Defence Industry Development Grants Program
Defence Industry Development Grants Program supports Australian defence SMEs with equipment, training, export certifications and security controls to strengthen sovereign industrial capability.
This grant was recently updated
Sovereign Industrial Priorities is temporarily closed and Skilling temporarily closes in October; all streams reopen 3 November 2026. Batch deadlines changed (2026): Exports 31 July→31 October; Security 30 June→31 October; Sovereign Industrial Priorities 31 May→30 November; Skilling 30/31 May (previously listed differently across pages)→30 November.
Funder: Australia Department of Defence
Due Dates: October 31, 2026 (Exports) | October 31, 2026 (Security) | November 30, 2026 (Skilling) | November 30, 2026 (Sovereign Industrial Priorities)
Funding Amounts: $5,000–$1 million, covering up to 50% of eligible project costs; maximum project lengths of 18–24 months
Summary: Supports Australian defence-sector SMEs to strengthen industrial capability, export readiness, workforce skills and supplier security.
Key Information: Research and development, product development and prototyping are likely to make an application ineligible.
Description
The Defence Industry Development Grants Program, run by the Australia Department of Defence, supports small and medium-sized Australian businesses operating in the defence sector. It aims to strengthen Australia’s sovereign capability, global competitiveness, technical superiority and national security by helping businesses enhance their capabilities, capacity and security posture.
Four streams support manufacturing plant and equipment, international certifications and accreditations, technical and trade skills, and security controls required of defence suppliers. Projects must contribute to the development or enhancement of one or more Sovereign Defence Industrial Priorities. The program has been extended through 2030, with approximately $250 million in total investment. Existing guidelines and priorities continue to apply until updated guidelines are released.
