The Sovereign Industrial Priorities stream will assist eligible small to medium enterprises (SMEs) to purchase manufacturing plant and equipment which is used directly to develop and/or deliver programs that are in line with the Sovereign Defence Industrial Priorities (SDIPs) described in the Defence Industry Development Strategy.

The objective of the program is to build the industrial base Australia needs to achieve Defence outcomes in areas of strategic priority.

The Defence Industry Development Grants Program funds four distinct grant opportunity streams tailored to address the program outcomes:

1. Sovereign Industrial Priorities
2. Skilling
3. Exports
4. Security.

Please refer to the Funding Centre for information regarding the other streams of funding under the Defence Industry Development Grants Program.

Eligibility

You can apply if you:

• have an Australian business number (ABN)
• are a SME with less than 200 employees or, for Skilling stream only, a Defence Industry Association (DIA)
• are registered for GST
• have an account with an Australian financial institution
• are non-income tax exempt

and are one of the following entities:

• an entity incorporated in Australia
• a company limited by guarantee
• an incorporated trustee on behalf of a trust.

You can’t apply if you are:

• an organisation, or your project partner is an organisation, included on the National Redress Scheme’s list of Institutions that have not joined or signified their intent to join the Scheme
• an employer of 100 or more employees that has not complied with the Workplace Gender Equality Act (2012)
• an individual
• a partnership
• an overseas organisation
• an unincorporated association
• an organisation not included in section 4.1 of the grant opportunity guidelines
• a trust (however, an incorporated trustee may apply on behalf of a trust)
• a Commonwealth, state, territory or local government body (including government business enterprises).

Partner with other organisations

You can partner with one or more other organisations that also meet the eligibility criteria. But you must decide who the lead organisation is.

The lead organisation must fill out the application form.

If we give your group the grant, the lead organisation:

• signs the grant agreement
• is responsible for making sure your group follows the rules in the grant agreement.

• Email: enquiries@industry.gov.au