Defence Industry Development Grants Program

Defence Industry Development Grants — Exports

Supports Australian defence small businesses in strengthening commercial positioning for exports through capability building and market readiness assistance.

The Defence Industry Development Grants – Exports stream is one of four streams within Australia's Defence Industry Development Grants Program (DIDGP), administered through the DISR Business Grants Hub with policy direction from the Department of Defence. The Exports stream targets Australian defence SMEs seeking to overcome export barriers and build competitive positioning in defence capability priority areas. Awards range from $15,000 to $250,000, covering up to 50% of eligible expenditure, with projects required to complete by 31 March 2028. As of the capture date, the Exports stream was the only DIDGP stream still accepting applications, with a closing deadline of 31 July 2026.

Only Australian for-profit SMEs with fewer than 200 employees are eligible; non-profits, universities, research organisations, individuals, and government bodies cannot apply. Applicants must hold an Australian ABN, be incorporated in Australia, be registered for GST, and operate a non-income tax exempt entity. All applications undergo competitive merit assessment, with a minimum threshold of 65% across criteria required for consideration. The grant covers up to half of eligible project expenditure, meaning applicants must demonstrate a credible co-funding plan.

Applicants best positioned for the Exports stream are defence SMEs with identified target export markets, documented barriers such as certification costs, trade-show participation, or market-entry compliance, and a clear connection to the government's defence capability priority areas. Demonstrating prior export experience or an established international defence customer relationship strengthens competitiveness. The maximum award of $250,000 and the 50% cost-share requirement mean projects should be scoped to a defined, time-bounded export market development activity.