Defence Industry Development Grants Program

The Defence Industry Development Grants Program sits under the Department of Industry, Science and Resources, with policy set by the Department of Defence and delivery through the Business Grants Hub. It is designed for Australian SMEs that are building sovereign defence industrial capability, and it is organized into four streams that separate industrial priorities, skilling, exports, and security needs. Award ranges vary by stream: Sovereign Industrial Priorities runs from $50,000 to $1 million, Skilling from $5,000 to $250,000, Exports from $15,000 to $250,000, and Security from $10,000 to $100,000. Each stream covers up to 50% of eligible expenditure, the program is annual, and all projects must finish by 31 March 2028. The eligibility rules require Australian registration and operations, exclude universities and research organisations, allow non-profits, and cap SME size at 200 employees, while the Skilling stream also opens to Defence Industry Associations. The strongest applications are narrow, well-scoped projects that map cleanly to one stream and support a concrete defence supply-chain outcome. Firms already operating in the sector, or moving toward it with a defined export, security, or capability gap, are the best fit. Because the program combines policy from Defence with administration through DISR, applicants need to be ready for a federal process that is structured, documentary, and tied to delivery dates.

Each grant below is a distinct funding opportunity with its own eligibility, scope, and deliverables.