Noosa tech company Fireball International will receive $500,000 in federal funding for an innovative new system that could detect bushfires in as little as three minutes, Federal Member for Wide Bay Llew O’Brien announced today.

“Fireball International has developed an Early Wildfire Detection System that can alert emergency services and authorities within minutes of bushfires starting, which will allow rapid response so the fires can be extinguished while they are still small,” Mr O’Brien said. 

“This system will reduce significantly both the human and financial cost of wildfires such as those seen in Noosa and on a great scale, across Australia last summer, and could have a significant economic and social benefit not only for Australia but also globally.”

Mr O’Brien said Fireball International would receive $500,000 through the Entrepreneurs’ Programme, and was one of 11 business across Australia to share in a total of $4.65 million as part of the Australian Government’s flagship program supporting business growth, innovation and commercialisation. 

“This funding highlights the innovative work being done in Noosa and throughout the Wide Bay, and puts our region on the world map when it comes to technology used to fight bushfires,” Mr O’Brien said.  

“This support will not only help Fireball International to grow but will drive economic growth in the Noosa region.”

The Coalition Government has invested almost $234 million in the commercialisation of new products, processes and services over the last five years, with 488 Accelerating Commercialisation grants awarded to Australian business to get their products off the ground.

Minister for Agriculture, Drought and Emergency Management David Littleproud said the support will accelerate the development of high-quality projects which have strong local and export market potential. 

“The Australian Government is committed to backing clever projects like these that deliver economic opportunities while solving real-world problems,” Minister Littleproud said.

“These grants help businesses to undertake development and commercialisation activities like product trials, licensing and manufacturing scale-up essential and often challenging steps in taking new products to market.

“Projects funded through the Entrepreneur’s Programme have led to an increase in jobs, capital raising and revenue growth for successful businesses, and in the case of Fireball International, could also save homes, business and lives.” 

Since the launch of the Accelerating Commercialisation grants in 2014, 489 grants worth more than $235 million have been offered to Australian businesses to commercialise their products.

More information on the grant recipients is available at www.business.gov.au/ac-funding-offers. You can apply for the Entrepreneurs’ Programme Accelerating Commercialisation service and funding at www.business.gov.au/ep.