Frequent Asked Questions
| No. | Question | Answer |
|---|---|---|
| 01 | What is the Aus4Innovation Program? | Aus4Innovation is a ten year (2018 – 2028), AUD 33.5 million flagship development program to realise the formal Australia and Vietnam Innovation Partnership. The program is designed to help strengthen Vietnam’s innovation system, so that the system is capable of responding to emerging challenges and opportunities and supporting inclusive and sustainable socio-economic development. Aus4Innovation is funded by Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs (DFAT), co-funded and managed by the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), and delivered in strategic partnership with Vietnam’s Ministry of Science and Technology (MoST). The program successfully completed its first phase in 2023, and after going through a ‘design refresh’, the program is now in its second phase, with a stronger focus on resilient agriculture and food and responsible digital transformation. More information about key activities and achievements of the program to date can be found here. |
| 02 | What is the Innovation Partnership Grant (Grant)? | The Grant is to provide targeted funds to scale already tested activities to address emerging challenges or opportunities across Vietnam’s Innovation System. Tested activities implies those with an existing proof of value and articulated market segment, or pathway to impact, and to be executed by an existing partnership between an Australian and Vietnamese entity. The Grant is not intended to support the creation of new partnerships or the testing of entirely new activities/ideas. Grants will be provided on a competitive basis. So far, Aus4Innovation has supported a total of 15 grant projects across four separate rounds in 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2024. These projects have delivered excellent results, introducing innovative solutions from Australia to address socio-economic challenges in Vietnam. More information about the grant projects can be found here (link to Grants). |
| 03 | How much money can I apply for? | Aus4Innovation program will provide between AUD 300,000 and AUD 700,000 per one Individual grant. In addition to financial support, this Grant will also be an opportunity for you to gain: • Practical experience of how an innovative solution can be applied and scaled in a different context; • Knowledge of the business, political and regulatory environments in Vietnam; • Awareness and understanding on social inclusion, social issues (such as climate change, gender etc.), and partnership skills; • An enhanced network through interacting with CSIRO, DFAT, Vietnam’s Ministry of Science and Technology, and other partners and grantees. |
| 04 | What kind of organization is eligible for the Grant? Do I have to be an NGO? A private company? Or a research institute? | All forms of entities – be it private, public sector, civil society organisations, social enterprise, university, research institute – from both countries are welcome to participate. To be eligible for the grant, there must be an existing partnership that includes at least one Vietnamese and one Australian organisation. |
| 05 | Must I be in a partnership with a Vietnamese (if I’m an Australian entity) or vice versa in order to be eligible to apply for the grant? | Yes, having an existing partnership between at least a Vietnamese and Australian entity is one of the conditions to be eligible for this grant. Do note that the existing partnership must predate the application – though it may previously have been created around a different activity. |
| 06 | Can I submit more than one grant application through participating in more than one partnership? | Yes, that is possible. |
| 07 | How can I apply? | As the first step, please submit your Expression of Interest (EOI) online here. Once your application is successfully submitted, an automated email will be sent to you to acknowledge the receipt of your application. If your EOI is shortlisted, you will be invited to submit a detailed proposal for evaluation. Applications, proposals, as well as all communications submitted during the process must be in English, with a version in Vietnamese as reference. You can email aus4innovation@csiro.au should you have any questions or need clarification during the application process. Responses will be available within seven (7) working days. Questions and responses will be shared publicly in the FAQ under Grant Round 5 for common knowledge among potential applicants. |
| 08 | What do you mean by innovation? | By general definition, innovation is the implementation of a new or significantly improved product (good or service), or process, a new marketing method, or a new organisational method in business practices, workplace organisation or external relations (OECD, 2005). In this Grant Round, the Aus4Innovation program is looking for innovations that are high-tech based, that help address climate change challenges in Vietnam’s agriculture sector. The innovation, to the minimum extent, should be able to present: • its novelty in term of applying technologies to tackle climate change • the complexity of technology it introduces • the compatibility to relevant systems in Vietnam (infrastructure, human resources, policy support etc). |
| 09 | What do you mean by “High-Tech”? | Under this Grant Round, Aus4Innovation is looking for innovations, based on the application and / or transfer of high technologies. The program adopts the definition of High Technology and related terms, such as High Technology Activities, High Technology products etc. from the Law on High Technologies. As a quick reference, some citations are as follows: High Technology means: • technology with a high content of scientific research and technological development; • integrated from modern scientific and technological achievements; • creates products with outstanding quality and features, high added value, friendly with the environment; • plays an important role in the formation of a new manufacturing or service industry or the modernization of an existing manufacturing or service industry. Hi-tech activity means hi-tech research, development, seeking, transfer and application; hi-tech human resource training; hi-tech incubation or hi-tech enterprise incubation; hi-tech production and hi-tech service provision; and hi-tech industrial development activities. Hi-tech product means a product turned out with high technology, which is environmentally friendly and has superior quality and utilities and high added value. |
| 10 | What do you mean by “Climate Change Challenges in the Agriculture Sector”? | Climate change means a change of climate which is attributed directly or indirectly to human activity that alters the composition of the global atmosphere, and which is in addition to natural climate variability observed over comparable time periods. Vietnam is among the countries most affected by climate change[1], and the related challenges are not confined to any specific region in the country. While agriculture plays a significant role in the Vietnamese economy, it faces numerous climate change challenges that requires breakthrough solutions. Some challenges to note are, but not limited to: Decreasing productivity in the agricultural production and processing, due to rising temperatures, erratic rainfall, extreme weather events, disease outbreaks, post-harvest losses, or agricultural waste. Decreasing efficiency and availability of key agricultural inputs, such as soil, water, fertilisers, pesticides etc. under conditions of prolonged drought, flooding, and land degradation. Limited adoption and commercialisation of digital solutions that could potentially optimise agricultural processes, reduce emissions and/or enhance climate adaptation. Lack of widespread climate-smart practices that hinder a seamless integration into global/regional supply chains. Increasing pressures on livestock systems due to climate change (e.g. heat stress on animals, water scarcity, increased disease risks, etc.) contributing to inefficient manure management and suboptimal feed and fodder management that hinder the promotion of sustainable livestock practices. Widening socio-economic disparities as climate change disproportionately affects disadvantaged groups – such as women, people with disabilities, ethnic minorities, or communities living in areas that are under-developed or climate-vulnerable areas. Applicants are encouraged to read the Guidelines and its Annex to learn more about climate change challenges. |
| 11 | How will the application be ranked / evaluated? | The application will be ranked /evaluated against six (6) core principles, including: • Maturity of the existing partnership; • Nature of the innovation itself; • Readiness of the innovation ideas / activities; • Relevance to Vietnam’s high tech agriculture plans • Level of engagement with the private sector; and • The social, economic, and environmental impacts that the ideas / activities could bring to people and society, while also promoting equitable access to opportunities, addressing the needs of marginalised groups, and ensuring that no one is left behind – thereby committing to inclusive development. Applicants are encouraged to, at a minimum, read the Guidelines for Applicants for the EOI process carefully as well as studying the links provided. |
| 12 | If I fail to apply by the closing date due to technical issue, can the deadline be extended? | Should you encounter a technical issue during the application process, you are advised to contact the Aus4Innovation program team immediately at aus4innovation@csiro.au. Our SmartyGrant technical team will provide you with a solution on a case by case basis. Unless decided by the Steering Committee due to specific circumstances or reasons, the closing date for submitting the EOI will not be extended. |
| 13 | Can I make changes to my application once it has been submitted? | Yes, you can. This can be done by uploading new versions and re-submitting the application on the required platform. Applicants are required to email to aus4innovation@csiro.au to notify the office of the resubmission of the application. All changes and re-submission must be done before the closing deadline. |
| 14 | What is the confidential policy applied to all the information I share in the application form? How can I guarantee the confidentiality of the provided information? | Applicants should be cognisant of their own need to retain security over actual or potential intellectual property rights. Submitted application data will be kept in strict confidence by DFAT, CSIRO, and Aus4Innovation reviewers. Personnel are bound by confidentiality, or non-disclosure agreements (NDA). Applications, however, might be reviewed by third-party members and their personnel might have the opportunity to access data. Aus4Innovation, DFAT and CSIRO cannot take responsibility for the loss of any information outside their direct control. Applicants are reminded to consider the above, prior to disclosing potentially sensitive information, and to seek professional legal advice. |
| 15 | If I have already applied in previous round – whether I failed or succeeded – can I apply again in this round? | You are welcome to submit your innovation idea in this round, no matter if you have applied in previous rounds, and your application was selected / not selected. |
