FAQ

The Natural Hazards Technology Program (NHTP) is an initiative of the NSW Government to accelerate technology innovation and adoption to better prepare for and respond to natural hazards by trialling field-ready technology with end-user NSW agencies. It builds on the success of the Bushfire Technology Pilots Program and expands the remit to provide tangible assistance in overcoming challenges from natural hazards.

The program is designed to:

• find technology solutions to challenges faced by NSW agencies in the management of natural hazards
• support innovative NSW businesses to field-test their technologies with NSW agencies to:

• refine and improve their product for market
• build relationships with NSW agencies to increase opportunities for future collaborations

• build and improve NSW Government awareness of innovation possibilities in natural hazards management and operations through exposure to new technology.

The program involves NSW agencies posing challenges to address current gaps in responding to, managing, and recovering from natural hazards. There is also a ‘big ideas’ stream where companies can propose innovative technologies for trialling to help identify future technology capabilities. The Program challenge statements are at www.chiefscientist.nsw.gov.au/natural-hazards-technology-program.

The NHTP assessment is based on a two-stage process:

Stage 1 – Eligibility assessment:

The Office of the NSW Chief Scientist & Engineer (OCSE) will conduct an initial eligibility screening for all applications according to the published eligibility criteria in the Program Guidelines. Only applications which meet all eligibility criteria will progress to assessment against the assessment criteria.

Stage 2 – Assessment of eligible applications:

A Panel will assess eligible applications on their merits against other eligible applications before recommending which applications should be awarded grant funding. The membership of the Panel will be determined by OCSE in its sole discretion and will include representatives from the end-user NSW agencies (for example,  NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS), State Emergency Services (SES), Fire & Rescue NSW, Department Planning & Environment, Telco Authority, and the Forestry Corporation); independent experts with business, and technology innovation and commercialisation experience; and an independent Assessor from OCSE not be involved in the grant delivery. The Panel will be chaired by OCSE.

The Program provides up to $250,000 in funding for companies to field-test their technology solutions over a 12-month period with partnering NSW agencies.

The potential partner agencies include RFS, SES, NSW Fire and Rescue, NSW Forestry Corp, Reconstruction Authority, NSW Telco Authority, Transport for NSW, Department of Planning and Environment and the Department of Customer Service.

The NSW Government will enter into a funding agreement with each successful company. The funding agreement will lay out the eligible expenditure, which will include direct costs of the project and eligible labour expenditure. The lead company will be responsible for distributing the funding to any partners or contractors in accordance with the proposal and funding agreement.

If you are successful, the funding amount will be provided to your organisation in a single payment, following the execution of a funding deed between you and the Department of Enterprise, Investment and Trade.

To be eligible for the Program applicants must:

• have an Australian Business Number (ABN)
• be non-tax exempt
• have an account with an Australian financial institution
• be headquartered in NSW
• hold the Intellectual Property or the rights to commercialise the technology
• demonstrate the technology is ready to be trialled
• demonstrate any funding from the NSW Physical Sciences Fund (PSF), Small Business Innovation and Research (SBIR) Program and other NSW or other state or federal government grant programs does not duplicate activities requested under the Program.

and be one of the following entity types:

• a company incorporated under the Corporations Act (including a company limited by guarantee)
• an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Corporation registered under the Corporations (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) Act 2006
• a NSW public research organisation applying through its appropriate technology transfer office or the Chief Executive Officer (or equivalent) of the research organisation that will become a separate entity before entering into a legally binding funding agreement with DEIT.
• an individual who agrees to form such an entity so that DEIT can enter into a legally binding funding agreement.

You are not eligible to apply for the Program if you are:

• insolvent
• an individual
• a partnership
• an unincorporated association
• a Commonwealth, state, territory or local government agency or body excluding government corporate entities.

OCSE, at its sole discretion, may decide that an application is ineligible for funding. This may include any person or business activity that could cause reputational and/or other risks to the NSW Government.

The NHTP program is focused on supporting innovative technologies and services that:

• Offer technology solutions to challenges faced by NSW agencies in the management of natural hazards
• Allow NSW businesses field-test their innovative technologies with agencies in an operational environment to help identify future technology capabilities.

Solutions may include physical systems but also software applications and processes.

For a grant activity to be eligible it must directly relate to the project and can include:

Applicants submit the following via SmartyGrants:

(a) An application, answering all questions in full and within the word limit

(b) A video presentation no longer than five minutes

(c) Profit-and-loss statements from the last two years

(d) Balance sheets from the last two years

(e) A project budget

(f) Evidence of required insurances.

OCSE will confirm that applications meet the eligibility criteria.

Eligible applications will be assessed by both the NSW Government agency that proposed the challenge and an independent panel of experts (Expert Panel) with experience in business development, commercialisation, venture capital and entrepreneurship.

OCSE will notify all applicants of the outcome of the assessment process.

OCSE will execute funding agreements with successful applicants.

All applicants will be informed of the outcome of their application.

A good application will demonstrate:

• an innovative bushfire device or system that aims to solve a well-defined problem
• the potential to deliver significant economic, social and/or environmental benefit to NSW
• the bushfire device or system has a strong technological and scientific basis and has a prototype or proof-of-concept already completed
• the applicant has a strong competitive advantage
• a clear commercialisation pathway
• strong engagement with the NSW agencies/target market
• that substantial project activity will be based in NSW
• the project team and external partnerships will provide appropriate technological and/or scientific, business, and commercial expertise
• a clear need for funding and targeted application of funding.

Applications will be evaluated against the following assessment criteria, which weighted:

Solution (30 points)

(a) Suitability of the proposed solution

(b) Technical and trial readiness

(c) Level of innovation.

Delivery (30 points)

(a) Skills and experience

(b) Resources

(c) Project Plan.

Commercial (20 points)

(a) Commercialisation Plan

(b) Financial Resources.

Yes, you can apply if you already have received funding from another source(s).

However, you should clearly demonstrate in your application that any funding from the NSW Physical Sciences Fund (PSF), Small Business Innovation and Research (SBIR) Program and other NSW or other state or federal government grant programs does not duplicate activities requested under the NTHP program.

To be "headquartered in New South Wales" means that a company, organisation or entity has its main office or administrative centre located within the state of New South Wales, Australia. This indicates that the primary decision-making, executive and administrative functions of the entity are based in NSW.

OCSE will check other resources or databases, such as the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) register or state government business registries to verify that the company, organisation or entity’s registered office address is in NSW.