How does the Bushfire & Natural Hazards Technology Network fit into the broader Bushfire Mission?
The Bushfire & Natural Hazards Technology Network provides the overarching coordination of the Bushfire Mission, forging connections and helping to coordinate and strengthen NSW’s research and industry strengths in bushfire and natural hazards technology to drive adoption of technology, accelerate solutions, and deliver better economic benefits in NSW. For example, it will actively funnel early-stage businesses to the BCF and field-ready technology to the BTPP.
What is the purpose of the Network?
The objective of the Network is to support a world-leading, mature, and collaborative bushfire and natural hazards technology sector, by actively fostering the commercial development and adoption of technologies and services in NSW to better prepare for future bushfires and natural hazards, protect first responders and communities, and provide economic benefit to NSW.
The Network will cover all phases of bushfire and natural hazards management: preparation, preparedness, response, and recovery and will leverage the skills, expertise, and networks in existing NSW innovation networks, such as the NSW Smart Sensing Network (NSSN), the NSW Bushfire and Natural Hazards Research Centre, or the Australian Government’s Natural Hazards Research Australia to maximise its impact.
The Network will have four key functions:
- Build trusted relationships between stakeholders for mutual gain
The Network will actively encourage and facilitate connections between researchers, businesses, end-user agencies, relevant industry associations, research centres and R&D networks to leverage existing expertise and activities to increase the economic impact and improve protection of our first responders and the community.
- Build capability and commercial pathways to scale for NSW businesses and researchers
It will actively facilitate introductions to help businesses or researchers build foundational commercial skills and determine market opportunities by connecting them to real-world experts that have the right experience, skills, and capabilities to tap into and learn from at key stages of their product development. The Network will also link businesses and researchers to programs that support their work, including the other programs under the Bushfire Response Mission and support companies access relevant test facilities.
- Provide market demand and intelligence services to NSW businesses and researchers
The Network will assess demand from the local/global end-use ‘customer’ and provide this information to NSW businesses and researchers. It will also offer a strategic and functional market intelligence capability to provide information on trends, competitor assessments and specific present and future business conditions to inform NSW technology businesses on emerging trends in the bushfire/natural hazards space and to help them to respond.
- Increase awareness and impact of NSW bushfire/natural hazards businesses and build global connections
The Network will host or facilitate well-curated events, showcases, demonstrations with end-user agencies, conferences, and meetings in NSW, Australia and internationally to increase awareness, connections, and impact. It will also actively connect to international stakeholders, networks, and groups to help identify export opportunities for NSW businesses and facilitate introductions.
How will it operate?
The Network will be delivered by a host organisation, or a consortium of organisations, with an organisational presence in NSW.
The host will be responsible for establishing the Network, appointing the Director to lead the operations, and providing administrative and strategic support in accordance with a funding agreement between the NSW Government and the organisation.
The Director will be critical to its success. Their role is commercial, and relationship focused as they will primarily be dealing with local and international bushfire/natural hazards technology businesses and researchers from start-up to mature businesses and engaging with, and representing, the sector.
How much money is available?
There is up to $5.2 million available to establish and run the Bushfire & Natural Hazards Technology Network. Funding will be paid in annual instalments of $1.3 million over four years, with the Network to run for at least six years. Annual payments will be linked to clear milestones and performance measures in the Deed of Agreement. Funding can be expended over four or more years to establish and deliver the Network.
The project must ensure all grant monies are used on activities undertaken to deliver the Network for the benefit of NSW citizens
What activities can the Network support?
| Key function of the Network | Types of eligible activities |
|---|---|
1. Build trusted relationships between stakeholders for mutual gain |
|
2. Build capability and commercial pathways to scale for NSW businesses and researchers |
|
3. Provide market demand and intelligence services to NSW businesses and researchers |
|
4. Increase awareness and impact of NSW bushfire/ natural hazards technology businesses and build global connections |
|
What can the funding be used for?
Funding for the Network can be used for:
- Salaries and access to external expertise that is directly related to delivery of the Network
- Hosting and managing events, workshops, and/or delivering showcases/ expos, and demonstration days
- Establishing an online presence, virtual networking platform and/or online directory services
- Challenges
- Practical support and expertise for businesses to apply for grants, innovation prizes and/or identify market opportunities, develop commercialisation strategies, or export plans, and conduct commercial feasibility studies
- Pilots or testing of bushfire technologies or services
- Economy travel and accommodation to conferences, workshops for businesses and/or Network staff in NSW, Australia or globally
- Economy travel, accommodation, and fees, where necessary, for businesses to access relevant test facilities in NSW, Australia or globally
- Conducting market and product assessments
- Specialist equipment and/or infrastructure necessary to deliver the vision and objectives of the Network
- Intellectual property protection or advice.
Who are the Network’s key stakeholders?
The Network’s key stakeholders include:
- NSW businesses involved in bushfire and natural hazards related technologies
- NSW researchers and research organisations involved in bushfire and natural hazards research
- Bushfire/natural hazards related networks, industry associations or groups in NSW, Australia and internationally
- Australian and international businesses, and organisations involved in technology and research in the bushfire and natural hazards space
- End users of bushfire/natural hazards technologies and fire and natural hazards response agencies in NSW, Australia and internationally
- Federal government organisations involved in bushfire and natural hazards research, management, and operations.
The Network will be expected to engage with stakeholders through meetings, private and public workshops, events, and conferences. The Network is expected to have productive working relationships with international stakeholders, undertaking necessary international meetings and travel to establish, manage and leverage those relationships, where possible.
The Network is expected to engage with any other relevant NSW, Australian, and international bushfire and natural hazards sector stakeholders or initiatives, to seek further funding and pursue opportunities to offer additional services and sector support for the benefit of NSW citizens.
What is the assessment process?
The assessment of applications will be led by the independent Assessment Panel, supported by the OCSE as Secretariat to the Bushfire & Natural Hazards Technology Network.
The independent Assessment Panel will assess eligible applications against the assessment criteria and will make recommendations about which proposal to fund, and the funding conditions.
Who is eligible to apply?
The Network will be delivered by a host organisation, or a consortium of organisations, with an organisational presence in NSW.
To be eligible, the organisation/s applying must:
- Have an Australian Business Number (ABN)
- Be financially viable and able to demonstrate they are likely to remain so over the duration of the project
- Be one of the following entities:
- A company, or
- An individual or partnership, provided you agree to form a company incorporated in Australia to enter into a legally binding grant agreement, or
- University, publicly funded research organisation (PFRO), or their collaborative entities, or
- Public sector organisation or other organisation, such as not-for-profit organisations.
- All single-entity applicants must have a presence in NSW. Joint (consortia) proposals will be highly regarded. If a proposal is consortium-based, the proposal lead must be headquartered in NSW
- Ineligible applicants include consortia or partnerships with businesses that are insolvent.
Not based in NSW?
The Network must be delivered by a host organisation, or a consortium of organisations, with an organisational presence in NSW. All single-entity applicants must have a presence in NSW, while for joint (consortia) proposals only the proposal lead must be headquartered in NSW.
Why the expansion to natural hazards?
In recognition that many technologies used for bushfires have broader application to other natural hazards, such as flooding, the Network will be established to support the commercial development of technologies and services for bushfires and natural hazards.
How will the Network work fit in with $200 million Flood Inquiry funding?
The Flood Inquiry aim to “ensure emergency services are better equipped to respond to future disaster events and support impacted communities during recovery” is complementary to the Bushfire & Natural Hazards Technology Network.
The Bushfire & Natural Hazards Technology Network will help coordinate and strengthen NSW’s research and industry strengths in bushfire and natural hazards technology to drive adoption of technology, accelerate solutions to better prepare for future bushfires and natural hazards, and protect first responders and communities.
Does the Network need a physical location?
It is not required that the Network has a permanent physical location, instead, a blend of virtual and physical space in NSW is sufficient, with some in-person time to develop relationships, and demonstrate technology.