JMI Policy Challenge Grant program

Applications for the 2025 grant round are now open

About the program

The James Martin Institute‘s Policy Challenge Grant program is a prestigious annual award to support applied public policy research for the public good.
The 2025 application round is open from 12 March – 2 May 2025.

With the aim of tackling the greatest public policy challenges facing New South Wales and wider Australia, grants will be awarded to outstanding academics undertaking applied policy research, or translating existing research for a policy audience.

Successful projects will generate new insights, foster engagement between academics, policymakers and other stakeholders, including local communities, and support improved policy outcomes.

The JMI Policy Challenge Grant program is unique: JMI will offer dedicated support to grant recipients to communicate their research outputs to a policy audience and maximise the impact of their research through targeted engagement with policymakers.

Key benefits

Receive research funding

You can apply for a grant of between $25,000-$100,000.
The total funding pool in 2025 is up to $600,000.

Foster policy innovation

We support applied research that has strong potential to catalyse policy innovation in NSW and beyond.

Maximise impact

We help you maximise the impact of your research through targeted communications and engagement, and targeted dissemination through policy channels.

Who can apply?

We welcome applications from academics employed by the following JMI partners:

Program details

  • Career stage: Academics at all career stages
  • Type of research: Applied public policy research
  • Disciplines: All
  • Eligibility: Lead researcher must be employed by the University of Sydney, Western Sydney University, the University of Technology Sydney, the University of New South Wales, or the University of Wollongong 
  • Funding pool: $600,000
  • Funding amount: Applicants can apply for $25,000-$100,000
  • Type of funding: direct research costs only
  • Duration: Projects must be delivered within two years

For more information, download the Applicant Guidelines.

The JMI Policy Challenge Grant focuses on the policy challenges facing the NSW Government. Each year we identify key themes that are a particular priority for government at the time. In 2025, grants will be awarded for projects focusing on major policy challenges facing NSW under the following themes, where the proposed research has strong potential to  generate public value for the benefit of the people of NSW:

1. Accelerating the energy transition

We are interested in identifying policy opportunities to drive energy transition and related industry development, including fostering increased demand for technology and innovation.

2. Advancing models for early intervention

We are interested in identifying specific approaches and scalable models for early intervention, including in health (particularly aged care) and education (particularly early years).

3. Driving manufacturing and productivity

We are interested in identifying policy opportunities to drive enhanced manufacturing capability, productivity, economic diversity, and innovation to 2050.

Proposed projects may address more than one of these themes.

Proposed projects may address more than one of these themes. Projects bringing a First Nations focus on any of these themes will be of particular interest. The Institute highly values First Nations perspectives and is keenly interested in the impact of public policies on First Nations Australians. In that light, the Institute particularly welcomes applications from First Nations researchers. Projects bringing a focus on under-represented minorities in relation to any of these themes will also be of strong interest.

We welcome applications from academics from JMI’s partner universities:

  • University of Sydney
  • Western Sydney University
  • University of Technology Sydney
  • The University of New South Wales
  • The University of Wollongong

Who can apply:

  • Individual academics or project teams (in the case of a team, the lead researcher must be substantively employed by a JMI partner university).

  • Academics at all career stages, including early career researchers.

    Across all policy domains, the Institute highly values First Nations perspectives and is keenly interested in the impact of public policies on First Nations Australians. The Institute therefore particularly welcomes applications from First Nations researchers.

    The Institute is interested in supporting early career researchers seeking to make an impact on public policy, including in key leadership roles on project teams. The Institute will seek to award at least one grant to a team led by an early career researcher.

Successful recipients must agree to the following requirements:

  • Publication of a JMI Policy Insights Paper: This is a JMI-branded report, of approximately 10-15 pages, which captures the key insights from your research for a policy-focused audience. It must be accessible to a non-academic audience. The report will be signed off, published on the JMI website and shared with relevant policymakers and other stakeholders. It will be published under a Creative Commons licence. JMI will provide support to grant recipients to develop, edit and proofread their paper, and ensure it reaches relevant policy audiences.
  • Participation in research communications: As this is an applied policy grant with a focus on generating public value, it is vital that research insights are effectively communicated to policy audiences. All grant recipients must participate in research communications activities, with dedicated support from JMI. JMI will also host an event to announce grant recipients. For further information on possible research communications please see the Applicant Guidelines.
  • Maximum project timeframe: The project must be delivered within two years from the date the grant is awarded (contract signed).

In 2025, the overall funding pool is up to $600,000.

Each grant application must be between $25,000-$100,000.

Grant funding can be used for the direct costs of research.

Typical grant awards have fallen in the range of $50,000 – $80,000 with only a small number exceeding this range in circumstances where it was clearly justified.

For a detailed overview of the eligible project costs that the grant funding can cover, please see the Applicant Guidelines.

Desirable criteria

To view a list of desirable (but non-essential) criteria, please see the Applicant Guidelines.

Applications open: 12 March 2025, 9:00 AM
Applications close:  2 May 2025: 11:59 PM

Longlisted applicants will be notified they have been invited for interview in late May/ early June. Interviews will take place week commencing 9 June and week commencing 16 June.

Applicants that are not longlisted for interview will be informed in June.

Applicants selected for the final shortlist will be notified between 23 and 30 June and will need to submit additional documents by 11 July.

Shortlisted applicants will receive the final decision on their application at the end of August 2025.

Applications are submitted through the JMI Apply portal.

The Policy Challenge Grant has a three-stage application process, intended to limit the amount of time required from applicants.

This three-stage process, cumulatively, constitutes your JMI Policy Challenge Grant application.

  • Stage 1: Expressions of Interest (EOIs) – 12 March – 2 May 2025
  • Stage 2: Interviews – 9 June –  20 June 2025
  • Stage 3: Additional documents – 30 June – 11 July 2025

You can view and download the EOI questions.

For more details about each application stage, please see the Applicant Guidelines.

The independent JMI Research Advisory Group will review all applications that have progressed through to Stage 3 and will advise JMI’s Executive.

The JMI Board will approve the final allocation of grant awards.

Grants will be awarded in late August 2025.

Successful applicants will be notified via email, and contacted by the JMI team.

JMI will then work with the lead researcher to execute a JMI Policy Challenge Grant delivery agreement. Once signed, initial funding will be provided, and the project will commence. We will also expect project teams to draft a research communications plan, typically within a month of the delivery agreement being signed.

Applicant Guidelines 2025

Read our Applicant Guidelines for more detailed information about the application process, themes and the selection criteria.
Download

Last year’s grant winners

A new 'build-to-rent-to-own' model for 'generation rent'

Lead researcher: Caitlin McGee, University of Technology Sydney

Housing affordability and the teacher shortage: systemic implications

Lead researcher: Professor Scott Eacott, University of New South Wales

Generating affordable housing through community land trusts

Lead researcher: Professor Louise Crabtree-Hayes, Western Sydney University

 

Advancing the Net Zero energy transition through co-design

Lead researcher: Dr Simon Wright, Charles Sturt University

 

 

Bringing community voices into policy: renewables in the Hunter

Lead researcher: Associate Professor Amanda Tattersall, University of Sydney

Developing a place-based Childcare Stress Index

Lead researchers: Dr Angela Smith and Dr Jenna Condie
UNSW & Western Sydney University

Aboriginal-led justice solutions: strategies for reinvestment

Lead researcher: Associate Professor Fiona Allison, University of Technology Sydney

Integrating evidence on early intervention in government policy

Lead researcher: Associate Professor Alfredo Paloyo, University of Wollongong

Integrated policies for affordable and Net-Zero housing

Lead researcher: Dr Ehsan Noroozinejad, Western Sydney University

Contact us

Frequently asked questions

The James Martin Institute for Public Policy (JMI) established its Policy Challenge Grant in 2022. It is an annual program providing grants to outstanding academics interested in undertaking applied policy research or translating their existing research for a policy context and audience.

The JMI Policy Challenge Grant aims to:

    • Tackle the biggest public policy challenges through the generation and communication of new insights.
    • Foster engagement between academics and policymakers.
    • Support improved policy outcomes informed by applied public policy research.

The grant is unique: the Institute will offer dedicated support to grant recipients to translate their research outputs for a policy audience, and to maximise the impact of their research through targeted communications and engagement.


Individuals or project teams can apply for a JMI Policy Challenge grant. If applying as an individual, you must be substantively employed at one of JMI’s partner universities: the University of New South Wales, the University of Sydney, the University of Technology Sydney, Western Sydney University, and the University of Wollongong. If applying as a team, the lead researcher must be substantively employed at one of the partner universities listed above. Beyond the lead researcher, the project team can include members based at other universities as well as other entities such as relevant community organisations or the CSIRO.

Conjoint, adjunct or honorary appointments are not eligible to apply as lead researchers but can be named on a project team. Students are not eligible to apply as lead researcher but can be named on a project team.

Yes. In the EOI form, you will be asked to provide details of your lead researcher. Provided they are from a JMI partner university, you will be able to progress the application. For ease, we strongly encourage the lead researcher to submit the EOI and be the primary point of contact with the JMI team during the application process.

The JMI Policy Challenge Grant focuses on the policy challenges facing the NSW Government. Each year we identify key themes that are a particular priority for government at the time. In 2025, grants will be awarded for projects focusing on major policy challenges facing NSW under the following themes, where the proposed research has strong potential to  generate public value for the benefit of the people of NSW:

1. Accelerating the energy transition

We are interested in identifying policy opportunities to drive energy transition and related industry development, including fostering increased demand for technology and innovation.

2. Advancing models for early intervention

We are interested in identifying specific approaches and scalable models for early intervention, including in health (particularly aged care) and education (particularly early years).

3. Driving manufacturing and productivity

We are interested in identifying policy opportunities to drive enhanced manufacturing capability, productivity, economic diversity, and innovation to 2050.

Proposed projects may address more than one of these themes.

Proposed projects may address more than one of these themes. Projects bringing a First Nations focus on any of these themes will be of particular interest. The Institute highly values First Nations perspectives and is keenly interested in the impact of public policies on First Nations Australians. In that light, the Institute particularly welcomes applications from First Nations researchers. Projects bringing a focus on under-represented minorities in relation to any of these themes will also be of strong interest.

In 2025, the total amount of grant funding available is up to AUD 600,000.

The minimum amount awarded for a single grant is $25,000. The maximum amount awarded for a single grant is $100,000. The amount that you request as part of the grant application can be any amount between these limits.

Typical grant awards have fallen in the range of $50,000 – $80,000 with only a small number exceeding this range in circumstances where it was clearly justified.

Grant funding can only be used to cover the direct costs of the project. Eligible project costs that can be covered by the grant include: personnel, postdoctoral research associates and research assistants, technicians and laboratory attendants recruited to support the project; access to research and infrastructure facilities and technical workshop services; essential field research; expert third party services; equipment and consumables; dissemination of project research outputs and outreach activities; specialised computer equipment and software; travel costs essential to the project; web hosting and development workshops, survey costs, focus groups and conferences; data science and analysis costs; reasonable essential costs for academics who are carers or who themselves require care, where such costs are directly linked to the execution of grant project activities and these direct costs would not be covered by the home institution.

No. The grant does not cover teaching buy-out.

Yes. JMI encourages applications from projects led by early career researchers as well as project teams where early career researchers play a leadership role. JMI has funded several grant projects led by ECRs in previous rounds and in 2025, JMI will seek to award at least one grant to a team led by an early career researcher. JMI defines early career researchers as those who have been awarded their last postgraduate degree within the past five years or have been awarded their last postgraduate degree together with an allowable period of career interruptions (covering caring responsibilities; disability; disaster management and recovery; limited or no access to facilities and resources; medical conditions; non-research positions, not concurrent with research employment; parental leave; unemployment; primary carer of a dependent child (up to two years per child, inclusive of parental leave) and disruption due to international relocation (up to three months)) that would be commensurate with an award of their postgraduate degree within the past five years.

No. PhD students (or any other students) cannot apply for a grant as the lead researcher. However, students can be included as team members.

JMI has developed several resources to support applicants. These include:

When applying, explain and evidence how your proposed research links to a NSW Government priority and outline how your work could positively impact future policy and result in improved outcomes for the people of NSW. Avoid submitting lengthy attachments as the judging panel will not have time to read these and extract key points. Avoid jargon and remember that the judging panel may not have expertise in your specific research area.

The research conducted under a JMI grant and the required research outputs must be completed within two years of the grant being awarded (from the date the delivery contract is signed).

There are three core requirements or conditions for receiving a JMI grant: Publication of a JMI Policy Insights Paper, a commitment to communicating your insights to policy audiences and completion of the research project within two years.

Any academic outputs are at the discretion of the grant recipient(s) and are not a core requirement of the JMI grant. (Please refer to the question above for information on the grant’s core requirements or conditions). However, additional research outputs must be published after the JMI Policy Insights Paper.

JMI’s independent Research Advisory Group will review all applications that have progressed through to Stage 3 of the application process and will advise JMI on which applications should be prioritised for funding. The JMI Board approves the final allocation of grant awards.

JMI will only ask for a referee on a case-by-case basis when required.

As a condition of applying for a grant, you agree that JMI can retain the information you supply. JMI will not share any information you supply as part of the grant application with any third parties without your permission (except third parties that are part of the application assessment process). On the EOI form, you will also be asked if you consent to JMI sharing high-level details of your application with other potential funders such as philanthropists and government agencies.

All information and data supplied is stored with SurveyMonkey. Please refer to the SurveyMonkey Privacy Notice for detailed information.

Yes. JMI encourages and welcomes applications from researchers who have already secured other funding (or who intend to do so) to conduct their research. Any conditions or requirements attached to other funding sources must not conflict with the requirements and conditions of a JMI grant. You will be asked to provide details of any other existing or proposed funding sources as part of your application.

Yes. We encourage researchers without existing relationships to apply. JMI will work with successful grant recipients to support them to establish relevant connections during their research and in communicating their insights. It is crucial, however, that applicants demonstrate a clear commitment and feasible approach to engaging actively with NSW Government policymakers in their project. JMI’s focus on this is reflected throughout the application process, including in the selection criteria. Applicants will be asked to provide evidence of policymaker interest in their proposed project. This could include a letter of support from government, recommendations from a recent parliamentary inquiry or other relevant evidence to demonstrate interest in the research theme. Applicants can choose to provide evidence in the way that best supports their application. For more advice see JMI’s guide on how to present strong evidence of policymaker interest.

Yes. We encourage you to apply if your project tackles a policy challenge under one or more of the three identified themes for 2025:

1. Accelerating the energy transition

We are interested in identifying policy opportunities to drive energy transition and related industry development, including fostering increased demand for technology and innovation.

2. Advancing models for early intervention

We are interested in identifying specific approaches and scalable models for early intervention, including in health (particularly aged care) and education (particularly early years).

3. Driving manufacturing and productivity

We are interested in identifying policy opportunities to drive enhanced manufacturing capability, productivity, economic diversity, and innovation to 2050.

Proposed projects may address more than one of these themes.

JMI will support grant recipients to translate their insights to relevant policy audiences, through a variety of communications and engagement channels. Refer to the Applicant Guidelines for further details on the types of communications activities and the support that JMI will provide.

A formal partner of the NSW Government, JMI is a unique joint venture between government and leading Australian universities. Launched in 2021, we work closely with government ministers, departments, and other decision-makers to help address their most pressing policy priorities, enabling them to harness a wide range of expert advice. JMI is an independent, non-partisan policy institute with charitable status.

Our university partners are the University of Sydney, Western Sydney University, the University of Technology Sydney, the University of New South Wales, Charles Sturt University and the University of Wollongong.

 

It is the Institute’s broader mission to bring academic insights and expertise into public policymaking in NSW. The grant program encourages and directly supports research applicable to public policy challenges facing NSW.

To confirm:

  • The grant does not cover regular, existing salary costs.
  • The grant would, however, cover personnel costs for individuals who are hired to work specifically on the project e.g., the cost of a research associate hired to support the project or where a part-time employee increases their working hours to work on the project.

Project budgets should not apply GST. (We are aware that in some exceptional cases, arms-length research units or similar may not be exempt from GST; in such cases, GST should be added on top of the project budget amount.) In all circumstances, the proposed project budget amount should be exclusive of GST.

Our applicant guidelines state that grant funding can be used for the direct costs of research, including in relation to personnel (though not existing academic salary costs/teaching buyouts), research associates and expert third party services. If the funding falls within this scope, it would be permitted.

Yes. A pre-doc can be a named member of your proposed project team although that individual cannot apply as the lead researcher for the project.

No. Lead researchers must be substantively employed at one of JMI’s partner universities. Adjunct, conjoint or honorary appointments could be included in a project team.

Our main requirements are:

  • The lead researcher must be an employee at one of JMI’s five partner universities.
  • A grant application could be made by a professional services staff member applying as an individual or as the team leader – however, this would need to be carefully considered given the aims of the grant and the essential criteria.
  • Professional services staff could also be listed as team members in a team led by an academic/ researcher.

Yes. JMI has had positive experiences previously where grant applicants have partnered with or closely collaborated with not-for-profits (NFPs). We encourage this sort of partnership or collaboration, if it is likely to increase the policy impact of the proposed research. You could name an individual from the NFP as a project team member or simply commit to working closely with that NFP during the project. The lead researcher must be from one of JMI’s partner universities.