Maitri Grant Program 2025-26

Organisation Name:

Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT)

Application Deadline:

4 November 2025

About Organisation

The Maitri Grant Program is run by the Centre for Australia-India Relations, under Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT). The Centre, established in 2023, serves as Australia’s national platform to deepen ties with India through diverse sectors—business, culture, education, and research. Its mission is to foster connection and cooperation between the two countries via collaborative projects, knowledge exchange, and policy dialogue. Maitri (“friendship” in Sanskrit) builds on Australia’s strategic roadmap for economic engagement with India and seeks to strengthen people-to-people, institutional, educational, and commercial relationships. The program reflects Australian government priorities: boosting trade, innovation, STEM cooperation, cultural diplomacy, and diaspora engagement. Through grants, scholarships, fellowships, and cultural partnerships, the Maitri initiative aims not just to fund discrete projects, but to build long term mutual understanding, capability, and trust. Whether through academic research, business links, cultural expression, or diaspora participation, the Centre’s work under Maitri is about creating outcomes that benefit both nations in sustainable, scalable ways.

About the Grant

The Maitri Grant Program 2025-26 offers funding via several streams: Grants, Scholarships, and Fellowships. The grants portion supports projects that strengthen the Australia-India relationship in innovative ways—spanning business and trade, education, culture, policy dialogue, diaspora engagement, and clean energy, among other sectors. The Scholarships Program supports high-performing Indian PhD scholars in STEM-related fields to undertake research at Australian universities, aligned with priority sectors like clean energy, agribusiness, IT/technology, health, resources, and space. The Fellowships Program enables research exchanges, outward or inward fellowships, or two-way collaborations between Australian and Indian scholars or institutions. Funding is intended to underpin projects that are strategic, collaborative, and innovative, delivering sustainable impact, deepening linkages, and fostering mutual benefit. Applicants are expected to deliver robust outcomes beyond just the grant period—such as commercialisation, policy influence, cultural understanding, capacity building, and institutional linkages.

Who can Apply?

Grants: Businesses, NGOs, academic institutions or other entities (from any country) may apply, singly or as a consortium. Organisations must be able to operate in Australia and satisfy DFAT’s due diligence (e.g. ABN registration, no sanctions listing).
Scholarships: Australian universities (registered with TEQSA & CRICOS) nominate Indian citizens (not Australian citizens/residents) for PhD (HDR) research in STEM fields aligned with the roadmap priorities. Scholars must hold Indian citizenship, be new enrollees, maintain valid student visas (subclass 500), and follow responsible conduct of research requirements.
Fellowships: Organisations in Australia (with ABN, applicable registrations) may engage Fellows in policy, academia, or research roles. Fellowships can be inward (India-to-Australia), outward (Australia-to-India), or two-way. Fellows must meet certain professional experience thresholds (e.g. associate professor or equivalent), hold required visas, and commit to program obligations.

Certain entities are not eligible (e.g. individuals applying directly for grants in some streams, or organizations on disallowed lists). Co-contribution (cash or in-kind) improves chances.

How to Apply?

Applications are made through the SmartyGrants portal once the form opens. You must complete and submit the application form with required attachments including budget, timeline, risk management plan, letters of support, and details of the activity. Joint (consortium) applications must identify a lead organisation. Review and ensure your project aligns with the program’s strategic priorities. Submit by the stated deadline. Incomplete or late applications will be disqualified.

Application Deadline

Concept notes for the Maitri Grant Program are due 4 November 2025 at 5:00 PM ACT Local Time. Applications must be submitted by this time to be considered.