The Driving Business Innovation Program supports SMEs to develop technology that meets specified needs of Victorian Government agencies. It focuses on commercial outcomes as well as technical success.

1. Driving Business Innovation
Round 2 Call for Proposals
August 2014

2. What is the
program about?
The Driving Business Innovation Program
• builds on pilot Market Validation Program (MVP) which
commenced in 2009
• leverages power of government-as-customer
• supports SMEs to develop technology that meets
specified needs of Victorian government agencies
• focuses on commercial outcomes as well as technical
success

3. Since 2009, the MVP / DBI model has supported:
• 75 projects
• 19 Proof of Concept projects; 56 Feasibility Studies
• Innovation symposium
• short films of several Proof of Concept projects
• Specialist reports and workshops (e.g IP, procurement,
health economics, commercialisation)
To date:

4. Project
examples

5. Program structure
DBI’s structure comprises:
• Feasibility Study - $75k over 3 months
• Proof of Concept - up to $1m over 18 months
• New stage – Market Ready – matched $500k to
progress selected technology solutions to the shelf
over 6 months

6. How does the
DBI work?
Technology
Challenge
Market ReadyFeasibility
Study
Proof of
Concept
Government
agency
describes a
need for a
solution
SME
proposes a
solution to
the need
SME partners
with
government
agency to
determine
feasibility of
proposed
solution
SME partners
with
government
agency to
prove the
working
prototype
SME develops
the solution
ready for sale
to customers
$75k per
project
3 months
$1m per
project
18 months
$500k per
project
(matched
funding)
6 months

7. DBI will support projects that:
• Have commercial potential
• Describe innovative technology
• Are achievable within the program’s budget and timeframe
• Have significant economic impact
• Have strategic alignment with government policy
• Demonstrate strong governance and capability (host & SME)
What are we
looking for?

8. DBI Round 2
Round 2:
• received 30 Technology Challenges from Vic Govt agencies
• 12 selected by Panel to progress to Call for Proposal including:
– 8 projects in the health sector
– 3 projects in the water / waste management / agriculture sectors
– 1 project in law enforcement
Technologies likely to be represented:
• Sensor technologies, wearable / non-invasive devices, materials science,
microfluidics, wastewater treatments, data capture, imaging
technologies, real time visualisation tools

9. Eligible SMEs must:
• be registered in Victoria
• be a non tax-exempt company incorporated in Australia
• have a combined turnover of less than $50,000,000
• employ fewer than 200 employees
• have access to or the beneficial use of any IP
• undertake not less than 80% of the R&D work in Victoria
• have the Principal Investigator based in Victoria
Eligible SMEs

10. Call for Proposal
• Call for Proposal stage opens late August early September 2014
• All Technology Challenges, Guidelines, eligibility criteria and Application Form on
website – www.business.vic.gov.au/dbi
• Probity rules apply during this application process
• Hosts will shortlist SMEs and invite shortlisted SMEs to present on their proposal
• Minister will approve recommended SMEs
• Financial risk assessment, contract negotiation will be finalised before Feasibility
Study projects start

11. Collaboration
Collaboration:
• SMEs are encouraged to collaborate with other SMEs,
universities & publicly funded research institutes
• All collaborations must be SME-led
• Collaborations can be up to 30% of total grant funds

12. Intellectual Property
• All IP developed during the program is
retained by the SME
• Vic Govt negotiates access to the developed
technology at completion of Proof of Concept

13. July 2014: Technology Challenges assessed by
DSDBI Panel
August – October 2014: Call for Proposal stage: SMEs invited to
respond to Technology Challenges
November 2014: Hosts shortlist SMEs and recommend one
SME to undertake Feasibility Study
Early 2015: Successful SMEs negotiate agreements
and begin Feasibility Study (3 months,
$75k)
Round 2
Timeframes

14. For further information about
Driving Business Innovation
and how to apply:
www.business.vic.gov.au/dbi
Ph: 9651 8154
Email: mvp@dsdbi.vic.gov.au

15. Questions?