Home / About NSSN
About the NSW Smart Sensing NetworkSmart sensing for a smarter world
Connecting world-class sensing researchers with the companies and agencies that need them
We bring industry, government and universities together to turn complex challenges into opportunities for research and collaboration.
Meet the NSW Smart Sensing Network
Who we areExtraordinary expertise.
Easier to access.
The NSSN was established in 2016 by the NSW Government through the Office of the Chief Scientist & Engineer, founded on a simple observation: NSW had world-class sensing research sitting in its universities, and industry and government weren't able to easily access it. We exist to close that gap.
Today, we bring together seven member universities and a wide range of industry and government partners, working on everything from environmental monitoring to industrial automation.
Whether you're a company with a technical challenge, a government agency looking for independent expertise, or a researcher seeking real-world impact, we're here to help.
2016
Established with NSW Government support
7
Member universities in NSW and the ACT
5
Priority themes guiding our partnerships
What we doThe right connection.
For your next challenge.
We match NSW's and the ACT’s most complex sensing challenges with the researchers, facilities and expertise best placed to solve them - then help make the collaboration actually work.
For companiesMove a technical challenge forward.
If you're facing a technical challenge that's slowing you down or holding back growth, we can identify the right research expertise, broker the introduction, and support you through an R&D partnership that delivers real commercial outcomes.
For government Bring evidence to complex decisions.
If you need independent scientific expertise, validation or advice on a sensing or monitoring challenge, we connect you with leading NSW researchers and provide the kind of rigorous, evidence-based support that internal teams often can't.
For researchers Take your work beyond the lab.
If you want your work to reach beyond the lab, we open doors to industry and government partners, help identify funding opportunities, and amplify your research to the audiences that matter.
NSSN Grand Challenge FundA pathway from challenge to collaboration.
Every year, our Grand Challenge Fund provides grants of up to $100,000 to support collaborative R&D projects between member universities and industry or government partners.
How we workThe right connection.
For your next challenge.
Working with NSSN is straightforward. You don't need a technical brief or a research background, just a problem worth solving.
01
Get in touch
Tell us about your challenge in plain language. We'll ask the right questions to understand what you need and whether we can help.
02
We scope it
We draw on our network of seven member universities to identify the researchers, facilities and expertise best matched to your problem - and we do that work for you.
03
We make the match
We broker the introduction, help structure the collaboration and make sure both sides are set up for a productive working relationship.
04
You get results
We stay involved throughout — whether the outcome is an R&D partnership, a funded Grand Challenge project, independent scientific advice, or something in between.
Our sensing capabilitiesFrom sensing science
to working systems.
Our network spans the full sensing stack - from the underlying technologies through to real-world applications.
If your challenge involves sensing, monitoring or data, chances are we know someone who can help.
Sensing technologies
Systems & data
Applications
Where we are goingOur strategic direction
The NSSN Strategic Plan sets out our vision for NSW as a leading hub for smart sensing innovation - and how we plan to get there.
Our vision
NSW is home to a thriving ecosystem for smart sensing innovation.
Our mission
To accelerate solutions to complex and critical challenges by translating world-class smart sensing research.
Our objectives
Build a thriving ecosystem for smart sensing innovation
Develop a larger and more dynamic smart sensing community
Enhance awareness and durability of the NSSN as an organisation
Our priority themes
Our five priority themes - from Human Health to Net Zero - respond to some of NSW's most pressing challenges and guide where we focus our research partnerships. Explore our priority themes.
Our work in perspective - FY24/25Smart sensing for a smarter world.
Meet the people and projects behind a year of smart sensing collaboration.
The annual report brings together NSSN's achievements, partnerships and impact across the network over the past year.
Work with NSSNA challenge worth sharing?
Tell us what you are working on. We will help you find the right connection.