The James Martin Institute for Public Policy (JMI) has opened the 2025 Policy Challenge Grant round to identify solutions to key public policy challenges in New South Wales (NSW) and beyond. Applications are open from 12 March to 2 May 2025.
The 2025 Grant Themes directly align with key aspects of NSW’s first Industry Policy as well as leading government strategies for early intervention. The themes of accelerating the energy transition and driving manufacturing and productivity are closely tied to efforts to bolster Australia’s industry base. Another key government-identified strategy, advancing early intervention models, aims to identify specific, scalable approaches in social policy, supporting broader government strategies to improve health and education outcomes.
Since the program’s inception in 2022, the Policy Challenge Grants have become a prestigious platform for applied public benefit research. The grants, totalling $1.5M to date, have supported over one hundred researchers across 22 diverse projects addressing a wide variety of policy priorities, including housing, the Net Zero transition, and digital technologies in the construction sector.
“This year’s Policy Challenge Grants are particularly significant as they directly address areas where research can help advance both NSW’s industry policies and critical early-intervention strategies,” said Professor Libby Hackett, CEO of JMI. “By focusing on the energy transition and boosting manufacturing and productivity, we aim to support solutions that will drive economic growth and sustainability.”
“Simultaneously, advancing models for early intervention ties directly to government strategies in health, education, and social services,” Professor Hackett said. “It continues to be a priority for all major, advanced economies to develop and apply evidence-based interventions for prevention, supporting long-term economic and societal benefits.”
The grants are available to researchers from the following JMI university partners: University of Sydney, Western Sydney University, University of Technology Sydney, University of New South Wales and University of Wollongong.
Successful projects will generate valuable new insights, foster collaboration between researchers, policymakers, and industry, and contribute to more effective policy outcomes that align with the government’s strategic priorities.
Click here to learn more about this year’s grant round.
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