Eight innovative research collaborations have been awarded funding through the 2025 Security & Defence PLuS Seed Grant Scheme. The selected projects span critical areas, from space to artificial intelligence, advanced manufacturing to public opinion on nuclear policy. Their diversity reflects the depth and range of security and defence challenges facing the AUKUS nations—Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States—and their allies.
The 2025 seed grants support both trilateral and bilateral collaborations between researchers at Arizona State University, King’s College London, and the University of New South Wales (UNSW). Each project advances a shared objective: to develop practical, policy-relevant solutions to pressing security and defence needs, including but not limited to AUKUS priorities.
Trilateral Projects
- Establishing Guidelines for Successful Collaboration Between the Space Industry and Indigenous Communities
- Strength and Energy Storage: Integrating Mechanical Defence Requirements into Next Generation Solid State Batteries
- Fortifying Defence: A Strategic Blueprint for Trusted Semiconductor Supply Chains in AUKUS
- Navigating Great Power Rivalry Under the Conditions of Global Uncertainty
Bilateral Projects
- Intelligent Additive Manufacturing of Refractory Alloys via Reinforcement Learning
- The Evolution and Impact of Public Opinion on Nuclear Policy in the Indo-Pacific: Evidence from Australia, Indonesia, Japan and the US
- Promoting Election Security: Prospects for Regulating Foreign Electoral Interference in the US and Australia
- Enhancing AUKUS Cognitive Security in the Indo-Pacific: An AI-Powered Narrative Defence Approach
Funded teams will meet in person to progress their research, co-develop a white paper for submission to government and defence stakeholders, and generate broader impact through public engagement.
Beyond these initial outputs, the scheme is designed to serve as a launchpad for longer-term collaboration, with teams expected to develop a timelined plan toward securing external research funding. In recognition of strong early progress, three projects from the 2024 seed grant round have also received continued funding into 2025 to deepen and expand their collaborative work [learn more here].
We thank all applicants for their interest in the Seed Grant Scheme and are grateful to the review panel members for their time and expertise. More information on the successful projects will be shared throughout the year.