About
The Strategic Policy Grants Program (SPGP) is an annual, open and competitive grant opportunity designed to provide an external perspective on Defence strategic policy decision-making and stimulate public debate on Australia's strategic and Defence policy choices.
The SPGP funds independent, new and innovative policy research projects. These could include research papers, articles, reports, conferences, dialogues, seminars and scenario exercises.
There is no preference for the running length of projects, however these are limited to no more than 3 years to ensure any policy recommendations are still relevant to current priorities.
The objectives of the SPGP are to support Defence’s mission and purpose by:
- deepening public debate on Australia’s strategic and defence policy choices
- informing the development of Australia’s defence and national security policy and strategy
- strengthening Defence’s international and domestic partnerships
- broadening participation in Australia’s strategic and defence policy debate.
The intended outcomes of the SPGP are:
- the publication of original, well-informed policy-relevant research
- engagements between Defence and non-government experts
- events and activities involving Defence’s international and domestic counterparts
- fostering new and emerging talent in Australia’s strategic and defence policy ecosystem.
Eligibility
The SPGP is a global initiative, and Defence accepts applications regardless of residency or citizenship.
Applicants for the SPGP must hold a business registration number, whether an Australian Business Number or an overseas equivalent. Individuals with different organisational affiliations can submit a joint application to the SPGP. Joint applications must identify a single project lead and organisation.
To be eligible, the proposed grant activity must:
- support Defence’s mission, purpose and priorities
- satisfy one or more of the SPGP objectives and outcomes
- be new, unfunded and distinct from any business-as-usual activity.
Programs
2025 Strategic Policy Grants Program
Applications for the 2025 Strategic Policy Grants Program have closed.
Defence aims to notify applicants of the round’s outcomes in May 2025.
A total of approximately AUD$3.5 million will be awarded across successful applications.
Priority policy questions
Applications must address one of the following priority policy questions or address their own topic or question that aligns with the priorities outlined in the 2024 National Defence Strategy:
- What are the most effective methods for nuclear non-proliferation, including but not limited to the Indo-Pacific, and what are the implications of nuclear proliferation for regional stability?
- How would Southeast Asian nations coordinate through multilateral and minilateral groupings, including ASEAN, in response to crisis or conflict in the Indo-Pacific?
- In the context of regional conflicts, what measures and strategies can be implemented to enhance military medicine capabilities, including health security, military-civilian health networks, and casualty evacuation networks, in order to improve the overall readiness and effectiveness of military forces?
- What measures can Defence pursue this decade to enhance Australia’s national preparedness and resilience against the risk of major conflict?
- How can Australia generate low-cost, asymmetric effects to strengthen deterrence against major power coercion and aggression over the next 5 years?
Applications should focus on demonstrating policy relevance – proposed projects should aim to develop policy recommendations including by considering a mechanism(s) for Australia to implement recommendations.
Assessment
Applications are assessed on individual merit. There is no weighting applied in the assessment process on whether the application is from an individual or represented through a larger organisation.
Feedback and contact
Applications cannot be amended or resubmitted past the closing date.
Defence may contact applicants for clarification if necessary after the application period has closed.
2024 Strategic Policy Grants Program
Following consideration in a highly competitive round, Defence awarded up to $4.488 million in grant funding under the 2024 SPGP to 16 successful applications, across 14 entities.
The successful applications directly align with the strategic priorities, initially outlined in the Defence Strategic Review 2023, including deterrence and national resilience, cyber domain capabilities, Indo-Pacific relations and partnerships, Defence workforce, and Defence’s international relations.
The 2024 grant recipients are:
- Asia Society Australia
- Australia India Institute, The University of Melbourne
- Australian Industry Group
- Australian Strategic Policy Institute
- Bond University
- FrontierSI
- L21 Pty Ltd
- Macquarie University
- Observer Research Foundation America
- RMIT University
- The University of Adelaide
- The Australian National University
- The International Institute for Strategic Studies (Asia) Ltd
- The United States Studies Centre, The University of Sydney.