Biosecurity Innovation Program now open for innovative biosecurity solutions

The Biosecurity Innovation Program (BIP) is looking for innovative and collaborative projects to strengthen our 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 our capacity to manage biosecurity challenges and risks into the future.

“Over 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 11:00pm on Friday 2 December.

This BIP is open to everyone, including government employees, industry participants and stakeholders. Individuals or organisations can apply.

See Biosecurity Innovation Program for more information.