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Support industry-public sector problem statement events

Measure

Pilot event hosted, review conducted with recommendations.

Collaborating with the Darwin Innovation Hub to identify and engage with industry regarding industry challenges.

Implemented

Outcomes

Territory Innovation Challenges Program

The Territory Innovation Challenges Program (TICP) concept was publicly introduced during October Business Month 2020, and is intended to contribute to the achievement of the Territory Economic Reconstruction Commission's mission to ‘position the Territory for future investment leading to jobs and economic growth in the medium term’.

The program will facilitate a competitive approach to solving industry challenge statements, resulting in the development and government procurement of an innovative solution. The TICP will do this by accelerating the development of a more competitive, innovation driven economy in the Territory, where Territory enterprises form collaborative clusters to innovate products for local and export markets, driving private sector jobs and investment growth in the Territory.

The TICP procurement process was successfully trialled through the Department of Health’s Drones for Life project, and the program is currently in final draft and scheduled for industry consultation late 2021.

News items:

NT Hydrogen Cluster

Spearheaded by National Energy Resources Australia (NERA), the Regional Hydrogen Technology Clusters Program aims to help build the skills, capacities and commercialisation opportunities to unlock Australia’s potential to create a globally competitive hydrogen industry that could add up to $26 billion and thousands of jobs to the national economy by 2050.

The Territory Hydrogen Technology Cluster is led by the Darwin Innovation Hub alongside a steering committee including the Territory Government, Charles Darwin University and the Energy Club NT. The Territory cluster plays a central role in connecting Territory hydrogen projects to the export market, utilising the Territory’s deep sea port and geographical advantage to South East Asia.

In May 2021 at the NT Hydrogen Cluster launch, industry leaders put a call out for innovative projects to be submitted for review and possible funding of up to $2 million under the Paspalis Innovation Investment Fund (PIIF). Further to this the Territory Government has committed $100,000 of early-stage seed funding to support development of a project selected by PIIF for venture capital investment.

News items:

National Innovation Games | NT Renewable Energy Series

The Department of Industry, Tourism and Trade along with the Australian Government (DISER), ISACNT, NERA, Territory Generation, ABB Australia and Darwin Innovation Hub supported the delivery of the National Innovation Games NT Renewable Energy Series. Launched 22 March 2021 by the Hon Paul Kirby MLA, the games included three events (games) delivered in April, May and September 2021 by Paddl Co.

The NT series enabled tertiary students to connect with industry, education, and government representatives in a collaborative and innovative environment. The three games asked the following challenge questions:

  • How might technology assist businesses to better understand what is required to convert to renewables?
  • How might your business optimise energy use today and in the future?
  • How might your business transition to renewables (and find commercial opportunity)?
     

Teams were tasked to work with small and medium businesses (SMBs) to understand existing obstacles and opportunities for both the business and sector, making renewables accessible and relevant to Territorian SMBs and organisations. Team challenges where set to the following the industry themes:

  1. hospitality and food service
  2. health and community services
  3. property, construction and trade
  4. sports, entertainment and education (facilities management)
  5. education / campus
  6. transport, logistics and cold storage
  7. mining and resources
  8. energy intensive industries
  9. advanced users of renewable energy (including: public spaces; solar, wind, water utilities; marine, ports, at sea; and robotics / manufacturing)
  10. tourism and hospitality
  11. transport and e-mobility - autonomous vehicles
  12. transport and e-mobility - public transport.

News items:

Digital Partnership Program Funding

The Digital Partnerships Program is a Territory Government initiative to support the local information and communication technology industry to build capacity and create jobs, foster partnerships across the sector and other local industries and encourage the development of innovative digital solutions to meet local challenges and support economic growth. The program was administered and delivered by the Department of Industry, Tourism and Trade. The successful projects were:

Paspalis Enterprise, in partnership with One IT Services, Server Room Specialists and Charles Darwin University, will establish a digital resource and development facility at the Darwin Innovation Hub. Project completed.

Sterling NT (Mycor) is developing a water smart sensor system to reduce water use in parks and gardens, partnering with Bluereef Technology and IVM Group. Project completed.

NightKey, a biometric identity management system, will be redeveloped by DEVA Darwin in partnership with Professional IT Solutions and One IT Services to provide an open platform to use in multiple industries and to integrate with other platforms. Project completed. 

DICE is developing the Digital Access to Remote Renewable Energy Systems (DARRES) to improve monitoring and sustainability of renewable energy systems for remote communities and businesses, in partnership with New Futures IT and Balance Utility Solutions. Project nearing completion. 

InDigiVR: Used contemporary digital technology to showcase the Territory’s Aboriginal sites, heritage and landscapes with 3D VR headsets, through a partnership between the Warlpiri Media Aboriginal Corporation, Uber Air and PAW Productions, which is being developed in Alice Springs. The project is ongoing.

Updates current at October 2021.

News item: 

Deloitte Gravity Challenge

The Deloitte Gravity Challenge brings together challengers (businesses, government agencies and universities) and Innovators (start-ups, entrepreneurs and small to medium enterprises) to collaborate and create solutions to some of society’s biggest challenges. Space technology can have significant economic benefits on both the Australian and international economies, from job creation to large-scale commercialisation.

The Territory Government through the Department of Health joined the 2020 Gravity Challenge, to explore the question: How can space technologies assist in providing safety and security to people working in remote locations? Their solution was the EyeSIM, details below:

Innovator: Imperial Sim
Solution: EyeSIM

Description: EyeSIM is an automatic alert system consisting of two complimentary solution streams that keep the remote health workers connected and supported via satellite telecommunications. One stream focuses on the health workers and their personal state. The other stream focuses on the vehicle’s state and location. This system integrates and combines reliable personal health level and vehicle monitoring, communications, duress activation, and situational awareness of the vehicles through an end-to-end solution for the remote workforce - offering significant safety / security benefits.

“the quality of the Gravity Challenge innovators in Australia and the UK has been outstanding and I look forward to seeing our pilot programs come to fruition across the Northern Territory and throughout other rural and remote areas in Australia. Supporting this program has allowed us to connect with global innovators and work towards our goal of being a world leader in the delivery of remote health through collaboration, excellence and innovation.”

Professor Catherine Stoddart, Chief Executive, Department of Health, Northern Territory Government.

More information:

Last updated on 21 April 2022
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