Key information
- Status: Closed
- Grant amount: From $30,000 to $100,000
- Application opened: 3 November 2025
- Application closed: 24 February 2026, 5:00 pm
Program objective
The NSW Smart Sensing Network (NSSN) Grand Challenge Fund promotes the development of innovative, collaborative research projects that bring together NSW/ACT university expertise with industry or government challenges in the five NSSN priority themes.
Grants of up to $100,000 per project support the development of projects that devise a smart sensing solution that has a defined pathway to genuine impact, either through commercialisation or operationalisation.
Applications must be led by an NSSN member university, working together with an industry or government partner.
This program is administered by Office of the Chief Scientist and Engineer.
Eligibility
Who can apply
The NSSN Grand Challenge Fund is open only to researchers from the seven member universities of the NSW Smart Sensing Network.
Types of projects funded under this grant
Research and development projects focussed on smart sensing solutions to a defined industry or government need in one of the five NSSN priority themes.
To be eligible, projects 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
What costs you can apply for
Funding can be used for the following:
Direct salary costs for investigators/staff of NSSN member universities.
On-costs consistent with NSSN member university policies.
Equipment, software, materials and consumables specifically related to the project.
Domestic travel costs that are specifically related to the project.
Stipends for HDR students working on the project.
What costs you can't apply for
Funding can not be used for the following purposes:
Salaries of industry partners.
Costs not directly related to the project.
Example projects
To find examples of projects previously funded by the NSSN, please visit the Projects page of the NSSN website.
What co-contributions are required
Funding must be matched be industry/government partners. Matched funding must be:
in cash and transferable to the NSSN university project partners (in-kind support will be considered in addition to the matching cash contribution).
from the government or industry partner (University cash contributions will not be considered)
new funding, specific to the proposed project.
What your application needs to include
Prepare your application with this checklist
- Completed online application form
- Budget (template provided)
- Letter/s of support from industry/government partner/s (on official letterhead)
- Letter of endorsement from NSSN Coordinator at lead university
- Letter of endorsement from NSSN Coordinator at collaborating university
Address the eligibility criteria
Each applicant, as part of an application response, must confirm that they meet the eligibility criteria.
Applicants that do not address the eligibility criteria in full may be excluded from the application process at the department's discretion.
Address the assessment criteria
Projects will be assessed on the following criteria:
Significance – how the project represents a significant and novel approach to addressing the priority theme. 30%
Collaboration – how the project integrates and fosters genuine collaboration between NSSN member universities. 15%
Partnership – how the project integrates genuine partnership with industry and government partners and responds to a defined industry or government need. 15%
Governance & Feasibility – how the project defines a realistic research plan and the measures that will ensure delivery on milestones. 15%
Impact pathway – how the project defines a pathway to commercialisation. 15%
Diversity – How the project represents diversity of gender and under-represented cohorts in the team. 10%
Start the application
Applications open: 3 November 2024
Internal university deadlines: 10 February 2026 (5pm) - consult your NSSN Coordinator
Applications close: 24 February 2026 (5pm)
Eligibility review: 25 February 2026
Selection Committee Review: Early March 2026
Grants announced: Late March 2026
Contracting & funding: April 2026
Note: If you are a new applicant to SmartyGrants, you will need to register and create a password. If you are already registered, you can log in with your existing username and password.
Apply now
After the application is submitted
Successful applications will be decided by: NSSN Co-Directors
Applications will be reviewed by the NSSN Board against the assessment criteria listed in the GCF Guidelines.
Support and contact
admin@nssn.org.au