Innovation Districts Challenge #3

Innovation Districts Challenge 3

 

 

The Innovation Districts Challenges are designed to accelerate the commercialisation of research products that address the impacts of COVID-19 by businesses in partnership with universities and CSIRO in NSW.

Challenge themes align with the NSW Government ‘Respond, Recover and Reform’ approach to COVID-19.

Challenge Three: Entrepreneurship

Closed

NSW Government calls for R&D solutions that strengthen the entrepreneurship capability of the State for a post-COVID-19 economy. These solutions must be scalable and research-based technology products or services.

Proposed projects could include:

  • Help sectors pivot to high growth technology solutions
  • Strengthen Australia’s sovereign capability and local supply chains
  • Implement a sustainable and novel solution to an area in need of reform, such as aged care, food security
  • Address the workforce gap created by international closures (students, reduced migration)
  • Champion Indigenous entrepreneurs.

 

IMPORTANT DATES:

EOI’s Opening Date – Tuesday 20th July 2021

EOI’s Closing Date -Thursday 2nd  September, 5pm

Innovation Districts

Innovation districts are locations where research institutions and companies cluster and connect with startups, business incubators and accelerators; and can network and accelerate commercialisation.

12 partner institutions have joined this project led by NSW Government, including 11 of the universities in NSW and CSIRO which form the Boosting Business Innovation Program network

Innovation district partners will identify businesses with connections within their area, either through research relationships or physical location, that have high potential products or services that address the challenge statement.

For more information please visits the NSW Government website

CLICK HERE

 

A Unique Innovation Arc of Collaboration

CSIRO is collaborating with two other Boosting Business Innovation organisations, Macquarie University and Western Sydney University, to deliver these challenges. This is the first time that the three organisations have worked collaboratively to deliver a State Government program to businesses. By doing so, they bring together an innovation arc that stretches across Sydney from the Northern Beaches, North Shore, North Western Sydney, arching out to Paramatta, Penrith Camden, Campbelltown and Liverpool.

After considering the submissions across our combined regions, nine outstanding businesses will move forward to stage 2.

 

 

Application Process

The application process of the Innovations Districts Challenge has two stages.

Stage 1.   Expression of Interest (EOI) and a Government Eligibility check. OPEN from 20th July 2021 through to 2nd September 2021.

Stage 2.   Full application (by invitation only)

To be eligible, businesses must have:

    • an ABN registered in NSW and be based in NSW,
    • fewer than 200 employees,
    • been trading for at least 12 months,
  • at least $75,000 in sales revenue or expenditure within the last 12 months or previous financial year,
  • a product or service (which may still be in development) that it intends to market within 12 months that directly addresses the health and wellbeing impact of COVID-19,
  • ownership that is at least 75 per cent Australian and is not more than 50 per cent owned by another business.

Businesses seeking to learn more should liaise with the innovation district partner, or contact the Global NSW Concierge at www.global.nsw.gov.au/contact-us.

Nominated businesses will be invited to complete the Stage Two Application form and provide the supporting material outlined.

All Stage Two applications will be submitted to NSW Government.

Businesses will provide:

  • completed Stage Two Application Form
  • budget and commercialisation plan
  • video presentation up to two minutes
  • declaration of conflicts of interest and description of any ethical or regulatory requirements to deliver the product or solution to a marketable state in NSW.