Next Wave Investment Attraction Program

A clearer pathway for ambitious businesses to invest, expand and establish on the Gold Coast.

Invest Gold Coast’s streamlined investment attraction & industry growth program is a structured, competitive pathway for high- quality businesses to secure funding for projects of genuine strategic value to the city.

The Next Wave program offers two competitive rounds each year, seeking projects across health, screen, education, advanced manufacturing, tourism, sport and the knowledge economy which builds upon the Gold Coast’s momentum as one of Australia’s fastest growing, most diverse economies.

What we're looking for

Next Wave supports established and emerging local, national and international businesses with implementation-ready projects delivering measurable local benefit. It is not intended for early-stage or speculative ideas.

Projects will need to demonstrate

The following considerations will guide the assessment process and help determine suitability for support through the program.

Delivering economic impact, job creation, investment, supply-chain or sector-capability outcomes for the Gold Coast.

A credible, well-defined business case ready to move.

Program support will genuinely influence whether, where, when or how the project proceeds.

Alignment with one or more of the city’s priority sectors:

Knowledge economy
Health and wellbeing
Building future industries
Tourism, sport and major events
Education and future skills
Screen and game production

The commercial, technical and financial capability to deliver.

Projects we're looking to support

Priority will be given to projects that align with the objectives of the program and deliver meaningful outcomes for the region.

New, relocating or expanding businesses delivering significant investment, jobs or productive capacity.

Initiatives that strengthen priority sectors or address market gaps.

New products, technologies, research or export initiatives.

Events, showcases, delegations or programs.

Program at a glance

Next Wave operates through two clear pathways, giving local, national and international businesses a defined route to investment support.

program at a glance

Stream one

Pathway: Continuous investment attraction.
Purpose: To address high value, time sensitive investment opportunities.
Typical scale: Projects with the potential to support 50+ local jobs across construction, fit-out and ongoing operations, or generate $50 million in economic output, and are seeking more than $250,000 in investment incentives or support.
How it works: Continuous on application.

Program at a glance

Stream two

Pathway: Strategic, competitive round-based grants.
Purpose: To provide targeted grants for strategic sector projects.
Typical scale: Projects which have the potential to deliver a minimum of $500,000 in economic output or $250,000 in local expenditure, or other strategic outcomes identified through individual funding rounds, and are seeking between $25,000 and $250,000 in investment incentives or support.
How it works: Biannual competitive rounds.