About
The Strategic Policy Grants Program (SPGP) is an annual, open and competitive grant opportunity. The SPGP funds independent, strategic policy-focused research and related activities. These include conferences, dialogues, seminars and scenario exercises.
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
Applicants for the SPGP must hold an Australian Business Number or equivalent business registration number. 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.
Updates
2025 Round
Defence is currently in the process of shaping the 2025 round of the SPGP and aims to have the round open soon. Applications must align with the SPGP objectives and intended outcomes as outlined above.
Please refer to this page for updates.
2024 Round
Following consideration in a highly competitive round, Defence will award 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.