Can anyone apply?

The Program is open to government staff, stakeholders, and industry.

Why is there a two-stage process?

An Expression of Interest (EOI) round has been introduced to reduce the time and effort required for applicants to develop and submit a concise summary of their proposed project idea. It also allows us to identify, at an earlier stage, the project ideas that align to the Program’s key focus areas and department priorities.

Only the highest priority EOIs will be invited to submit a more comprehensive project proposal. Applicants who are unsuccessful at the EOI stage will receive a notification early in the process, enabling them to pursue other options and/or work towards an improved application for future rounds.

Can I amend my EOI after submission?

Please contact our Innovation Projects Team at biosecurity.innovation@agriculture.gov.au if you need to update your submission.

How can I check the status of my EOI?

Applicants will receive electronic status updates at various stages throughout the application process. No early indication of likely success of an application will be provided to applicants.

When will I find out if my EOI is successful?

Applicants will be advised within approximately eight weeks of the closing date whether their EOI was successful. Shortlisted applicants will be invited to the second stage of the application process at the earliest possible time. Please note that this stage involves a more detailed assessment and due diligence process.

What happens if my EOI is approved?

1.  You will be notified that your EOI has been supported as a project.

2.  You will work with a nominated departmental project lead to develop a business case. The business case will include the challenge, the solution, the scope, key deliverables and budget.

3.  A contract will be negotiated between you and the department.

4.  The project will be delivered against the agreed contract by no later than the end of the following financial year (30 June).

5.  Projects may be delivered in phases over multiple years. This will be detailed in the proposal and will need to be approved by the Program’s executive committee.

6.  We will work with you throughout the process to ensure the best chance of delivering an innovative solution that can be adopted into department processes.

Can I submit more than one EOI?

Yes. Multiple applications are welcomed from the same applicant, organisation, or related parties.

What information is collected and how will it be used?

The Australian Government collects and collates information from the EOI form to assess applications for the Program. Only authorised departmental officers and approved assessors have access to this information. Applicants should note that broad details of successful proposals, agreed outcomes, progress and the level of funding awarded may be published by the Australian Government to promote funded projects. Your personal information will not be disclosed to any other third party without your consent, unless required by law or for the purposes of the Information Privacy Act 2009. For further information, please see our Privacy Policy: https://www.awe.gov.au/about/commitment/privacy.

What are the Program’s objectives?

Please refer to the Program’s key focus areas and department priorities.

What are the departments priorities?

Please refer to the Program’s key focus areas and department priorities[HK2] .

What is the maximum budget for a project?

The budget for each project is different and assessed on a case-by-case basis. However, the Program receives approximately $5.5 million in total across each financial year and typically funds 20 projects on average.

What are the timeframes for projects?

Projects can only be funded from July to June on a financial year basis (maximum 12 months).

What if my project requires a longer time frame than 12 months?

If your project requires a timeframe longer than 12 months, then you will need to scope your project based on 12-month blocks, referred to as phases. For example, Phase 1 (2023-24) will deliver X, Y and Z, Phase 2 (2024-25) will deliver X, Y and Z. Please estimate the budgets for each phase separately.

Withdrawing an EOI

At any time during the EOI process you may withdraw your EOI. Please email the Innovation Projects Team at biosecurity.innovation@agriculture.gov.au should you wish to withdraw your EOI.

Intellectual Property concerns

If you have concerns about the disclosure of Intellectual Property (IP) during the EOI process, you can still participate by describing the scope of your project in general terms. Furthermore, we advise applicants not to include any sensitive intellectual property in your EOI as this can be included at a later stage. If you have any questions regarding the protection of IP during the EOI process, please contact Innovation Projects Team at biosecurity.innovation@agriculture.gov.au.

Can my EOI use off the shelf technology?

If your idea can or will utilise already existing technology but, the application of the technology is a proof-of-concept, your idea may be referred to the Innovation Pilots

Your ideas are important, and we’d love to hear from you. Please contact our Program Management Office at biosecurity.innovation@awe.gov.au for more information.

By working together, we will be better placed to build a smarter, stronger and more sustainable national biosecurity system.