Maitri Grants

The Centre is seeking to fund projects that will:

• drive new areas of business engagement between Australia and India in sectors outlined in A New Roadmap for Australia's Economic Engagement with India, including the four superhighways of growth and other key priorities:
  
  • clean energy to further advance and deliver supply chain resilience
  • utilising education and skills to support research into new avenues for industry collaboration and opportunities to commercialise Australia’s technical capability with India
  • identify and provide education and opportunities for businesses without mature existing channels for market access, including SMEs and First Nations businesses
  • agri-tech to further leverage the benefits of our economic cooperation under the Australia-India Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (ECTA)
  • initiatives that will enhance uptake of tourism
  • activities that support sports collaboration to generate economic engagement, including leveraging Australia’s experience in delivering Commonwealth and Olympic Games.
     
• and further deliver high impact cultural, and people to people projects, activities and exchanges that may:
  
  • build India capability at major Australian cultural institutions to improve mainstream understanding of India
  • leverage/raise awareness of the Audiovisual Co-production agreement
  • harness diaspora influence to promote the Australian Indian relationship, including the Indian economic opportunity 

All applications to the Maitri Grant Program must demonstrate their alignment to four key selection criteria: 

• How will the project contribute to the intended objectives and outcomes of this opportunity?
• How effective and efficient will the applicant be in delivering the grant?
• How will the activity’s impact be maximised and deliver sustainable outcomes beyond Maitri funding?
• How innovative is the project?

In addition to the selection criteria, applications will be compared against each other to assess value for money and ensure diversity in the spread of projects. 

Applications may be submitted by one entity or a consortium of partners. Applications may be submitted by businesses, non-governmental organisations, academic institutions, or other entities.   

Applicant organisations can originate from any country; however, they must be able to operate in Australia.  

Applicant organisations need to be able to meet the requirements of DFAT’s due diligence process, including: 

• ABN registration with a business or other recognised registration/accreditation body
• Not listed on sanctions lists, including those published by the Australian Government, the World Bank, Asian Development Bank, African Development Bank, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, or the Inter-American Development Bank.
• Other background criminal and reputational checks. 

The below dates are indicative only and subject to change. 

• 16 September 2025: Applications open.
• 04 November 2025: Deadline for submission of concept notes at 5:00pm AEDT.
• December 2025/January 2026: Successful proposals are selected and proceed to due diligence and contracting.
• April 2026: Implementation begins. 

Please apply via SmartGrants by clicking the following link:  2025-26 Maitri Grant Program

The Grant Guidelines can be viewed by clicking on the Download link below.

Email us at MaitriGrants@dfat.gov.au with any questions. 

Further details coming soon.