07/09/2025 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 07/09/2025 06:29
King's, ASU and UNSW are partners in the PLuS Alliance, a collaboration aimed at solving global challenges. The PLuS Alliance offers an annual Security & Defence PLuS Seed Grant Scheme specifically designed to advance practical, policy-relevant solutions to pressing security and defence needs, including - but not limited to - priorities for AUKUS (the security alliance between Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States.)
Following a competitive application process, eight innovative research collaborations have been funded, four of which are co-led by King's academics. The selected projects span critical areas; from space to artificial intelligence, supply chains and great power competition.
The projects
Funded teams will meet in person to progress their research, co-develop a white paper for submission to government and defence stakeholders, and generate broader impact through public engagement.
Dr Jeni Mitchell, of the Department of War Studies, explained how the funding will specifically help her team's aims:
The longer-term aim of the seed grant scheme is to serve as a launchpad for sustained collaboration. After the initial seed funding, if strong early progress is acknowledged it can lead to further "Stage II" investment beyond the first year. For example, from last year's scheme, three projects co-led by King's academics have been awarded funding into 2025 to deepen and expand their collaborative work.
Stage II Trilateral Projects
About Security & Defence PLuS
S&D PLuS is the flagship programme of the PLuS Alliance - a global partnership which combines the strength of three leading research universities on three continents - King's, ASU and UNSW - to solve global challenges. S&D PLuS deepens this alliance, advancing research, education and policy to support statecraft in the spirit of the 2021 AUKUS trilateral agreement.