The Government is strengthening its support to Australia's strategic policy sector through the Defence Strategic Policy Research Program.
Representing an investment of $59 million over five years, the Program provides new, emerging and existing strategic policy institutions with long-term funding to undertake national security-related research activities.
In 2024, the Government commissioned the Independent Review of Commonwealth Funding for Strategic Policy Work, which recommended that Defence create an open competitive five-year funding cycle for strategic policy research priorities.
This announcement delivers on this recommendation by replacing Defence's existing grants model with one which provides much-needed certainty to the strategic policy sector through a guaranteed, long-term funding pipeline.
Applicants should consider the 2026-27 Government national security research priorities, released by the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet on 11 June, as well as how their research program addresses the priorities outlined in the 2026 National Defence Strategy.
