Department of Defence

Key dates for National Intelligence and Security Discovery Research Grants (NISDRG) Program

• Release of Grant Guidelines: 25 July 2022
• Expression of Interest open in RMS: 29 July 2022
• Expression of Interest due to UQ Research Office: 11 August 2022
• Expression of Interest close with ARC: 19 August 2022
• Full applications open by invitation: 26 September 2022
• Requests not to Assess close with ARC: 24 October 2022
• Full applications due to UQ Research Office: 24 October 2022
• Full applications close with ARC: 7 November 2022
• Rejoinders: Early February 2023
• Anticipated announcement: Mid-2023

** NOTE ** Department of Defence funding into the NISDRG Program is currently on hold. For information about NISDRG Round 4, please see the Office of National Intelligence  scheme page.

The NISDRG program supports excellent research that deepens understanding of emerging science and technology and addresses intelligence and national security interests. The grants program will facilitate innovation and develop national security and intelligence capacity. It will also enable Australia’s National Intelligence and Security Communities to systematically engage with Australia’s research and technology community.

The NISDRG program provides support to research that aligns with the priority research areas identified by the Australian Government. These research areas are outlined in the Intelligence Challenges and the National Security Challenges developed under the broad National Security Science and Technology Priorities.

The National Security Challenges for the NISDRG Program for Funding commencing in 2023 are:

1. Preparedness, Protection, Prevention and Incident Response Challenges

• Reliable Detection and Prevention
• Integrated Information Sharing
• Enhanced Analysis
• Robust Consequence Management

2. Border Security and Identity Management Challenges

• Enhanced Analysis
• Integrated Information Sharing
• Improved Detection and prevention
• Rapid and Reliable Identification (human, object, & CBRNE)

3. Investigative Support and Forensic Science Challenges

• Enhanced Analysis
• Enhanced Detection and Identification
• Advanced Protection and Exploitation
• Integrated Information Sharing

NISDRG Information webinars

A recording of the NISDRG EOI Information webinar, held 27 July 2022, is now available via the ARC Presentations page. 

Please note that in the seminar, ONI and NSSTC expressed a preference for projects assessed with technological readiness level (TRL) between one and three, based on the TRL and descriptions available at TRL Explanations (PDF, 305.6 KB).

A recording of the full application webinar, help in late October 2022, is available on YouTube.

How to apply

Step 1: RMS updates and scheme reading

• Update your full profile in RMS ‘Person Profile’.
• Familiarise yourself with the key Australian Research Council (ARC) and UQ documentation (coming soon).

Step 2: Completing the application

Log into RMS and complete the application within the Department of Defence RMS portal.

Step 3: Research Office internal review and feedback

• Ahead of internal review, ensure all online components are complete and valid, generate a PDF of your EOI form for your records and select 'Submit to Research Office' in RMS for review.
• To initiate review, email your completed Funding Coversheet to UQ RO at arc-discovery@research.uq.edu.au.
• Internal review by UQ RO/feedback provided (compliance/eligibility/grantsmanship).

Step 4: Final submission

Final submission by the UQ Research Office to the ARC.

Readership and researcher support

Key documents

ARC

Before applying, please review the full suite of documents available from GrantConnect (GO5704), the Australian Government grants information system (Login required).

• National Intelligence and Security Discovery Research Grants (NISDRG) Program

UQ

Templates

Additional Resources