Defence Industry Development Grants Program

The Defence Industry Development Grants Program (the program) will award grants from 2024-25 to 2029-30. The program was extended by the Defence Industry Development Strategy 2026. The objective of the program is to build the industrial base Australia needs to achieve Defence outcomes in areas of strategic priority. Each stream is supported by the Sovereign Defence Industrial Priorities (SDIPs) described in the Defence Industry Development Strategy. The Defence Industry Development Grants Program funds four distinct grant opportunity streams tailored to address the program outcomes: Sovereign Industrial Priorities Skilling Exports Quality & Security. These four grants opportunities will be assessed in batches. We will regularly update the closing dates for each batch on this page. You can apply at any time. About the streams The Sovereign Industrial Priorities stream will assist eligible small to medium enterprises (SMEs) to purchase industrial or technical plant and equipment which is used directly to develop and/or deliver capability element sub-components which have been nominated within the SDIPs. The Skilling stream helps 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 Australian defence industry workforce to deliver SDIPs. The Exports stream provides support for small to medium enterprises (SMEs) to overcome export barriers and help defence industry build scale and competitiveness in defence capability priority areas as identified by the SDIPs. The Quality & Security stream will assist eligible small to medium enterprises (SMEs) to establish and maintain security accreditation/controls in line with the Defence Industry Security Program (DISP) and in accordance with the Defence Security Protection Framework in priority areas. The program will also help SMEs to obtain recognised certifications required to access domestic Defence supply chain opportunities. What you get: Grants up to: Sovereign Industrial Priorities stream – $1,000,000 Skilling stream – $250,000 Exports stream – $250,000 Quality & Security stream – $100,000. Grants will cover up to 50% of eligible expenditure. You may apply at anytime the grant opportunity remains open. Applications will be assessed in batches. The closing dates for the current batches are: Sovereign Industrial Priorities stream - Monday 30 November 2026, 11:59 pm (AEST). Skilling stream - Monday 30 November 2026, 11:59 pm (AEST). Export stream - Sunday 31 January 2027, 11:59 pm (AEST). Quality & Security stream - Thursday 31 December 2026, 11:59 pm (AEST). Source: business.gov.au, © Commonwealth of Australia, licensed under CC BY 3.0 AU.

Small to medium enterprises (SMEs) located in Australia. Defence Industry Associations (for Skilling stream only).