Help us solve government challenges

The Minister for Industry, Science and Technology approved the following 5 challenges for Round 2:

• Fast and secure digital identity verification for people experiencing family and domestic violence
• Intelligent data to transform tourism service delivery
• Uplifting government capability to help deliver world-leading digital services
• Managing the biosecurity of hitchhiking pests and contaminants on shipping containers
• Automating complex determinations for Australian Government information

Check our information session resources to find out more.

We ask for applications from eligible entities to undertake a feasibility study that responds to one of the current key government challenges.

The maximum grant for each feasibility study is $100,000 with a maximum period of 3 months. Each round has $2 million available for all feasibility studies.

If your study shows that your idea is feasible, you can apply to develop a proof of concept. Only applicants who complete feasibility studies can apply for proof of concept funding.

The maximum grant amount is $1 million with a maximum period of 18 months. For each round there is $10 million available for all proof of concepts.

Once you submit your application, we'll confirm your eligibility. If eligible we'll then give your submission to the agency to whose challenge you addressed. The agency will assess applications and rank them against merit criteria.

Innovation and Science Australia will then assess the applications, taking into account the assessment of the agencies, and recommend which projects to fund.

The Program Delegate will take the recommendations into account and decide which applications to fund, and we'll notify successful applicants.

Successful applicants then conduct their feasibility studies or develop their proof of concepts.

Merit criterion 1: Extent that your proposed solution meets the challenge (30 points).

Demonstrate this by identifying :

• how the proposed solution will meet the challenge
• how the proposed solution is different to what is already in the market
• the value for money including the social, environmental and economic benefit of the solution
• your feasibility study report

Merit criterion 2: Market opportunity of your proposed solution (30 points).

You should identify:

• the market’s need for the proposed solution within government
• the future commercial potential of the solution in domestic and/or international markets
• a commercialisation plan that includes the future commercial potential of the solution in domestic and/or international markets. 

Include in the plan:

• a clear set of objectives
• a clearly defined path to market
• the size of the target market and define the type of customer
• your intellectual property strategy
• your manufacturing strategy (where applicable)
• your financial plan
• your capacity and capability (or ability to access capability) to deliver on the commercialisation plan

Merit criterion 3: Capacity, capability and resources to deliver the project (40 points).

You should identify your:

• track record managing similar projects
• access to personnel with the right skills and experience
• access, or future access to, any infrastructure, capital equipment, technology and intellectual property
• project plan to manage and monitor the project and risks
• project budget

If your application is successful, you’ll receive a written offer. If you’re unsuccessful, we’ll notify you in writing and give you the chance to discuss the outcome.

Successful applicants must enter into a grant agreement with the Commonwealth. The grant agreement will specify the reporting requirements, payment schedule and milestones necessary to receive payments.

If you apply and are successful for a proof of concept grant, we’ll make payments according to an agreed schedule set out in the grant agreement. Payments will be subject to satisfactory progress on the project.