NSSN Grand Challenge Fund 2024 announced

Round 4 of the Grand Challenge Fund is now open.

(From L to R): NSSN Grand Challenges span across clean tech, ageing, water, natural hazards and smart places & buildings. Photos: Adobe Stock.

The NSW Smart Sensing Network (NSSN) is now accepting applications to support innovative, collaborative research projects that respond to the NSSN Grand Challenges. 

The NSSN Grand Challenges respond to some of the most complex challenges facing the environment, economy and society. Challenges that demand innovative solutions that will benefit future generations. 

This year, there are five NSSN Grand Challenges: 

  • Ageing 

  • Clean Tech 

  • Natural Hazards  

  • Smart Places & Buildings 

  • Water 

Grants of up to $100,000 per project will support the development of projects that link with industry or government partners and devise a smart sensing solution that has a defined pathway to genuine impact, either through commercialisation or operationalisation. 

NSSN Chief Operating Officer, Nicholas Haskins said the NSSN Grand Challenge Fund targets real-world problems. 

“These are challenges that we know won’t be addressed by one university or organisation working alone. These are the kind of challenges where only genuine collaboration can bring real solutions,” Mr Haskins said.  

“With the NSSN Grand Challenge Fund, our aim is to match our brightest research minds with the on-the-ground challenges faced by industry or government partners to make a real impact.  
 
“Whether its responding to growing intensity of bushfires and floods or rising up to the opportunity presented by the renewable energy revolution, these are areas that are critical to Australia’s future.” 

Information sessions

Researchers interested in applying to the NSSN Grand Challenge Fund 2024 can register to attend online webinars providing information on the fund, tips on submitting a successful application and an opportunity to ask questions.

Webinar I - Tuesday 14 November 2023 - Register

Webinar II - Tuesday 6 February 2024 - Register

Eligibility 

To be eligible, funding proposals must meet the following eligibility criteria: 

  • Leadership: be led by an NSSN member university. 

  • Collaboration: involve a minimum of two NSSN member universities (incl. the lead). 

  • Partnership: partner with at least one industry or government partner. 

  • Co-investment: attract cash co-investment from industry/government partners at least equal to the requested amount. 

Proposals that do not meet these criteria will not be assessed.  

Assessment criteria 

Proposals will be assessed on the following criteria: 

  • Significance: how the proposal represents a significant and novel approach to addressing the defined Grand Challenge. 30% 

  • Collaboration: how the proposal integrates and fosters genuine collaboration between NSSN member universities. 15% 

  • Partnership: how the proposal integrates genuine partnership with industry and government partners and responds to a defined industry or government need. 15% 

  • Governance: how the proposal defines a realistic research plan and the measures that will ensure delivery on milestones. 15% 

  • Impact pathway: how the proposal defines a pathway to subsequent funding, commercialisation and/or operationalisation. 15% 

  • Diversity: How does the proposal champion diversity in the team or address diversity as an issue? Think of diversity in all its forms. 10%  

Applicants are encouraged to speak with their local NSSN Coordinator and the relevant NSSN Theme Leader as early as possible in the application process. This will help to ensure alignment with the NSSN Grand Challenges and provide applications with the greatest chance of success. The NSSN can provide assistance in connecting with relevant industry and government partners.  

NSSN Theme Leaders 

NSSN Coordinators


ANU: Nishank Shah 
Charles Sturt University: Blaze Coops 
Macquarie University: Matt Bevin 
University of Newcastle: Monique Moore 
UNSW: Anthony Morfa 
University of Sydney: Andrew Kemp 
UTS: Petra Becker 
Western Sydney University: André Urfer 
University of Wollongong:  Robert Beretov 

Applications close on 19 February 2024 at 5pm.   

Diane Nazaroff