QDSA Funding Opportunities

QDSA FUNDING

Click on the funding name for more details.

QDSA Collaborative Research Grant

  • The 2025 round of QDSA Collaborative Research Grants focuses on the theme of Littoral Operations. The Expression of Interest round calls for project proposals aligned with the QDSA Research Priorities and Topics, which were drawn from the 2024 Defence IS&T Priorities, National Defence Strategy, Integrated Investment Program, and wide consultation with Defence stakeholders.

    The 2025 Research Topics (numbered), Context/Environment descriptors (lettered) and challenges (Roman numerals) are listed below:

    1. Intelligence, Surveillance & Reconnaissance (ISR)

          a. Littoral areas

                i. detection of humans/platforms/infrastructure/threats

                ii. beach survey of bathymetry & terrain

          b. Data collection & handling

                i. securely sharing data between relevant assets

                ii. data fusion & analysis to rapidly feed into the Common Operational Picture (COP)

    2. Command & Control (C2)

          a. Operational level

                i. centralised, displaced from conflict zone

          b. Tactical level

                i. highly decentralised

                ii. robust & resilient (decision making) under stress, in conflict or degraded conditions

          c. Operational level

                i. joint (multiservice) & combined (multinational)

                ii. increased power, range, reliability & security of communication systems

    3.  Cyber Operations

          a. Effects

                i. defence against attacks

          b. Security

                i. encrypted communication & storage

                ii. zero-memory systems (no sensitive data stored onboard)

                iii. increased speed, range & reliability of cyber systems

    4. Logistics

          a. Transport

                i. ship-to-shore personnel & equipment

          b. Communications

                i. local wireless networks (RF, laser)

    Common Requirements of the Research Topics

    • Integration with current in-service systems
    • Multi-domain/amphibious capabilities, if required
    • Signature managementEnvironmental resilience
    • Power requirements (energy/range/endurance)
    • Support requirements (deployment/installation/maintenance)

    The assessment of grants followed a two-stage process. Key dates for 2025 Collaborative Research Grant are:

    • Stage 1 – Call for Expressions of Interest (open 7 July 2025)
    • Stage 2 – Request for Detailed Proposal from shortlisted applications (open 8 September 2025)

  • Up to $250,000 (AUD) per grant. Funding is awarded on a competitive basis, subject to prioritisation against the selection criteria and available funding.

QDSA-DSC Northern Australian Defence Project

  • The QDSA-DSC Northern Australian Defence Project is a proposal by QDSA to take advantage of the recent shift of attention to the region and an effort to enhance and build Defence capability there, as outlined in the National Defence Strategy (NDS). At the same time, there is an increased focus on developing sovereign IS&T programs and projects on a national scale through networks including the Australian Defence Science and Universities Network (ADSUN).

    Applications for the QDSA-DSC Northern Australian Defence Project are open to research applicants from universities within Australian Defence Science and Universities Network (ADSUN) in Queensland and Northern Territory; Griffith University, James Cook University, University of Queensland or Charles Darwin University; and from Western Australia; Curtin University, Edith Cowan University, Murdoch University and The University of Western Australia.

    The QDSA-DSC Northern Australian Defence Project is defined by three themes, with a set of topics under each. The topics provide a problem statement with relevant context as defined by Defence. For 2025, a single topic under each theme is prescribed. The themes and topics are as follows:

    • Theme 1: Logistics and Manufacturing
      • Topic 1.1: Power and Energy
    • Theme 2: Health and Human Performance
      • Topic 2.1: Deployed Health
    • Theme 3: Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance & Reconnaissance (C4ISR)
      • Topic 3.1: Remote Autonomous Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance

    Key dates for QDSA-DSC Northern Australian Defence Project are:

    • Call for Proposals open: 14 April 2025
    • Information briefing: 23 April, 2025 – View Presentation Here
    • Call for proposals close: 20 May, 2025 at 5pm (AEST)

     

    View guidelines V2 here

  • Funding up to $400,000 (AUD) per project.

HDR Capability Grant (Merit Based)

  • The Queensland Defence Science Alliance (QDSA) is pleased to support higher degree research (HDR) students across the state to develop and initiate Defence partnerships and capability advancement. QDSA has $175,000 to be allocated to HDR Capability Grant projects. Each application will be reviewed and assessed based on individual merit, quality of application and suitability to defence priority areas. This QDSA HDR Capability Grant provides successful candidates with the opportunity and exposure to showcase their research and would suit anyone considering a career in Defence, Science, Engineering and Innovation.

  • The successful candidates will be funded for a period of three (3) months at a stipend of $20,000 (AUD) plus an additional $5,000 (AUD) for any prototyping or equipment costs required in the project.