WA Defence and Research Teaming (DaRT)

  • Grant applications open until 12 December 2025.
  • Applicants can request up to $200,000.

The Defence and Research Teaming (DaRT) 2025 grant is a Western Australian Government initiative managed by the Defence Science Centre. It empowers defence personnel, academia and industry partners to collaborate on early-stage concepts within the Defence Capability Life Cycle. These projects must have participated in Exercise Western Dawn 2025 and align with defined innovation themes. Successful teams receive grants up to $200k to de‑risk technologies and mature ideas—ultimately enhancing ADF capability and building sovereign industry outcomes.

Key Requirements

  • Must include at least one participant from Exercise Western Dawn 2025.
  • Must include an industry partner with a valid ABN (based in WA or partnered with WA-based university/industry).
  • Project must start at TRL 2–6, with a clear plan to increase at least one TRL level.
  • Must align with one or both innovation themes.
  • All team members must be citizens of Five Eyes or NATO countries, or permanent Australian residents.
  • Applications must be submitted by the closing date.

What is eligible for funding?

Eligible activities:

  • Research and development of early-stage defence concepts.
  • Design and testing of innovative solutions aligned with the two innovation themes:
    • Persistent Situational Awareness: Enhancing capacity near critical infrastructure.
    • Emerging Technology: Creating asymmetric advantage for homeland defence.
  • Concept refinement based on pitches from Exercise Western Dawn 2025.
  • Collaboration activities between academia, industry, and Defence personnel.
  • Technology maturation from TRL 2 to at least TRL 3 or higher.

Eligible costs:

  • Project development costs over the 12-month period.
  • Cash and in-kind contributions from lead and collaborating institutions.
  • Research expenditure, including:
    • Personnel
    • Specialist resources
    • Infrastructure
    • Equipment
    • Approvals required for project delivery
  • Security and administrative costs related to project feasibility and delivery.

What companies are eligible for funding?

  • Organisations or individuals with an ABN, including WA‑based companies, trusts, or those collaborating with WA universities/partners.
  • Non-tax‑exempt entities.
  • Team must include a Western Dawn 2025 participant and an industry partner.

Is this grant competitive or entitlement based?

Competitive. Your application will be assessed among other applications by a judging panel.

How can I increase my chances of winning this grant?

By engaging an accredited government grants consultant, such as Avant Group.

Competitive grants often require significant business case development and project analysis to support the application, this may include detailed presentations supporting the project’s merit, projected sales, cost-benefit analysis and more.

As part of your engagement with Avant Group, your account manager will assess the required documents and will provide the following as needed to support your grant submission.

Grant application writeup including a detailed presentation illustrating how the grant funding will contribute to your project, how the funding will contribute to the project’s budget, a project milestone plan, delivery timeline, impact on employment if applicable and a breakdown of the management and leadership team for the project

  • Industry analysis presentation
  • Competitor Analysis Presentation
  • Marketing and Sales Analysis Presentation
  • 3-5 year Cashflow Forecast
  • 3-5 year Balance Sheet Forecast
  • Cost-Benefit Analysis of Grant Funding
  • End-to-end grant application including information collating, analysis and application writing
  • CAPEX (Capital Expenditure) cost-benefit analysis
  • Stakeholder relations and Risk Mitigation Plans
  • Any other relevant forecasting that will support your application

How can I get help with my application? Or know if I’m likely to win funding?

Avant Group offers a no-obligation assessment of your eligibility for funding and will assess your likelihood of a successful grant application.