NSW Smart Sensing Network

We connect industry, government and universities to turn world-class smart sensing research into real-world solutions

We are a not-for-profit innovation network proudly funded by the NSW Government through the Office of the Chief Scientist & Engineer

NSW Government logo with red waratah emblem and text 'Proudly funded by'
7
Member universities
29
worth over $17.4m
Active projects
51
worth over $18m
Completed projects
10 yrs
Of impact

WHY IT MATTERS

Why smart sensing matters

Sensors already touch almost every part of modern life - in the buildings we work in, the roads we drive on and the systems that keep us healthy. But the next generation goes much further.

Smart sensors don't just collect data - they're connected, adaptive and increasingly autonomous. They can detect a problem before it becomes a failure, and generate insights that were impossible a decade ago. This is the technology behind smart cities, Industry 4.0 and the push toward net zero.

NSW and the ACT has world-class researchers working on exactly these challenges. The NSSN exists to connect them with the organisations that need them most.

Our Members

Our members are the leading universities across NSW & ACT
University of Wollongong
Macquarie University
Australian National University
The University of Sydney
Western Sydney University

Latest News

News
NSSN Grand Challenge Fund 2027 announced  
Grand Challenge Fund
NSSN Grand Challenge Fund 2027 announced  
Grand Challenge Fund

Applications are now open for Round 7 of the NSSN Grand Challenge Fund, supporting innovative, collaborative smart sensing research across five priority areas: Environment & Agriculture, Human Health, Natural Hazards, Net Zero and Smart Places.

Read more →
Grand Challenge Fund
Women advancing smart sensing research to headline University of Wollongong showcase
Women advancing smart sensing research to headline University of Wollongong showcase

Five University of Wollongong researchers will showcase how smart sensing is advancing healthcare, environmental monitoring and mining safety at the NSSN Women in Sensing Showcase on 10 November.

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AI-powered cameras could boost bird monitoring at wind farms
Net Zero
AI-powered cameras could boost bird monitoring at wind farms
Net Zero

An NSSN Grand Challenge Fund project is developing an AI-powered camera network to monitor birds at wind farm locations, providing more reliable evidence of collisions and potentially helping operators protect vulnerable species.

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Net Zero
Beyond hearing: sensing when conversation becomes difficult
Human Health
Beyond hearing: sensing when conversation becomes difficult
Human Health

An NSSN Grand Challenge Fund project has revealed how our eyes, head movements and even our hand gestures change when conversation becomes difficult, findings that could ultimately help hearing devices respond to what their users need.

Read more →
Human Health
Sensors and AI offer ‘powerful’ opportunity for Australian industry
Sensors and AI offer ‘powerful’ opportunity for Australian industry

Sensors will play a critical role in Australia’s artificial intelligence revolution, the Federal Assistant Minister for Science, Technology and the Digital Economy Dr Andrew Charlton told the NSSN’s Ambitious NSW: Sensing the Future of NSW Industry event this week. The workshop featured leaders from government, industry and research.

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Engineering the future of the renewable energy transition
Engineering the future of the renewable energy transition

In a special episode of UNSW’s Engineering the Future podcast, NSSN Co-Director Professor Julien Epps discusses the technology, ideas and policies shaping Australia’s shift to cleaner energy with Assistant Minister for Climate Change and Energy, the Hon Josh Wilson MP.

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World-first newborn test could detect hearing problems in under a minute
World-first newborn test could detect hearing problems in under a minute

A new newborn hearing screening test could combine the speed and simplicity of an ear test with the accuracy of more comprehensive nerve testing, potentially making early hearing detection faster, cheaper and more accessible.

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Ambitious NSW: smart sensing to help tackle the state’s biggest industry challenges
Ambitious NSW: smart sensing to help tackle the state’s biggest industry challenges

Industry, government and research leaders will gather in Parramatta on 6 October to explore how smart sensing can help NSW advance its priorities in advanced manufacturing, housing and net zero.

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We could soon be able to track changes in Australia’s forests in near-real time - using satellites
We could soon be able to track changes in Australia’s forests in near-real time - using satellites

Forests and woodlands cover millions of hectares across Australia and store enormous amounts of carbon, support biodiversity, regulate water supplies and help buffer the impacts of climate change. Yet we know surprisingly little about how these important ecosystems are changing over time.

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Satellite-enabled smart sensors could transform monitoring of Australia’s forests  
Satellite-enabled smart sensors could transform monitoring of Australia’s forests  

Scientists are trialing satellite-enabled smart sensors on trees across the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area and parts of far western NSW to provide an unprecedented picture of how Australia’s forests are responding to changing environmental conditions.

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All News
All News 
FEATURED PROJECTS

Research in action

A selection of work across our five priority themes — from healthy ageing to flood intelligence, our projects tackle real challenges across Human Health, Natural Hazards, Smart Places, Environment & Agriculture, and Net Zero.
NSSN Projects
Healthy ageing at home image Getty copy 4.png
Human Health
Healthy at Home Program
Human Health

Creating a sensor-driven care ecosystem that enhances ageing people’s experience in their homes to optimise healthy ageing.

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Human Health
NSSN Projects
AI Vision Sensor Networks for Monitoring Avian Activities at Wind Farms AdobeStock_137256922.jpeg
Net Zero
AI Vision Sensor Networks for Monitoring Avian Activities at Wind Farms
Net Zero

The project will develop an AI-powered sensor network that accurately monitors bird activity and collision risk for windfarms.

Read more →
Net Zero
Nanosensor Array-on-a-Chip An Early Warning System for EV Thermal Runaway AdobeStock_436354825.jpeg
Net Zero
Nanosensor Array-on-a-Chip: An Early Warning System for EV Thermal Runaway
Net Zero

The project will develop a novel gas sensor to pre-empt fires originating from Lithium-Ion battery thermal-runaway events.

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Net Zero
AdobeStock_1858335350.jpeg
Smart Places
AI-Enabled Plug-In Smart Sensing Device for Household Load Monitoring
Smart Places

A non-invasive, AI-enabled smart plug that gives renters appliance-level electricity insights without smart meters, switchboard access, or electrical modification.

Read more →
Smart Places
Scenic World Blue Mountains AdobeStock_597557107.jpeg
Environment & Agriculture
Space-Enabled Sensing for Forest Monitoring
Environment & Agriculture

The project will connect smart environmental sensors with space-enabled communication technologies to monitor forest health in remote landscapes.

Read more →
Environment & Agriculture
Explore Projects
Explore Projects

Grand Challenge Fund

Our annual Grand Challenge Fund offers up to $100,000 to support collaborative R&D between NSSN member universities
and industry or government partners, targeting projects aligned with the network’s five priority themes

The 2027 round is now open

Apply now

Our Partners

We work with a wide range of industry and government partners to deliver innovative smart sensing solutions

Understanding Zoe logo in teal, purple, and orange on a white background
Victoria State Government Energy, Environment and Climate Action logo
Asthma Australia logo with purple text and stylized purple and blue emblem
City of Melbourne geometric green and blue logo on a white background
Australian Smart Communities Summit logo hosted by ASCA and City of Casey
Standards Australia logo with black text and a yellow-orange abstract swoosh symbol
Connected Technology Alliance logo with an orange network icon and black text
EPA Victoria logo with a blue and yellow inverted triangle icon
Healthy Environments and Lives (HEAL) logo with a colorful globe graphic
Maribyrnong City Council logo with blue and gold abstract symbol
RMIT University logo with red emblem and black lettering
University of Canberra logo with blue geometric emblem and black text
Bright logo with a circular sunburst icon on a black rounded rectangle
BeeSTAR logo featuring a stylized black-and-yellow bee above the text “BeeSTAR”
Blue Mountains World Heritage Institute logo featuring a black eagle silhouette
University of Iowa gold seal featuring an eagle and the text “Organized Feb. 25th 1847.”
HOEKSEC logo with a pixelated circular emblem in white on a black background
OQ Technology logo with black interlocking rings and an orange satellite signal icon above the company name
Flame Security International logo with blue and green flame icon
Cochlear logo with orange ear icon and the tagline “Hear now. And always.”
Turquoise Smartizer logo on a white background
Transport for NSW logo with the red NSW Government waratah emblem and blue text
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Events

Upcoming Events
NSSN Board Meeting
Nov 6
NSSN Board Meeting

Quarterly meeting of the NSSN Board.

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NSSN Sensing Industry Connect
Nov 9
NSSN Sensing Industry Connect

Sensing Industry Connect is a free networking event aimed at providing manufacturers, designers, developers, deployers or researchers of smart sensing a space to build valuable relationships.

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NSSN Ambassadors & Engagement Leads Meeting
Nov 10
NSSN Ambassadors & Engagement Leads Meeting

At the NSSN Ambassadors & Engagement Leads Quarterly Meeting, participants will have the chance to delve into the latest NSSN activities, gaining valuable insights and updates on the organisation's initiatives.

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NSSN Women in Sensing Showcase
Nov 10
NSSN Women in Sensing Showcase

Join the NSW Smart Sensing Network and University of Wollongong for a lunchtime showcase highlighting women leading and emerging in smart sensing research. Hear a series of short presentations exploring innovative sensing technologies and their applications across science, engineering and industry.

Read more →
NSSN Grand Challenge Fund 2027 Informational Webinar I
Nov 24
NSSN Grand Challenge Fund 2027 Informational Webinar I

Thinking of applying to the NSSN Grand Challenge Fund 2027? Join us for this informational webinar in which we will guide you through the application process, share tips on submitting a successful application and answer any questions you may have.

Read more →
NSSN Grand Challenge Fund 2027 Informational Webinar ll
Feb 2
NSSN Grand Challenge Fund 2027 Informational Webinar ll

Thinking of applying to the NSSN Grand Challenge Fund 2027? Join us for this informational webinar in which we will guide you through the application process, share tips on submitting a successful application and answer any questions you may have.

Read more →
Connected Sensing 2027 Conference
Feb 17
Connected Sensing 2027 Conference

Connected Sensing 2027 showcases advances in sensor technologies for health and healthcare, bringing together researchers, clinicians, engineers and industry.

Read more →
All upcoming events
All upcoming events

WORK WITH US

Got a challenge smart sensing could solve?

If you're an industry organisation or government agency with a challenge that smart sensing could solve, we want to hear from you.
We connect you with world-class researchers across our member universities to develop innovative solutions to real-world problems.

Get in touch
Learn how it works