Applications are now open for the 2026 Security & Defence PLuS Seed Grant Program – Stage 1, supporting early-stage, defence-relevant research collaborations across the PLuS Alliance: Arizona State University, King’s College London, and the University of New South Wales.
Stage 1 Seed Grants are designed to help researchers establish and structure high-potential partnerships with defence-relevant external stakeholders, co-design research problems, and develop clear pathways towards larger-scale funding and real-world impact.
Areas of Interest
The Security & Defence PLuS Seed Grants 2026 support collaborations aligned with security and defence. Areas of interest include, but are not limited to:
- Space
- Artificial Intelligence
- Cyber Security
- Nuclear Propulsion and Safeguards
- Materials Science
- Hypersonics
- Undersea Robotics and Autonomous Systems (AURAS)
- Decision Support Systems
- Critical Supply Chains
- Deterrence
- Ethics in International Systems
- Social Licence for Defence and Security
- International Alliances and Security Cooperation
- Disinformation and Narrative Strategy
- Irregular Warfare
- Climate Security
- Human Security
- Mission Engineering
- Disruptive and Emerging Technologies
- Air Domain Awareness
- Underwater Awareness
- GPS-denied Environments
- Competitive Statecraft
- Women, Peace and Security
Funding and Duration
Funding of up to USD $15,000 is available for trilateral projects or USD $10,000 for bilateral projects, with grants running for six months.
Application Deadline: Monday 16 March 2026 at 5:00 PM (AEST)
Applicants are encouraged to carefully review the 2026 Seed Grant Guidelines and Application Form before preparing and submitting their application.
To learn more about the groundbreaking research initiatives funded through the 2024 and 2025 Seed Grant schemes, you can watch our seed grant video series.