Entries into the second Open Innovation Platform – run by Queensland’s Department of Science, Information Technology, Innovation and the Arts working with PricewaterhouseCoopers in conjunction with other state government agencies – are closing next week on Friday 21 November at 2pm.
The event brings together a wide mix of experience and expertise from business, government, entrepreneurs, and startups to solve the following three challenges:
- “Roadwork Safety” – Department of Transport and Main Roads
- “Park Information” – Department of National Parks, Recreation, Sport and Racing
- “Emergency Management” – Inspector-General Emergency Management
The organisers are looking for applications from teams interested in presenting a solution to the problem owners, potential investors, and customers for the opportunity to work in a 12 week ‘acceleration’ process with PwC and the problem owner (with help from the other sponsors) to prototype and explore further proof-of-concept with potential for direct commercial engagement.
Shortlisted applicants will be required to attend a two-day event in Brisbane on 8-9 December, 2014. The event will give successful applicants the opportunity to network and learn more about these problems, first hand, from the problem owner and relevant players in the industry, then refine and propose their solutions.
Judges will assess the applications against the judging criteria, and invite a small number of teams to have access to subject matter experts and present solutions at the event.
After the event, if a suitably promising proposal is found, successful bidders will work with PwC’s startup and venture experts in a 12-week acceleration program to prototype and explore further proof of concept with potential for direct commercial engagement, working closely with the problem owner.
What happened in Round 1
Many innovative solutions were proposed for Round 1 problems, and successful applicants who have completed the 12 week acceleration phase include:
- GIS People for Department of Transport and Main Roads, Graffiti challenge www.gruntify.com (as previously covered on spatial source)
- Loc8 for Department of Housing and Public Works, Asset Management challenge www.loc8.com
- CSIRO Australian e-Health Research Centre for Queensland Health, Indigenous Health challenge www.aehrc.com
- Real Serious Games and University of Southern Queensland for Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Beef Engagement challenge www.realseriousgames.com www.usq.edu.au
More information about these challenges and how to apply for this second round is provided online at the Open Innovation Platform website.
Additional events
There will also be a Sydney based event looking to solve problems surrounding using the NSW public transport system with impairment or disability, more information on which is available in the link.
