KEY FEATURES
- $12.4 million over four years to co-fund minerals exploration activities.
- Up to 50% co-funding of eligible direct exploration costs.
- Funding available across drilling, geophysical/geochemical programs, regional geophysical or remote sensing programs, data driven geoscience and spatial analytics, groundwater and research collaboration
- Applications Opened 9 July 2026 and Close 11 September 2026.
Overview
The South Australian Government has launched the renewed Plan for Accelerating Exploration (PACE) Minerals initiative, providing $12.4 million over four years to co-fund mineral exploration activities across the state.
The program aims to accelerate mineral discovery, encourage the use of innovative exploration technologies, increase greenfield exploration activity and collaboration, and generate new geoscientific datasets that support future investment in South Australia’s resources sector.
Round 1 is now open, with proposals invited for eligible projects commencing in the 2026–27 financial year.
Available Funding
- Exploration drilling: up to $350,000
- Regional geophysical or remote sensing programs: up to $300,000
- Research collaboration: up to $200,000
- Geophysical or geochemical programs: up to $150,000
- Data-driven geoscience and spatial analytics: up to $50,000
- Groundwater testing associated with mineral exploration: up to $50,000
Where a proposal includes more than one eligible exploration activity, the maximum total PACE Minerals contribution remains $350,000 per proposal.
Eligible Exploration Activities
Funding may be available for projects involving:
- Single deep-hole or multiple-hole exploration drilling programs in frontier or under-explored areas
- Drill testing of new geological models, concepts or exploration targets
- Geophysical and geochemical programs using innovative technologies or significantly improving the quality or density of regional data
- Collaborative regional geophysical or remote sensing programs involving multiple tenement holders
- Data-driven geoscience and spatial analytics, including artificial intelligence and machine learning applications used to resolve new exploration targets
- Sampling and testing of groundwater encountered through mineral exploration
- Research collaboration or technology development that supports exploration drilling, geophysical or geochemical programs
PACE Minerals is open to proposals targeting all mineral commodities.
Key Requirements
To be considered, applicants must:
- Be a legal entity with an Australian Business Number and GST registration
- Hold an exploration licence or be an authorised operator acting on behalf of an exploration licence holder
- Demonstrate financial and operational capability to complete the proposed project
- Be willing to share the findings and geoscientific data generated through the funded activities
- Submit a project that is genuinely exploratory and has the potential to support new mineral discoveries
- Use the prescribed online application form and provide the required technical, financial, environmental, stakeholder and risk-management information
Research organisations may participate in collaborative applications; however, an exploration licence holder or authorised operator must remain responsible for the conduct of exploration activities.
Activities Not Eligibile for Funding
PACE Minerals is focused on early-stage exploration and the testing of new targets, concepts and technologies. Funding will generally not be available for:
- Resource definition, resource expansion or advanced resource evaluation drilling
- Near-development drilling or activities supporting the development of an existing mineral resource
- Metallurgical test work, bulk sampling or geotechnical investigations
- Environmental studies supporting retention lease or mining lease applications
- Projects located within mineral claims, exploration licence applications, private mines, retention leases or mining leases
- Land access negotiations, Native Title agreement-making or Aboriginal heritage surveys
- Administration, legal, project management and other indirect costs
- Exploration activities that commenced before formal notification of a funding award
Retrospective funding will not be provided.
Assessment Criteria
Proposals will be assessed by an expert panel appointed by the South Australian Department for Energy and Mining.
Competitive applications should demonstrate:
- A clear contribution to South Australia’s geoscientific knowledge
- The potential to stimulate new mineral discoveries and exploration investment
- A focus on remote, frontier or under-explored areas
- Strong scientific and technical justification
- The use or validation of innovative exploration technologies, techniques or analytical approaches
- Opportunities for collaboration and third-party benefit
- A clear, achievable and appropriately costed project plan
- Suitable operational, environmental and stakeholder-management capability
Applicants should clearly explain the knowledge gap being addressed, the geological model or exploration concept being tested, and how the project’s results could benefit broader exploration activity in South Australia.
Timelines and Important Dates
Dates may be subject to change.
Funded activities will generally be expected to be completed within 12 months. Grant payments will ordinarily be made following project completion and acceptance of the required technical report, although an interim payment of up to 50% may be negotiated in some circumstances.
How to Apply
To find out more and complete the grant Application, go to the South Australian Department for Energy and Mining’s PACE Minerals website. Department of Energy, Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety.
Industry Briefing
The SA Department of Energy and Mining will be holding a webinar on Thursday 30 July from 10.30am to 11.30am, to provide more information able the application process and eligibility requirements.
Need help with your Application?
Our experienced SA Team is ready to assist you.
