auDA unveils new Research and Development grants and announces 2024 Community Grant Program

auDA has today announced its new Research and Development (R&D) Grant Program, which will support large-scale research and development projects. auDA has also announced the return of its Community Grant Program for 2024.

auDA has today announced its new Research and Development (R&D) Grant Program, which will support large-scale research and development projects. auDA has also announced the return of its Community Grant Program for 2024.

The two grant programs form part of auDA’s Public Benefit Program, which provides funding to support innovation and research that unlocks positive social and economic value for Australians through the internet.

R&D Grant Program

auDA’s R&D Grant Program is a new initiative that will fund multi-year partnerships for projects that deliver impact through research and development in four key areas:

  • The role of the domain name system (DNS)
  • Governance of the internet (including the DNS)
  • Technical resilience of the DNS
  • Digital inclusion.

Up to two grants of between $300,000 and $500,000 per annum for three years are available to Australian university or research organisations registered with the Australian Charities and Not-for-Profit Commission (ACNC).

Community Grant Program

auDA’s 2024 Community Grant Program will continue to fund initiatives that promote digital inclusion and innovation to improve the utility of the internet across five priority groups:

  • Rural, regional and remote Australians
  • Australians living with a disability
  • Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
  • Older Australians (65 years+)
  • Young Australians (12-24 years).

The 2024 grant round will award $40,000 for each of 15 successful applicants. Not-for-profit organisations and research institutions registered with ACNC are eligible to apply.

auDA Public Benefit Program Committee Chair Sandra Davey said, “This is an important milestone showing auDA’s commitment to innovation for the internet. Today we announce auDA’s new R&D Grant Program and support another year of our successful Community Grant Program. I look forward to receiving applications for a range of community-led initiatives and multi-year partnerships that will deliver meaningful impact for communities Australia-wide.”

auDA CEO Rosemary Sinclair AM said, “auDA’s grant programs build on our critical role delivering the .au domain and championing an open, free, secure and global internet for the benefit of Australians. We recognise the vital importance of digital connectivity and are delighted to support this important mission through our Public Benefit Program.”

Further information on the two grant programs is available in the Notes section below.

ENDS

Notes

2024-25 R&D Grant Program

  • Submissions to the 2024 Research and Development program are now closed
  • Submissions opened on 30 September and closed 14 November 2024
  • Read the R&D Grant FAQs below and download the program guide.

R&D Grant FAQs

2024 Community Grant Program

  • Submissions to the 2024 Community Grant Program are now closed
  • Submissions opened on 19 August and closed on 12 September 2024
  • Applicants will be notified of the outcome in early December
  • Read the Community Grant FAQs below and download the program guidelines.

Community Grant FAQs

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