WA Collaborative Research Grant (CRG) – Round 7

Purpose and Program Overview

The WA Collaborative Research Grant (CRG) – Round 7 is a competitive funding initiative co-funded by the Western Australian Government and the Defence Science and Technology Group (DSTG). It aims to foster collaboration between WA-based industry and academic institutions to advance technologies relevant to Australia’s defence sector and national strategic priorities.

The 2025 program theme is “Trusted Autonomy in All Domains”, focusing on the development of AI-enabled autonomous systems that operate reliably across machine-human and machine-machine interfaces. The grant seeks to enhance defence capability, innovation in autonomous systems, and cross-sector collaboration between research and industry.

Each project may request up to $200,000 in funding, with projects expected to run for 12 to 18 months. While co-contributions are not mandatory, applications demonstrating financial or in-kind support from partners will be viewed more favourably during evaluation.

Key Grant Details

• Grant amount: Up to $200,000 per project
  
• Applications close: 21 November 2025
  
• Eligible entities: WA-based industry partners and DSC member universities
  
• Co-contribution: Not required, but advantageous
  
• Funding body: Western Australian Government and Defence Science and Technology Group (DSTG)
  
• Project duration: 12–18 months
  
• Location: Western Australia
  

Priority Sectors

• Defence and advanced manufacturing
  
• Artificial intelligence and autonomous systems
  
• Cybersecurity and secure communications
  
• Aerospace, space, and robotics technologies
  

Funding Scope

• Funding per project: Up to $200,000
  
• Project duration: 12–18 months
  
• Focus area: Advancing technology readiness levels (TRL 2–5)
  
• Expected outcomes:
  
  • Delivery of innovative autonomous system solutions
    
  • Strengthened academia–industry collaboration
    
  • Enhanced defence capabilities across land, sea, air, space, and cyber domains
    

Eligibility Criteria

• Lead applicant must be a Defence Science Centre (DSC) member university
  
• Must include at least one WA-based industry partner
  
• Industry partner must hold an ABN and be based in WA (or collaborate with a WA-based entity)
  
• Participants must be citizens or permanent residents of Five Eyes or NATO countries
  
• Projects must start at TRL 2 and aim to increase by at least one level
  
• Individual researchers may participate in only one application
  

Eligible Activities and Expenses

Funding may cover:

• Research and development costs
  
• Personnel and technical support
  
• Equipment, materials, and technology development
  
• Travel and collaboration costs
  
• Activities aligned with 2025 theme, including:
  
  • AI and machine learning for autonomous systems
    
  • Sensor fusion and intelligent sensing
    
  • Human-machine teaming and adaptive autonomy
    
  • Secure communications and cyber resilience
    
  • DevSecOps and secure system development
    

Assessment Process

• Type: Competitive
  
• Assessment criteria:
  
  • Alignment with 2025 theme and defence priorities
    
  • Project innovation and technological advancement
    
  • Strength of collaboration between partners
    
  • Potential to enhance defence capability and commercial outcomes
    
  • Value for money and feasibility of delivery
    

Recent Program Updates

• Round 7 applications are open until 21 November 2025
  
• Theme updated to “Trusted Autonomy in All Domains”
  
• Broader inclusion of machine-human and machine-machine interface projects
  
• Reinforced focus on TRL advancement and applied defence research
  

Application Tips

• Review the eligibility criteria carefully before preparing your proposal
  
• Align your project outcomes with the 2025 Trusted Autonomy theme
  
• Include strong evidence of collaboration and project co-contribution
  
• Clearly define commercialisation or defence transition pathways
  
• Prepare supporting materials such as:
  
  • Detailed project plan and milestones
    
  • Budget and cost–benefit analysis
    
  • Team capability and leadership profiles
    
  • Risk mitigation and stakeholder engagement plans
    

Where to Get Help

Consider consulting a grant specialist for a personalised eligibility assessment and expert assistance in preparing a strong, compliant, and competitive application. Contact Pattens Group today, and we will connect you with Australia’s best grant specialists — boasting over 35 years of experience and a 100% success rate. For official guidelines and application templates, visit the WA Government’s official CRG page.