Australia’s agriculture and energy sectors have received a significant boost, with funding awarded through Australia’s Economic Accelerator (AEA) Innovate program to advance ground‑breaking research projects.
AEA Innovate grants of up to $5 million are supporting university researchers to work with industry partners on projects aligned with Australia’s national priorities.
AEA-funded projects are continuing to pave the way for a more sustainable and innovative Australia. Read more about some of the research projects currently underway and the impact they are having.
Building a more responsive system to prevent bushfires
Researchers at Victoria University are working with Powercor, AusNet and United Energy to build a new system for rural powerlines that can stop powerline-ignited bushfires before they start.
Their device monitors the Single-Wire Earth Return (SWER), which is a transmission line that supplies power from an electrical grid to remote areas, by continuously sending a signal along the network. If a line snaps, the receiver detects the loss and can cut power in under a second – often before the wire hits the ground. It also pinpoints the break so fire crews can respond quickly.
Researcher at Victoria University, Dr Douglas Gomes said the funding will help them collaborate with industry experts to establish a clear path to market readiness and early adoption.
“AEA Innovate takes us from working prototypes to a commercial, certifiable product over a 24-month program,” Douglas said.
“We will validate performance at scale by deploying across 10 additional regional networks, building on the five networks already proven. This funding also accelerates our AI‑driven diagnostics layer to enhance detection robustness and fault localisation, enabling remote updates and configuration across diverse networks.”
The Power, Sensing and Telecommunications team from Victoria University: Kristi Beqirllari, Douglas Gomes, Mike Faulkner (Back L-R), Wania Anoosh and Cagil Ozansoy (Front L-R)
New world-first technology to support the agriculture industry
A partnership between the University of Melbourne and industry experts AcquaTerra Solutions, WiseConn and Lenswood Apples has been established to deliver a world-first soil moisture monitoring solution.
The solution is simple to install, highly affordable, technically robust, and tailored specifically for deep-rooted crops like grains and shallow-rooted crops like vegetables and strawberries.
Professor Guillermo Narsilio from the University of Melbourne explains that if the solution is widely adopted, the technology could save Australian agriculture hundreds of millions annually, while also promoting sustainable practices and resource efficiency.
“The funding is pivotal in advancing our patented Internet of Things (IoT) soil moisture sensing technology from field-proven prototype to commercial readiness and scalable deployment,” Guillermo said.
“This support allows us to improve sensor performance, upgrade connectivity and backend infrastructure, and enhance the web-based user interface to meet agronomists’ and farmers’ practical needs.
“Fields trials and early validation suggest potential savings of up to $71,000 per year for wheat farmers and $24,000 per year for vegetable growers through optimised irrigation and better yield predictability.”