International Space Investment India Projects – Round 2

Purpose and Program Overview

The International Space Investment (ISI) India Projects Round 2 is an Australian Government grant program designed to support strategic space initiatives. The program focuses on building strong relationships with international partners within the Indian space sector, specifically the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). Funding is targeted toward collaborative projects, technical cooperation, commercial links, and international market positioning.

The total funding pool allocated for this round is AUD $2.69 million. The program aims to strengthen the Australian space industry’s overall capability by advancing collaborative commercial developments and technological research. By fostering these bilateral links, the grant assists Australian organisations in integrating into global space supply chains and accessing expanding international markets.

Key Grant Details

• Grant Amount: Up to AUD $2.69 million per project.
• Application Closing Date: March 16, 2026.
• Eligible Entities: Australian-incorporated entities and publicly funded research organisations.
• Required Co-contributions: None specified, as the grant covers up to 100% of eligible project costs.
• Location Applicability: Nationwide, targeting eligible organisations operating across all Australian states and territories.

Priority Sectors

The program explicitly targets the space technology and aerospace sectors. It focuses heavily on international collaboration with the Indian space sector to scale up advanced technical manufacturing, satellite operations, and space service capabilities.

Funding Scope

The program funds major, high-impact space initiatives with a single structured funding stream adhering to strict expenditure and time requirements:

• Funding Range: Projects must have a minimum eligible expenditure of AUD $1 million, scaling up to a maximum grant amount of AUD $2.69 million.
• Covered Costs: The grant covers up to 100% of eligible project expenses.
• Project Timeline: Funded activities are scheduled to commence by May 2026, with all project operations running through to a final completion deadline of December 31, 2027.

Eligibility Criteria

To qualify for funding under the ISI India Projects Round 2 program, applicants must meet the following baseline requirements:

• Legal Structure: The lead applicant must be an Australian-incorporated entity or a publicly funded research organisation.
• Geographic Expenditure: A minimum of 80% of the total project investment must be spent within Australia.
• Compliance Status: Applicants must meet all relevant regulatory compliance obligations, standard commercial insurance criteria, and active corporate standing.
• Taxation Status: Organisations must hold a valid Australian Business Number (ABN) and maintain proper registration for Goods and Services Tax (GST).

Eligible Activities and Expenses

The program is designed to support rapid innovation and commercialisation. Eligible funding categories include:

• Research and Development: Collaborative technical upgrades, joint prototyping, and hardware testing for deep space deployment.
• Technology Integration: Software design, data infrastructure integration, and systems engineering aligned with international space mission formats.
• Commercial and Linkage Expenses: International market positioning activities, market validation, and technical coordination tasks with Indian sector counterparts.

Assessment Process

The ISI India Projects Round 2 program is a competitive grant scheme. All applications face rigorous assessment by an independent panel based on core evaluation benchmarks:

• Project Merit: The level of innovation, technical feasibility, and commercial potential demonstrated by the space initiative.
• Strategic Alignment: The capacity of the project to advance international partnerships with ISRO and strengthen baseline Australian space industry capability.
• Value for Money: Evaluation of the comprehensive project budget, cost efficiency, and alignment of the projected milestones with the required funding.

Recent Program Updates

Round 2 introduces a sharp strategic focus on bilateral commercial ties between Australia and India’s rapidly expanding space sector. The current round emphasises full-funding options for high-value projects, raising the maximum funding threshold per project to match the entire program pool of AUD $2.69 million, provided the minimum expenditure floor of AUD $1 million is reached.

Application Tips

• Verify Spatial Spend Rules: Ensure the project budget clearly documents that at least 80% of the eligible funding will be deployed directly within Australia.
• Solidify International Ties: Provide clear evidence of technical communication or collaborative intent with partners inside the Indian space sector.
• Map to Core Domains: Align the proposal clearly with one of the primary target streams, such as Earth observation, space situational awareness, cybersecurity, space medicine, AI, or positioning systems.
• Demonstrate Capability: Provide definitive project management plans that showcase the technical capacity to deliver outcomes within the firm by December 31, 2027.

Where to Get Help

Consider consulting a grant specialist like Pattens Group for a personalised eligibility assessment and expert assistance in preparing a strong, compliant and competitive application. Contact us today and get connected with Australia’s best grant specialist, boasting over 35 years of experience in the industry and a 100% success rate. For official guidelines, application details, templates, and further information, visit the official website of the International Space Investment India Projects Round 2 and other associated Australian government websites.