Govt launches innovation challenge for SMEs

The Department of Industry, Innovation and Science has launched the second round of its Business Research and Innovation Initiative pilot program, offering grants of up to $1.1 million for SMEs with innovative solutions to government challenges.

The two-stage grant process offers up to $100,000 to SMEs for a feasibility study for solutions to designated government problems.

SMEs conducting successful studies will be able to apply for a proof-of-concept grant of up to $1 million in the second phase of the challenge.

The second round of the program has total grant funding of $2 million for feasibility studies and $10 million for proof of concept.

The Minister for Industry, Science and Technology has approved five challenges for round two of the program.

This includes a challenge being organised by the Digital Transformation Agency tasking SMEs with finding ways to improve government capability to deliver innovative digital services.

The other challenges involve fast and secure digital identity verification for victims of domestic violence, the use of intelligent data to transform tourism service delivery, methods of managing the biosecurity of pests and contaminants on shipping containers, and automatic complex determinations for Australian government information.

Eligible businesses must be incorporated in Australia and have had an annual turnover of less than $20 million for each of the last three years.

Image credit: ©iStockphoto.com/pressureUA

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