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. There are four streams within the program, including:
Sovereign Industrial Priorities
Skilling
Exports
Security.
These four grant opportunities will be assessed in batches. We will regularly update the closing dates for each batch. You can apply at any time.
All projects are due to be completed by 31 Mar 2028.
About the Grant Program
The Defence Industry Development Grants Program (the program) will award grants over four years from 2024-25 to 2027-28. The program was announced as part of the Defence Industry Development Strategy.
Through the Strategy, the Australian Government has committed to strengthening Australia’s defence industry by building our sovereign capability, global competitiveness and technical superiority. The Strategy will also support national security through the provision of improved and enhanced Defence capability.
The objective of the program is to build the industrial base Australia needs to achieve Defence outcomes in areas of strategic priority. The intended outcomes of the Program are to:
develop a more capable, resilient and competitive Australian defence industry that supports Defence outcomes in areas of strategic priority
support skilling the industry workforce to support priority Defence capabilities now and into the future
support exports to strengthen the resilience and competitiveness of the Australian defence industrial base
uplift the security of the Australian defence industrial base to address the challenging strategic environment.
The objective of the program is to build the industrial base Australia needs to achieve Defence outcomes in areas of strategic priority.
The Defence Industry Development Grants Program Streams
The Sovereign Industrial Priorities stream will assist eligible small to medium enterprises (SMEs) to purchase manufacturing plant and equipment that 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.
This opportunity under the Sovereign Industrial Priorities Stream aims to increase industry capability to meet the industrial priorities articulated in the Defence Industry Development Strategy, these are:
maintenance, repair, overhaul and upgrade (MRO&U) of Australian Defence Force aircraft
continuous naval shipbuilding and sustainment
sustainment and enhancement of the combined-arms land system
domestic manufacture of guided weapons, explosive ordnance and munitions
development and integration of autonomous systems
integration and enhancement of battlespace awareness and management systems
test and evaluation, certification and systems assurance.
The Skilling stream helps the 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 the Australian defence industry workforce to deliver SDIPs described in the Defence Industry Development Strategy.
The Exports stream provides support for small to medium enterprises (SMEs) to overcome export barriers and help the defence industry build scale and competitiveness in defence capability priority areas as identified by the SDIPs described in the Defence Industry Development Strategy.
The Security stream helps the Australian defence industry improve and maintain security in priority areas as identified by the SDIPs and in line with the Defence Industry Security Program.
Application detail
You may apply at anytime the grant opportunity remains open. Applications will be assessed in batches. The closing dates for the current batches are:
Security and Sovereign Industrial Priorities - Saturday 31 August 2024.
Skilling stream - Monday 30 September 2024.
Export stream - Thursday 31 October 2024.
What do you get
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 expenditures. You are required to contribute towards the grant activities. You cannot use funding from other Commonwealth, state, territory or local government sources to fund your share of eligible expenditure.
Applications will only be accepted where you provide evidence of how you will provide your share of project costs, through the accountant declaration, that confirms you can fund your share of the project costs, including any ineligible expenditure. You must use the accountant declaration template form provided as part of this grant opportunity.
Who is this for?
Small to medium enterprises (SMEs) located in Australia.
Defence Industry Associations (for Skilling stream only).
Check if you can apply
You can apply if you meet the eligibility criteria. The eligibility criteria are a set of rules that describe who we can consider for this grant. You can apply if you:
• are an eligible entity
• have an eligible project
• have eligible expenditures.
Eligibility criteria
To be eligible you must:
• be an SME with less than 200 employees as defined in the Glossary
• have an Australian Business Number (ABN)
• be registered for the Goods and Services Tax (GST)
• have an account with an Australian financial institution
• be non-income-tax-exempt and be one of the following entities:
• an entity, incorporated in Australia
• a company limited by guarantee
• an incorporated trustee on behalf of a trust.
Joint applications are acceptable, provided you have a lead organisation who is the main driver of the project and is eligible to apply.
If you need any assistance with your grant submission please contact us now at info@hainesconsultinggroup.com.au for a confidential conversation.
Haines Consulting Group is a management consultancy firm specialising in business strategy, growth, government grants and new venture developments. If you need any assistance with a grant submission please contact us now for a confidential conversation.
Source: Defence Industry Development Grants Program | business.gov.au
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