Applications open for Entrepreneurial Foundations for Defence (Australia)

Designed to support researchers, innovators and emerging companies with products, services or technology that can provide a capability benefit to the Defence sector, EFD will help you understand what is required for success in the defence market.

Delivered through a mixture of online and in-person sessions, participants gain essential insights to build defence, technology and commercial readiness, along with access to expert mentors and technical specialists.

The program concludes with an opportunity for participants to showcase their innovation(s), in person, to relevant people within the defence market and the venture capital investment community. There will also be a $10,000 grant for each participant in the program to support travel to in-person sessions, and some early-stage business expenses.

Key Features

• Defence-focused networks
  • Access to experienced defence, defence industry and investment networks
• Access grant funding
  • Opportunity to apply for additional grant funding to support technical and commercial development
• Socialise your innovation
  • A number of opportunities to socialise your innovation and business with those that can add value to your commercialisation pathway: investors, collaborators, SMEs and primes
• Further development opportunities
  • Opportunity to apply for additional development programs through DINAM IC, bespoke incubators, and supported accelerators
• Connect with like-minded peers
  • Excellent opportunity to network with innovation and defence peers
• Tailored bi-weekly webinars
  • Presented by industry experts, the programs includes webinars delivered twice a week that are tailored to address your specific technical, commercial and defence readiness needs
• Dedicated mentorship
  • Weekly meetings with a dedicated mentor to help keep you on track and meet your specific needs
• Proto-Lab access
  • Access to a unique Proto-Lab network incorporating selected university and partner facilities, equipment and capabilities along with technical
• Defence-focused networks
  • Access to experienced defence, defence industry and investment networks

Eligibility & Additional Information

Please note the following requirements for your application.

• You are an Australian citizen or permanent resident.
• You have the necessary rights to commercialise the Intellectual Property associated with your research idea, innovation or technology.
• You are (or will be) eligible to apply for Australian Defence Industry Security Program (DISP) accreditation to a level appropriate to your proposal.
• You must not be precluded under the requirements of the Defence Policy for Industry Participation.
• A business entity resulting from this activity must be majority Australian-owned.
• Commitment to provide end-of-program financial reconciliation against eligible expenditure is required.

For more information, visit Defence Trailblazer.