Australian national science agency CSIRO has invited start-ups and small- to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with innovative agritech solutions to apply for tof the India Australia Rapid Innovation Startup Expansion (RISE) Accelerator.
Set to commence in October, the program will focus on businesses with technologies and solutions that enhance agricultural productivity and resilience in the face of growing climate variability, resource scarcity and food insecurity.
The nine-month program will see participants take part in self-paced online and in-person learning sessions, including in-country travel to gain deeper market insights. They also receive one-on-one coaching and mentorship from industry professionals throughout the program.
Tamara Ogilvie, CSIRO’s RISE Accelerator program director, said participants will be competitively selected based on how scalable, deployable, and innovative their agritech solutions are for the alternate country.
“Our agricultural contexts share some commonalities, but the scale of farming operations and farmer livelihoods are very unique,” Ogilvie said. “Through the program, participants will have the opportunity to rapidly integrate into overseas innovation ecosystems they might otherwise not have access to, helping them achieve product-market fit for their technologies.”
Established under the Australian Government’s India Economic Strategy 2022, the RISE Accelerator addresses global challenges with a focus on climate and environmental issues. The program’s latest round seeks novel solutions to tackle critical agricultural challenges, including boosting productivity, reducing emissions and optimising natural resource use.
Dr Rose Roche, CSIRO’s Ag2050 Program Lead, said continuous innovation is crucial when it comes to ensuring profitable, productive and sustainable farming systems into the future.
“To support national economies and farmer livelihoods, we need to develop and scale innovative solutions in land use and food security that are suited to our changing climate and growing global population,” Roche said. “Fostering collaboration and supporting start-ups and SMEs to accelerate their solutions can play a critical role in this regard, as their agility and creativity often lead to groundbreaking solutions.”
Application to the program is free and chosen participants have a chance to avail of opportunities such as travel between Australia and India and eligibility for up to A$75,000 in non-equity grants.
Interested applicants for the RISE Accelerator program have until 15 September 2024 to apply.
