The Office of National Intelligence (ONI) is conducting an Expression of Interest (EOI) grant opportunity for the National Intelligence Explore Award (NIEA).

The National Intelligence Community (NIC) Research Program enables the Australian academic community to undertake competitive, unclassified research into NIC research priorities. The program supports peer-reviewed research that deepens understanding of emerging science, social science, engineering and technology. NIC innovation is facilitated through the creation of sovereign expertise, discovery of new insights and development of an R&D ecosystem to underpin emerging technological capability.

A NIEA (up to 12 available) provides up to $750k over three years to enable research into NIC research priorities and challenges. The NIEA will be awarded to early-mid career researchers partnering with experienced researchers and emerging PhD candidates. The NIEA will also enable the possibility for extension research.  Research proposals are invited to address an Intelligence Science and Technology Challenge or a NIC-defined Research Topic.