The Biosecurity Innovation Program (BIP) is looking for innovative and collaborative projects to strengthen the Australian national biosecurity system.
Deputy Secretary of Biosecurity and Compliance Dr. Chris Locke said the annual program was an exciting opportunity to invest in innovative technologies and approaches to build the capacity to manage biosecurity challenges and risks into the future.
“Over the coming decades, Australia will face many new challenges in biosecurity. We keep evolving our strategies in light of recent increases in biosecurity threats in our region, changes to weather patterns, and disruption to trade,” Dr. Locke said.
“To protect our agricultural industries and environmental resources from emerging and increasing threats, we need to be finding and funding the best research and innovation solutions this country has to offer.
“The Biosecurity Innovation Program invests in new technologies and approaches which can: assist with biosecurity screening of goods and passengers, enhance early detection capabilities beyond ports, and improve the effectiveness of our biosecurity systems overall.
“The program is now in its fifth year. It has funded many ground-breaking ideas, from a mobile phone application for the identification of brown marmorated stink bugs to the testing of nanotechnologies to detect high-risk plant pests.”
Expressions of Interest for the next round of projects are now open and will close at 11:00 pm on Friday, 2 December.
This BIP is open to everyone, including government employees, industry participants, and stakeholders. Individuals or organizations can apply.
For more information:
Australian Government
Department of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Forestry
www.agriculture.gov.au