Programs

Programs

The Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI) is an independent, non-partisan think tank dedicated to advancing Australia’s strategic and defense policy agenda. Through its diverse programs—spanning cyber security, national defense, regional security, and more—ASPI brings together leading researchers, policymakers, industry experts, and the broader public to deliver rigorous analysis, informed debate, and actionable recommendations. By producing high-quality publications, convening influential forums, and engaging with stakeholders at every level, ASPI’s programs empower decision-makers with the insights needed to address emerging global challenges, foster innovation in security and defense, and uphold Australia’s strategic interests in a rapidly evolving world.

Defence Strategy Program

The Defence Strategy program focuses on broad strategic policy settings, global and regional security environments, the operational needs of the Australian Defence Force, the development of our defence capabilities, and issues associated with defence funding and budgets. Over the years ASPI has made nationally-recognised contributions in all those fields, and they remain central to ASPI’s work agenda even as it has expanded to embrace new programs and responsibilities.

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Cyber, Technology and Security Program

ASPI’s Cyber, Technology & Security analysts aim to inform and influence policy debates in the Indo-Pacific through original, rigorous and data-driven research.

CTS remains a leading voice in global debates on cyber, emerging and critical technologies, foreign interference and issues related to information operations and disinformation. Our work is agenda setting and focuses on the impact these issues have on broader strategic policy.

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Critical Technology Tracker

The Critical Tech Tracker covers 64 critical technologies spanning defence, space, energy, the environment, AI, biotech, robotics, cyber, computing, advanced materials and key quantum technology areas. It provides a leading indicator of a country’s research performance, strategic intent and potential future science and technology capability.

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National Security Program

ASPI’s National Security Programs provide a strategic framework for strengthening Australia’s security, resilience, and global positioning. These programs extend beyond traditional defence and intelligence domains, complementing ASPI’s Counterterrorism & Strategy (CTS) and Defence & Strategy (DEFSTRAT) programs by delivering a holistic, forward-looking approach to national security.

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Australian army soldiers from the 3rd Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment conduct weapons lessons on the F89 Minimi with Papua New Guinea Defence Force soldiers from the 2nd Battalion, Royal Pacific Island Regiment at Lavarack Barracks, Queensland, Defence image library, online. Internal images: Defence image library. Back cover image: Fiji Government/Facebook.

Counter Terrorism Policy Centre recent work

ASPI’s Counter-terrorism Policy Centre (CTPC) was established in 2015, to focus on counter-terrorism as an important element of Australian national security and strategic policy. Since its establishment, the CTPC has contributed to Australia’s public and policy counter-terrorism discourse. Alongside ongoing research, commentary and dialogue on the ‘classic’ counter-terrorism and CVE topics such as jihadism, the Centre focuses increasing attention also on (violent) contestations of democracy.

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Statecraft and intelligence Centre

The Statecraft & Intelligence program focuses on the increasingly important role of intelligence in the conduct of statecraft, particularly in an Australian context.

Research topics include intelligence history; the impact of popular culture on public understanding (and misunderstanding) of intelligence matters; emergent and emerging issues and challenges facing intelligence services internationally and in Australia; international comparisons and lessons; and the place of intelligence agencies (and their oversight and organisation) in democracies.

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Strategic Policing and Law Enforcement

The main research areas include:

  • analysing the link between law enforcement issues and national security concerns
  • the contribution of law enforcement agencies to Australia’s international objectives
  • the scope and nature of Australia’s and the region’s transnational serious and organised crime threat
  • research that helps law enforcement agencies position themselves for the future.
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Counter Terrorism Policy Centre recent work

The impacts of climate change are already being felt globally in record-setting extreme weather events that are contributing to poverty, hunger and humanitarian disasters.

The pace at which these and other climate impacts emerge is accelerating. The existing commitments States have made to reduce greenhouse gases are inadequate to prevent warming beyond the two-degree cap set in the Paris Climate Agreement. Even with additional reductions, the climate will continue warming for decades from the greenhouse gases already released to the atmosphere.

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Northern Australia Strategic Policy Centre

With the support of the NT Government, ASPI has established two programs of work under the auspices of its Northern Australia Strategic Policy Centre: The North and Australia’s Security and Nation-building in the North.

The programs provide a sustained research focus on nation-building and the security of Australia’s north. A critical element of this work is the exploration of the north’s critical role in contributing to the broader security of Australia.

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Pacific Program

Pacific island countries are some of Australia’s nearest neighbours and are critical to maintaining security in our near region. ASPI’s Pacific program evaluates key traditional and non-traditional security threats to the Pacific and develops practical, evidence-based policy recommendations to build resilience in Pacific island country security forces and democratic institutions. The program also contributes to increasing Australia’s understanding of Pacific security and development needs, partnerships, and threats through its publications and media engagement.

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Professional Development

If ASPI’s role is to generate new ideas for government and foster better-informed decisions on strategic policy matters, then the role of ASPI Professional Development is to enhance strategic policy capability by exploring current and emerging policy challenges and building effective policy making and strategic analytical skills.

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Women in Defence and Security Network

Established in October 2014, The Women in Defence and Security Network’s (WDSN) primary aim is to provide a forum to support the career development of women in the defence and security community in Australia, and to facilitate critical discussion around issues related to women’s participation and gender perspectives in the context of defence, national security and foreign policy.

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