Applications open for the sixth Strategic Policy Grants Program

Applications are expected to address challenges and priorities outlined in the Defence Strategic Review, with applications closing on 31 October.

Defence hopes that the grants will support public participation in Defence and strategic policy, while strengthening the nation’s international partnerships and enhancing strategic policy advice.

“In an ever-changing strategic environment, new ideas and fresh thinking are critical to ensuring Defence’s own strategic direction is fit for purpose,” Dr Sheridan Kearnan, first assistant secretary of policy at Defence, said.

“The Strategic Policy Grants Program adds real value to Australia’s defence policy debate through encouraging innovative and far-reaching research to address our current strategic circumstances and challenges.

“Through the program, we want to increase the amount and quality of discourse, debate, and research on Defence’s strategic policy issues, and deliver professional development opportunities to the strategic policy workforce.”

The scope of the previous round of applications included:

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• strategic competition, particularly in the Indo-Pacific;
• expanding capabilities and technologies in the information, cyber, and space domains; and
• threats to human security and state fragility in Australia’s immediate region, such as climate change and pandemics.

Earlier in the month, six Australian businesses were awarded grants worth a total of $3.8 million under the Defence Global Competitiveness program and the Sovereign Industrial Capability Priority program.

These grants provide up to half the cost of a project to help Australian businesses build capabilities crucial for Defence and to overcome barriers for Defence exports.

Minister for Defence Industry, the Hon Pat Conroy MP said, “The Albanese government is strongly committed to supporting a thriving sovereign Australian Defence industry, which is the cornerstone of delivering the national Defence priorities outlined by the Defence Strategic Review.”

The businesses were Advanced Navigation, Frontline Safety Australia, Adelaide Profile Services, QuantX Labs, Redline Engineering, Muir Engineering, and George Lovitt Manufacturing.

Liam Garman

Editor – Defence and Security, Momentum Media

Liam began his career as a speech writer at New South Wales Parliament before working for world leading campaigns and research agencies in Sydney and Auckland. Throughout his career, Liam has managed and executed international media and communications campaigns spanning politics, business, industrial relations and infrastructure. He’s since shifted his attention to researching and writing extensively on geopolitics and defence. He holds a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Sydney and a Masters in Strategy and Security with Excellence from UNSW Canberra, with a thesis on post-truth, postmodernism and disinformation operations.

 

Reach out to Liam via email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or via LinkedIn.