Entrepreneurial Foundations for Defence (EFD+)

Build the foundations for successful commercialisation

Entrepreneurial Foundations for Defence (EFD+) is a core element in the Defence Trailblazer DINAMIC Program.

Designed to support researchers, innovators and emerging companies with products, services or technology that can provide a capability benefit to our Defence sector, EFD+ will help you understand what is required for success in the defence market.

This is a 12-week program delivered through a mixture of online and in-person sessions commencing mid-August 2026. Participants gain essential insights to build:

defence readiness,
technology readiness and
commercial readiness.

It provides access to expert mentors and technical specialists with extensive defence experience.

The program concludes with an opportunity for participants to showcase their innovation(s), in person, to relevant people within the defence market and the investment community. There will also be a $10,000 grant for each venture in the program to support travel to in-person sessions, and some early-stage business expenses.

There are limited places available and the application process is competitive. We are looking for innovative technologies with a compelling defence use case. There is a preference for technologies that are advanced to at least a prototype stage and have dual use and/or dual market potential.

APPLICATIONS OPEN SOON

APPLICATIONS CLOSE: 30 June 2026 at 5pm AEST

Hear more about participating venture UndaTech and their EFD experience:

Program features

Tailored bi-weekly lunchtime webinars

Presented by industry experts, the program includes webinars delivered twice a week that are tailored to address your specific technical, commercial and defence readiness needs

In-person sessions

Three in-person 2-day and 3-day sessions spread across the 12-week program that will bring the cohort together to develop core capability in areas such as technology development strategy, business model development and defence readiness

Dedicated mentorship

Regular meetings with expert mentors to guide and challenge you and keep you accountable. Mentors will be allocated according to your most pressing needs

Proto-Lab access

Access to a unique Proto-Lab network incorporating selected university and partner facilities, equipment and capabilities along with technical support

Defence-focused networks

Access to experienced defence and defence industry networks and the investment community

Socialise your innovation

A number of opportunities to socialise your innovation and business with those that can inform your commercialisation pathway: investors, collaborators, SMEs and primes

Connect with like-minded peers

Excellent opportunity to network with other highly motivated innovators and defence industry peers

I would highly recommend the Entrepreneurial Foundations for Defence program; especially for dual Defence and commercial go-to-market. The term sheet negotiation skills were invaluable. We’re meeting with the Department of Defence next week and collaborating with another participating venture from the program.

Martin Hamilton

Solalinx

Wholeheartedly recommend the Entrepreneurial Foundations for Defence program. The Tech Road Map was instrumental in helping us reassess our Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs). We're now in discussions with a company specialising in reactive substances testing, as well as a government agency. Through EFD, we’ve reconnected with previous Defence partners, opening new opportunities for collaboration.

Gerrard ‘Eddy’ Poinern

Frontier Materials Technologies

I personally appreciate being included and given the opportunity to present on the floor alongside everyone. It gave us a truly amazing platform.
Thank you for all the effort the team put in to produce what I thought was an impressive showing of novel Australian SMEs in defence.

Richard Urwin

Founder, Taipan Technologies

I am already recommending the Entrepreneurial Foundations for Defence program to everyone I talk to. The workshops helped us prepare our business for Defence engagement, and our connections with AUS and US Defence have significantly increased.

Sam ‘Bones’ Rathbone

Aquila

I would be highly likely to recommend the Entrepreneurial Foundations for Defence program for dual-case businesses. The program was run professionally and efficiently. We have a meeting scheduled with Defence’s clean energy transition team and strong interest from other Defence contacts.

Sylvia Tokic

Electro Base

I would be extremely likely to recommend the Entrepreneurial Foundations for Defence program. During the Canberra intensive, the term sheet negotiations and hearing Seitec’s experience were invaluable. Since the Canberra Showcase on August 1st, I’ve had meetings with a government agency and may be adopted into their innovative technology program. This course has been a game-changer.

Michael Turnbull

Privacy Seal

2026 Key dates

10 June: Applications open
30 June: Applications close
10 August: Final program details released
18 August: Orientation webinar
25 August: Kick-off webinar (online)
3 – 5 Sept: On-site session in Adelaide
6 – 7 Oct: On-site session in Sydney
10 – 12 Nov: On-site session in Canberra
12 Nov: Participant Showcase to Industry
12 Nov: Program concludes

Please note: the above dates may be subject to change.

Eligibility & additional information

Please note the following requirements for your application.

You are an Australian citizen or permanent resident
You have the necessary rights to commercialise the Intellectual Property associated with your research idea, innovation or technology
You are (or will be) eligible to apply for Australian Defence Industry Security Program (DISP) accreditation to a level appropriate to your proposal
You must not be precluded under the requirements of the Defence Policy for Industry Participation
A business entity resulting from this activity must be majority Australian-owned
Commitment to provide end-of-program financial reconciliation against eligible expenditure is required.