Watch these videos about Security & Defence PLuS Seed Grants

UNSW academics are driving collaborative security and defence research across the Indo-Pacific. 

Researchers from UNSW partnered with colleagues in the United States and the United Kingdom to address pressing security and defence challenges, from semiconductor supply chains and election security to great power rivalry and energy resilience. 

Supported through the Security & Defence PLuS Seed Grant Scheme, the eight projects — four trilateral and four bilateral — bring together scholars and practitioners from UNSW, Arizona State University and King’s College London. The Seed Grant Scheme is designed to enable early-stage collaboration, policy engagement and pathways to longer-term research impact. 

The academics reflect the breadth of UNSW’s expertise, spanning UNSW Sydney’s School of Social Sciences, School of Chemistry, Faculty of Law & Justice and Faculty of Engineering, as well as UNSW Canberra’s School of Systems & Computing and School of Humanities & Social Sciences. 

A new video series offers insight into each collaboration, with lead researchers explaining their work, its real-world relevance and how cross-border research partnerships strengthen collective security. 

Trilateral projects

Navigating Great Power Rivalry Under Conditions of Global Uncertainty

This project examines how small and middle powers respond to strategic pressure from larger states in an increasingly contested international system. 

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• Professor Samuel Greene, Professor of Russian Politics and Director of the Russia Institute, King’s College London
• Professor Keith Brown, School of Politics and Global Studies, Arizona State University
• Dr Alexander Korolev, School of Social Sciences, Faculty of Arts, Design & Architecture, UNSW

Fortifying Defence: A Strategic Blueprint for Trusted Semiconductor Supply Chains in AUKUS

This project explores vulnerabilities in global semiconductor supply chains and identifies opportunities to strengthen trusted access to critical technologies across AUKUS partners. 

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• Professor Harris Makatsoris, Professor of Sustainable Manufacturing Systems, King’s College London
• Professor John Fowler, Motorola Professor of International Management, W.P. Carey School of Business, Department of Supply Chain Management, Arizona State University
• Dr Ripon Chakrabortty, School of Systems & Computing, UNSW Canberra

Establishing Guidelines for Successful Collaboration Between the Space Industry and Indigenous Communities 

Focusing on the rapid growth of the space sector, this research develops guidelines for ethical consultation, resource sharing, and engagement with Indigenous communities affected by space activity. 

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• Dr Jeni Mitchell, Department of War Studies, King’s College London
• Dr Adam Fish, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, UNSW
• Amos Taylor, Faculty of Law & Justice, UNSW Sydney
• Dr Timiebi Aganaba, School for the Future of Innovation in Society, Arizona State University 

Strength and Energy Storage: Integrating Mechanical Defence Requirements into Next Generation Solid State Batteries

Bringing together expertise in materials science and engineering, this project advances solid-state battery technologies designed to meet defence operational demands in extreme environments. 

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• Dr Laura Lander, Department of Engineering, Faculty of Natural, Mathematical & Engineering Sciences, King’s College London
• Professor Neeraj Sharma, School of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, UNSW Sydney
• Professor Candace Chan, School for Engineering Matter, Transport and Energy, Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering, Arizona State University

Bilateral projects: UNSW and Arizona State University

Promoting Election Security: Regulating Foreign Electoral Interference in the US and Australia 

This project investigates how legal and policy measures can counter foreign interference in democratic elections, supporting resilient and secure electoral systems in both countries.

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• Scientia Professor Rosalind Dixon, Faculty of Law & Justice, UNSW Sydney
• Professor James Weinstein, Dan Cracchiolo Chair in Constitutional Law, Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law, Arizona State University

Intelligent Additive Manufacturing of Refractory Alloys via Reinforcement Learning

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Using AI and additive manufacturing, this project accelerates the design of high-temperature alloys with exceptional strength, enabling rapid production of materials for defence applications.

• Dr Vitor Vieira Rielli, Scientia Lecturer and Alcoa Research Fellow, Materials Science & Engineering, UNSW Sydney
• Associate Professor Houlong Zhuang, School for Engineering of Matter, Transport and Energy, Arizona State University

The Evolution and Impact of Public Opinion on Nuclear Policy in the Indo-Pacific

This project examines how public understanding and risk perception shape nuclear policy across Australia, Indonesia, Japan and the United States, informing policy development and public engagement.

• Professor Minako Sakai, School of Humanities & Social Sciences, UNSW Canberra
• Professor Itty Abraham, College of Global Futures, School for the Future of Innovation in Society, Arizona State University

Enhancing AUKUS Cognitive Security in the Indo-Pacific: An AI-Powered Narrative Defence Approach 

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This project develops advanced AI methods to simulate, forecast and counter misinformation narratives targeting alliances such as AUKUS, helping to build cognitive resilience across the region.

• Dr Jiaojiao Jiang, School of Computer Science & Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, UNSW Sydney
• Professor Huan Liu, School of Computing and Augmented Intelligence, Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering, Arizona State University

The funded projects directly contribute to the ambitions of UNSW’s Progress for All strategy under Pillar 3 (convene across sectors and build networks locally and globally), Pillar 6 (accelerate the transition to a sustainable society and planet), Pillar 7 (advance economic and social prosperity), and Pillar 9 (strengthen societal resilience, security and cohesion). 

By investing in early-stage collaboration, the Seed Grant Scheme builds pathways to long-term research impact and policy engagement — advancing UNSW’s commitment to delivering positive impact on a global scale. 

Information on the 2026 Seed Grant Scheme will be shared when available. If you’re interested in finding out more about partnering or funding projects, please contact Security & Defence PLuS: securitydefence@plusalliance.org.