The NSW Government has awarded over $1 million in grant funding to 11 NSW small businesses to develop solutions for seven challenges facing NSW through the NSW Small Business Innovation & Research (SBIR) program.
The successful businesses will each receive up to $100,000 to undertake three-month long feasibility studies into their proposed solutions in collaboration with the NSW Government.
The feasibility studies involve a range of innovative technologies such as real-time transcription and translation for health applications, non-invasive monitoring of human health, and novel ways to mitigate urban heat.
If successful, participating businesses will have the opportunity to apply for further funding to undertake a proof-of-concept in 2024. The NSW Government will consider procuring any successful solutions developed through the SBIR program.
“The SBIR program demonstrates that the NSW Government is committed to leveraging the innovative capabilities of NSW small businesses and growing local jobs and industry through the power of government procurement,” NSW Chief Scientist & Engineer Professor Hugh Durrant-Whyte said.
“The SBIR program showcases the best of NSW Government agencies driving innovation to improve the quality and efficacy of government services in NSW.”
The seven SBIR challenges are:
- Biosecurity Surveillance: seeking innovative technology solutions that leverage the power of smartphone-based surveillance to more accurately identify and validate threats to the biosecurity of primary industries and the environment in NSW.
- Cultural and Linguistic Diversity: seeking artificial intelligence-powered solutions to support the delivery of health services to Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) communities.
- Health Waste Stream Management: seeking innovative resource recovery technologies and waste management solutions.
- Non-Invasive Vital Sign Monitoring: seeking non-invasive technology solutions to monitor the vital health signs of inmates while in their cells.
- Recycled Content Verification: seeking a solution to trace and verify recycled material to help NSW Government agencies, private businesses and other organisations procure recycled products.
- School Zone Alerting System: seeking innovative solutions to improve the existing School Zones Alerting System and road safety around schools.
- Urban Heat Island Mitigation: seeking innovative solutions to mitigate urban heat island effects and improve the resilience to extreme heat events.
The proposed solutions were assessed and recommended by NSW Government agencies and the independent SBIR program Expert Panel, comprising leaders from the innovation, startup and technology commercialisation communities.
Details of the 11 successful small businesses and their feasibility studies are available on the SBIR program website
MEDIA
Bruce Ritchie | OCSE | 0429 412 426