The National Intelligence Discovery Grants (NIDG) Program has been released and designed to achieve Australian Government objectives for research and innovation in national intelligence and security. The NIDG Program was formerly known as the National Intelligence and Security Discovery Research Grants (NISDRG) Program.
The NIDG Program supports excellent innovative research that deepens understanding of emerging science and technology that addresses intelligence and national security interests. The grant program will facilitate innovation and develop national security and intelligence capacity. It will also enable Australia’s National Intelligence Community to systematically engage with Australia’s research and technology community.
The Office of National Intelligence (ONI), on behalf of the National Intelligence Community, established the program in response to the 2017 Independent Intelligence Review’s Science, Technology and Innovation recommendations.
The NIDG Program – Intelligence Challenges Grant Opportunity 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 developed under the National Security Science and Technology Priorities.
Among nine challenges detailed to enable the National Intelligence Community to leverage emerging science, technology and social science, the space-based technology challenges includes:
The ability to:
- Leverage low cost and innovative technological advancement in space-based and high-altitude capabilities in a timely manner to improve collection, communication and analysis capabilities.
- Operate with respect to ethical, social and regulatory (e.g. legislation, treaties, conventions) standards and considerations
Research opportunities include:
- Satellite communications, sensors and networks.
- Automation and on-board processing and analysis.
- Advanced materials.
- Space-based situation awareness.
- Technology forecasting: emerging, critical and disruptive technologies including deficiencies and/or strengths in Australian capabilities.
Expected EOI Grant Opportunity period is 19 Aug – 18 Sept 2025
