What is the DIN Internship Program?
The DIN Internship program is designed to foster partnerships between industry, DSTG, and universities by placing science and engineering PhD students on industry-focused projects for a period of three months. DIN will provide several competitive $20,000 stipends to eligible students.
Who can participate?
Australian companies, including small-to-medium enterprises, defence primes, and the Defence and Science Technology Group or other Government agencies, are eligible to participate in the program.
To be eligible, a company must:
- Have an Australian Business Number and operate in a relevant area
- Be based in New South Wales or the ACT, or have the capability to host the internship remotely
- Submit a project proposal that is defence-relevant or aligned with current defence priorities
- Be able to supervise and mentor an intern for three months
What are the responsibilities of host companies?
-
Develop a clearly defined research project
-
Participate in the DIN-organised “Speed-Dating” event to identify a suitable intern
-
Host, mentor, and support the professional development of the PhD student throughout the internship
-
Submit a brief final report outlining the outcomes and impact of the internship
How to apply?
Companies should submit their application to info@defenceinnovationetwork.com by 31 July 2025.
The application template is available for download here.
What are the next steps?
-
Proposal Review: DIN will assess all submitted project proposals. Selected internships will be promoted via DIN’s communication channels and circulated across partner universities.
-
Candidate Matching: Internship hosts will receive a list of suitable PhD candidates and will be asked to shortlist applicants for interviews.
-
Internship Offers: DIN will extend offers to successful students on behalf of the host organisations. Once accepted, an internship agreement will be signed by the company, the student, and the student’s university.
-
Internship Commencement: After the agreement is in place, the internship can begin on a mutually agreed start date. DIN will transfer the top-up scholarship to the student’s academic supervisor, who will facilitate the payment to the student.
FAQ
Can DSTG participate in the internship program?
Yes, DSTG is considered an eligible partner to participate in this round of internships.
What is the Intellectual Property (IP) arrangement?
Project IP created during the internship will stay with the company. Both the student and the university will assign the IP to the company. A host organisation may request a student to sign an non-disclosure agreement on request.
What are the rules around publishing and confidentiality of the projects?
Non-disclosure agreements can be organised between an internship host and a university. All parties need to approve the dissemination of information related to the project before any work may be disseminated.
How much will it cost us to participate in the DIN Internship Program?
A company doesn’t pay any fee to participate in this program. Your contribution will be time spent on student’s mentoring.
Our Partner Universities
