Market Validation Program Round 2

What is the Smart SMEs – Market Validation Program (MVP)?

The Smart SMEs Market Validation Program (MVP) is a $28 million competitive grants program that engages with both government and business to promote state-based innovation. The program supports Small to Medium Enterprises (SMEs) to develop innovative products, processes and services focussed on meeting the future technology needs of Victorian public sector entities.

What are the stages of the Market Validation Program?

Stage one of the Market Validation Program is the submission of Technology Requirements Specification (TRS) by Victorian public sector entities which are competitively assessed by DIIRD and an industry-based assessment panel.

The TRS that are approved are released under the Call for Proposal (stage two). Applications received from the SMEs are assessed by the Victorian public sector entity (Host Entity), DIIRD and if required, technology experts. The approved SMEs receive a grant of up to $100,000 to undertake a feasibility study over three months.

Stage three is the assessment of the Feasibility Study Report by the Host Entity and DIIRD to determine whether further funding will be recommended for up to $1.5 million over two years to undertake R&D to Proof of Concept.

What is a Small to Medium Enterprise (SME)?

For the Smart SMEs Market Validation Program an eligible SME will:

• be a non tax-exempt company incorporated in Australia under the Corporations Act 2001, with at least 51 per cent of the applicant’s current business activities, employees or assets residing within Australia
• have a combined turnover of less than $50m for each of the three financial years prior to application
• have fewer than 200 employees
• have access to any necessary IP
• be willing to undertake not less than 80% of the R&D work in Victoria
• have the Principal Investigator based in Victoria for the duration of the project.

Collaboration

Collaboration is permitted under the Market Validation Program and can be undertaken with another enterprise and/or university and/or research organisation. All collaborations must be SME-led with the component of R&D work contributed by university and research organisations into the overall program to be no more than 30 per cent.

How will the Market Validation Program work for SMEs?

The technology specifications developed by the public sector entities will be released to the SME market through a Call for Proposals.

Market Validation Program proposals submitted by SMEs will then be assessed against the following criteria:

• Technical merit of the proposed technology solution
• Capability to conduct R&D projects
• Resourcing of the project including key personnel, facilities and budget

Successful SMEs will then undertake a Feasibility Study and report on the outcomes of the study.

The Market Validation Program Feasibility Study report will then be assessed to progress to the Proof of Concept stage.

What benefits will the MVP deliver to SMEs?

The Smart SMEs Market Validation Program is designed to substantially boost the ability of SMEs to interact with customers in a demanding client setting, to commercially develop and prove their products and provide a sustainable commercial base from which to secure expansion capital, export revenue and future customers.

Benefits to SMEs from the Market Validation Program will include:

• access to R&D grant funding over four years
• opportunity to develop innovative R&D capability
• improved understanding of what is required in developing solutions that respond specifically to identified needs
• creation and retention of IP
• recognition, verification and visibility in the marketplace
• a leveraging tool to attract further investment capital or research funds
• a commercialisation platform.

Technology Requirement Specifications (TRS)

1. Absorbable rib prosthesis – Alfred Health is looking for an internal rib fixation prosthesis as well as the requisite surgical instruments to use in surgery on fractured ribs. The prosthesis needs to be strong, flexible and absorbable. The prosthesis must be straightforward and quick for surgeons to apply in cases of multiple fractured ribs.
2. Algae biomass to biogas  - Melbourne Water is seeking to develop the production of biogas from algae biomass grown in wastewater for renewable electricity generation.
3. Antibiotic Delivery System – Melbourne Health’s Diabetic Foot Unit is looking for a medical device that will allow the safe and sustainable delivery of elevated therapeutic doses of antibiotics to the lower limbs of patients with diabetes related foot complaints.
4. Beneficial Reuse of Biosolids – Melbourne Water seeks to develop a sustainable and beneficial use of biosolids including nutrient recovery, biogas for electricity regeneration, char and chemicals and fuel production.
5. Development of self-sampling devices and STI testing – Royal Women’s Hospital is seeking the development of self-sampling devices for the collection of clinical material for pathogen testing, particularly vaginal and anal swabs to test for sexually transmitted infections.
6. Interactive Patient Journey System - Western Health is looking a t that gives real-time information on the current status of all patients within the health service. The solution needs to allow all hospital staff to able to see and interact with information across all the health service’s functions for each individual patient from visualisation devices in wards and in the bed management office.
7. Ophthalmic Outreach Diagnostic Platform - Royal Victorian Eye & Ear Hospital seeks to develop an easy to use slit lamp for the assessment of eye health (by a GP) and in particular the diagnosis of glaucoma. The lamp will be able to measure intraocular pressure, provide real time communication with a eye specialist, be light, inexpensive and portable.
8. Pharmacogenomic Decision Support System – Melbourne Health is seeking to develop and demonstrate an innovative personalised drug safety system that can be integrated into current hospital practices.
9. Portable body movement sensor – Austin Health seeks the development of a movement analysis device for the management of patients with complex movement disorders such as brain injury and stroke patients. The device will attach to a patient and collect movement data to the clinician.
10. Smart sensor technology for large diameter water pipelines - Melbourne Water seeks to develop low-cost, reliable and durable methods of attaching existing sensor technology to large diameter pressure pipes and connecting fibre optic sensors between pipelines in a cost effective manner to form a network of fibre sensors as an early warning system for faults or defects.
11. Specialised infant feeding teat - Royal Children’s Hospital is seeking the development of cost-effective prototypes of a range of teats designed to meet the specific requirements of dieticians for both healthy feeders and those with difficulties. Flow rates and sterility must meet industry standards.
12. Stormwater treatment technology - Yarra Valley Water is seeking  to develop a practical water treatment product that would allow stormwater to be used for non-drinking purposes such as garden, laundry and toilet flushing.
13. Vehicle On-board Unit Auditing Station - VicRoads seeks to develop and demonstrate a freight on-board unit auditing and monitoring station that operates with the Intelligent Access Program programme, Dedicated Short Range Communications and Intelligent Transport Systems based tag technology.

Market Validation Program for SMEs

Outlines how the MVP will work for SMEs.

FAQs

Answers questions on how the Smart SMEs MVP works, stakeholders involved, funding and eligibility.

The round closes on Monday 6 December

We are specialists in preparing and winning government grants. If you require assistance with a government grant application please contact us to discuss further.

Be Sociable, Share!

•