Defence Industry Development Grants Program

Defence Industry Development Grants — Security

Funds Australian defence small businesses to improve security operations and infrastructure practices across critical manufacturing and cyber related capabilities.

The Defence Industry Development Grants – Security stream is one of four streams within Australia's Defence Industry Development Grants Program (DIDGP), a grant initiative of the Australian Government administered through the DISR Business Grants Hub at business.gov.au, with policy responsibility held by the Department of Defence. The Security stream funds improvements to security practices and infrastructure in priority defence industry areas, with the explicit aim of strengthening national security at the firm level across Australia's defence industrial base. Awards range from $10,000 to $100,000, covering up to 50% of eligible expenditure, with a closing deadline of 30 June 2026 and project completion required by 31 March 2028.

Eligible applicants are Australian for-profit SMEs with fewer than 200 employees holding a registered ABN, incorporated in Australia, registered for GST, and non-income tax exempt. Non-profits, universities, research organisations, individuals, and government bodies are explicitly ineligible. The Security stream has the smallest maximum award across DIDGP's four streams, reflecting the more targeted, firm-level nature of the security uplift activities funded. Applications must achieve at least 65% across assessment criteria to be ranked as meritorious and considered for competitive funding.

Defence SMEs with documented security gaps tied to requirements from prime contractors or government capability contracts are the strongest candidates. Projects demonstrating alignment to formally recognised sovereign industrial priorities and evidence of a co-funding commitment covering the mandatory 50% co-contribution are best placed. The relatively low award ceiling means projects should focus on a specific, bounded security improvement — such as facility security upgrades, personnel vetting infrastructure, or ICT security hardening — rather than enterprise-wide programs.