The National Security Challenges Grant Opportunities under the National Intelligence and Security Discovery Research Grants (NISDRG) program are offered by the Department of Defence, National Security Science and Technology Centre (NSSTC).  

For information about managing grants please see RGS Grants Management. 

The National Security Challenges for the NISDRG program for funding commencing in 2022:  

  • Resilient Supply Chains  
  • Human Identification and Vulnerability Assessments 
  • Artificial Intelligence (AI) / Machine Learning (ML) for Investigative Support and Forensics Science 
  • Robust Consequence Management Improving Australia's Responses to, and Recovery from, Disasters and Emergencies 
  • Stand-Off / Remote Detection for 2040 

The National Security Challenges for the NISDRG program for funding commencing in 2021

  • Influence in the Pacific  
  • Resilient Supply Chains 
  • Disinformation Detection and Counter Narratives 
  • Detection for 2040  
  • Human Identification and Vulnerability Assessments  
  • Analysis and decision support for 2040  
  • AI/ML for Investigative Support and Forensics Science  
  • Robust Consequence management improving Australia’s responses to, and recovery from, disasters and emergencies  

Participants on applications for funding addressing the National Security Challenges must be Australian citizens, Australian permanent residents or New Zealand Special Category Visa Holders, and organisations participating as Other Organisations must be Australian organisations.  

Applicants should familiarise themselves with the relevant Grant Guidelines and Grant Agreements. Grants from the Department of Defence are made to organisations, not individual researchers or research teams. The Grant Guidelines contain the list of Eligible Organisations.  

All accountable authorities and officials must use GrantConnect to publish all Grant Opportunities, all Grant Opportunity Guidelines and all addenda/alterations.  

The Grant Guidelines for the National Intelligence and Security Discovery Research Grants are now available on GrantConnect. 

While the Grant Guidelines are available to view, you will need to sign in or create a User Registration account  in GrantConnect to access all relevant documentation for Grant Opportunities. 

For further information on GrantConnect, please refer to the ARC GrantConnect information page or the GrantConnect website.  

Back to top

Key Documents and Information for the NISDRG 

Back to top

Key Dates for NISDRG Round 2 (for funding commencing in 2022)

  • Release of Grant Guidelines: 24 September 2021  
  • Applications Open: 24 September 2021  
  • Request Not to Assess Close: 12 November 2021  
  • Applications Close: 26 November 2021  
  • Rejoinders: 2 February 2022 to 16 February 2022 
  • Anticipated Announcement: Third Quarter 2022 
  • Grant Funding Commencement: 1 July 2022 
  • Final Project Start for Grant Opportunity: 31 December 2022 
Back to top

Key Dates for NISDRG Round 1 (for funding commencing in 2021)

  • Release of Grant Guidelines: 13 October 2020 
  • Applications Open: 27 October 2020 
  • Request Not to Assess Close: 2 December 2020 
  • Applications Close: 16 December 2020 
  • Rejoinders: 5 February 2021 to 18 February 2021 (previously 4 February 2021 to 17 February 2021)
  • Announcement: 28 September 2021
  • Grant Funding Commencement: 1 July 2021
  • Final Project Start for Grant Opportunity: 31 December 2021
Back to top

Preparing and Submitting an Application for the NISDRG (National Security Challenges) 

Applications for the National Security Challenges Grant Opportunity under the NISDRG program must be prepared and submitted through the dedicated version of  Research Management System (RMS) for the Department of Defence. 

For information on RMS please see the RMS information page.

Click the button below to go to the Defence RMS portal:

Back to top

More Information

More information about the NISDRG Program (National Security Challenges) as well as requirements for applicants, can be found in the following grant opportunity documents which are available on GrantConnect.
  • NISDRG Grant Opportunity Guidelines
  • National Security Challenges
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Information for Applicants

The Grant Agreement or Conditions of Grant is the Agreement between the Department of Defence and the administering organisation. Applicants are advised to be familiar with the sample NISDRG (Defence) Grant Agreement which is available on GrantConnect.

The NISDRG leverages several guidelines and policies used by the ARC. Other information with which applicants should be familiar includes:

If you cannot find the information you require on the ARC web pages or in the available documentation, please contact ARC-NISDRG@arc.gov.au.

 

Back to top

Content Last Modified: 04/11/21

Back to top