.

The fund is grouped under three funding streams including the Community Engagement Fund, the Higher Education and Industry Engagement Fund, and the Student Engagement Fund.

Student Engagement Fund

Students are central to everything we do at Melbourne Connect. As an innovation precinct, we aim to support student groups looking to host relevant student-facing events at Melbourne Connect by financially supporting their events and connecting them with industry partners and interdisciplinary research groups within the community.

Applications open 3 May 2023 and close 30 June for events taking place in July – December 2023 (Semester Two). This fund is open to The University of Melbourne’s faculty-supported student clubs only.

Click here to apply

Community Engagement Fund

This fund is open to local registered not-for-profit and community organisations that support innovation, entrepreneurship, or digital literacy in our community. Priority will be given to organisations that align with Melbourne Connect’s mission and values.

Applications open in November 2023 for events taking place in January and February 2024.

Higher Education and Industry Engagement Fund

Talent acquisition, student development, and work-integrated learning are key drivers for many of our co-located industry partners and research groups at Melbourne Connect. We welcome the opportunity to support events that connect students with the precinct community and highlight the rich talent ecosystem at The University of Melbourne.

Applications open November 2023 for events taking place in 2024. This fund is open to The University of Melbourne professional staff only.

What's Included in the Melbourne Connect Activation Fund

The Melbourne Connect Activation Fund has been created to help groups and organisations host events at Melbourne Connect by offsetting the cost of venue hire, which includes all in-built AV systems.

Whether you are planning a small panel discussion or a large conference, Melbourne Connect will consider providing full or partial funding for your event and venue costs. It is important to note that any additional AV equipment, staging, and catering must be arranged through Melbourne Connect's approved suppliers.

To apply for funding from the Melbourne Connect Activation Fund, your event must meet the following criteria:

Your event must align with Melbourne Connect’s principles and embody our values of innovation, collaboration, and positive impact.
Priority will be given to events or stakeholders that are of strategic priority to Melbourne Connect, or that are highlighted in The University of Melbourne’s Advancing Melbourne 2030 strategic plan.
Priority will be given to events that focus on innovation, entrepreneurship, research, technology and digital transformation.
Events that facilitate connections with Melbourne Connect stakeholders will be highly valued.
Public events (or those open to The University of Melbourne students) that have a clear educational or community impact are preferred.
Organisers must acknowledge Melbourne Connect’s support and include acknowledgment in all outward-facing communications.
If your event requires registration, it must include an opt-in question for attendees to subscribe to Melbourne Connect’s newsletter.
Funded events and programs will be supported on Melbourne Connect channels.
Organisers must report back on key metrics, such as attendee numbers and leads, and identify key audiences.
Your event application must include a basic budget.
Event organisers must agree to comply with all rules and regulations of Melbourne Connect. Events cannot bring Melbourne Connect into disrepute.
We encourage events that are inclusive and diverse, and that consider the needs of all members of the community.

Melbourne Connect Activation Fund FAQs

- Melbourne Connect is a thriving innovation ecosystem and a commercial events venue. Events hosted in our venues benefit from proximity to an engaged community of University staff and students, industry partners, and start-ups.

- The Melbourne Connect Activation Fund is designed to offset the hard costs of venue hire (including all in-built AV systems) at Melbourne Connect in order to encourage events that align with our mission to be hosted in our commercial spaces.

- Melbourne Connect is committed to supporting student engagement, local not-for-profit organisations, and emerging talent within our ecosystem.

- Cost can be a deterrent to some members of our community when deciding to host events onsite at Melbourne Connect.

- This Activation Fund has been created to ensure there are no barriers to hosting events that align strongly with Melbourne Connect’s principles in our commercial event spaces.

Student Engagement Fund

- This fund is open to The University of Melbourne’s faculty-supported student clubs only.

- In the event your application is partially funded, gap payment is to be organised via Themis Code. Please contact your faculty representative prior to applying to seek approval.

- Applications Open 3 May for events hosted in Semester Two, 2023 (July – December).

- Applications close 30 June 2023.

Higher Education and Industry Engagement Fund

- This fund is open to The University of Melbourne professional staff only.

- Applications open November 2023 for events hosted in Semester One, 2024.

Community Engagement Fund

- This fund is open to local registered not-for-profit and community organisations that support innovation, entrepreneurship, or digital literacy in our community.

- Priority will be given to organisations that align with Melbourne Connect’s mission and values.

- Applications Open November 2023. Eligible events are to be hosted in January and February 2024.

- Priority will be given to events or stakeholders that are of strategic priority to Melbourne Connect, or that are highlighted in The University of Melbourne’s Advancing Melbourne 2030 strategic plan.

- Priority will be given to events that focus on innovation, entrepreneurship, research, technology and digital transformation.

- Events that facilitate connections with Melbourne Connect stakeholders will be highly valued.

- Public events (or those open to The University of Melbourne students) that have a clear educational or community impact are preferred.

- As a commercial venue, we must give priority to our paying clients.

- To ensure a smooth planning process, we recommend that you schedule your event date a minimum of 4 weeks (preferably 8 weeks) after the decision date. We will do our best to accommodate your preferred date, however, this is subject to availability.

- If you have a hard deadline that may affect your planning, such as the availability of VIPs or other critical factors, please provide details in the event summary section of the application form.

- Organisers must acknowledge Melbourne Connect’s support and include acknowledgment in all outward-facing communications.

- If your event requires registration, it must include an opt-in question for attendees to subscribe to Melbourne Connect’s e-newsletter.

- At the conclusion of your event, we ask you to provide the following data on your event:

Attendance Numbers

Audience breakdown of key stakeholder groups (see application form).

Any impact or leads from the event (anecdotal).

- Melbourne Connect is both a thriving innovation precinct and a commercial events venue. If you are unsuccessful in your application for funding, we welcome you to submit an inquiry through our Events Inquiry Form, and a member of the team will be in touch to discuss availability and provide visibility on our commercial rates.