Request for Applications: Defence Industry Development Grants Program (Australia)

Deadline: 30 November 2024

The Defence Industry Development Grants Program will fund small to medium enterprises to build Australia’s sovereign capability, global competitiveness, technical superiority and national security.

The program was announced as part of the Defence Industry Development Strategy released by Government on 29 February 2024.

The objective of the program is to build the industrial base Australia needs to achieve Defence outcomes in areas of strategic priority.

Categories

Sovereign Industrial Priorities Stream: The Sovereign Industrial Priorities stream will assist eligible small to medium enterprises (SMEs) to purchase manufacturing plant and equipment which is used directly to develop and/or deliver programs that are in line with the Sovereign Defence Industrial Priorities (SDIPs) described in the Defence Industry Development Strategy.
Skilling Stream: The Skilling stream helps Australian defence industry to upskill and train in priority trade, technical and professional skillsets to develop a workforce with the right mix of qualified and experienced personnel to meet Defence requirements. The program will enhance the capacity and capability of Australian defence industry workforce to deliver SDIPs described in the Defence Industry Development Strategy.
Exports Stream: The Exports stream provides support for small to medium enterprises (SMEs) to overcome export barriers and help defence industry build scale and competitiveness in defence capability priority areas as identified by the SDIPs described in the Defence Industry Development Strategy.
Security Stream: The Security stream helps Australian defence industry improve and maintain security in priority areas as identified by the SDIPs and in line with the Defence Industry Security Program.

Funding Information

Grants up to:
- Sovereign Industrial Priorities stream – $1,000,000
- Skilling stream – $250,000
- Exports stream – $250,000
- Security stream – $100,000.
Grants will cover up to 50% of eligible expenditure.

Eligible Projects

You must complete your project by 31 March 2028.
Your project must:
- be undertaken in Australia
- include eligible activities
- have the minimum eligible expenditure for the chosen stream
- have a clear link to the grant opportunity objective/s and outcomes.
For the Skilling stream, your project must also:
- be aimed at increasing Defence related technical skills capacity or capability within your organisation (or an SME if you are a DIA) that is required to meet current or future defence capability needs that align to the Sovereign Defence Industrial Priorities (SDIPs)
- be delivered by a registered training organisation, a tertiary education provider (University or TAFE), a professional training provider, an appropriately qualified employee in your business or an original equipment manufacturer (OEM).

Eligibility Criteria

You can apply if you:
- have an Australian business number (ABN)
- are a SME with less than 200 employees or, for Skilling stream only, a Defence Industry Association (DIA)
- are registered for GST
- have an account with an Australian financial institution
- are non-income tax exempt
and are one of the following entities:
- an entity incorporated in Australia
- a company limited by guarantee
- an incorporated trustee on behalf of a trust.

Ineligible Applicants

You can’t apply if you are:
- an organisation, or your project partner is an organisation, included on the National Redress Scheme’s list of Institutions that have not joined or signified their intent to join the Scheme
- an employer of 100 or more employees that has not complied with the Workplace Gender Equality Act (2012)
- an individual
- a partnership
- an overseas organisation
- an unincorporated association
- an organisation not included in the grant opportunity guidelines
- a trust (however, an incorporated trustee may apply on behalf of a trust)
- a Commonwealth, state, territory or local government body (including government business enterprises).