Collaborating with the National AI Centre submission form

The National AI Centre (NAIC) resides within CSIRO’s Data 61 and focuses on AI adoption and innovation in industry. The NAIC’s mission is to amplify Australia’s AI capability to create responsible and inclusive opportunities for every person, every business and the ecosystem. The NAIC:

• Provides national leadership of responsible use of AI to drive adoption and innovation by Australia businesses.
• Convenes Australia’s national AI ecosystem towards a connected strategy and aligned best practices.
• Supports SMEs to adopt, develop and adapt AI solutions through ecosystem connections and expertise.
• Accelerates a sovereign AI industry that fortifies Australia’s national priorities and international strengths.

Submissions

The NAIC seeks to bring together Australia’s AI ecosystem to deliver collaborative projects that support businesses adopting and/or creating AI. The key priorities of the NAIC are:

1. Adoption of Safe and Responsible AI by Industry
2. Development of Australia’s AI Industry and Sovereign AI Capability
3. Support SME success with AI

NAIC welcomes submissions from organisations who wish to collaborate with NAIC to deliver project or initiatives that support these key priorities.

Exclusions

Please note NAIC will not consider submissions where organisations are seeking or proposing collaborations:

• That do not align with NAIC’s key priorities;
• To develop, demonstrate, test or commercialise commercial products or services; or
• To undertake academic focused research with no direct benefit and impact on businesses adopting and/or creating AI.

Interested organisations are asked to outline:

1. Your objectives for collaborating with NAIC (i.e. why you want to collaborate);
2. How your collaboration will support NAIC to achieve its key priorities;
3. Your collaboration ideas (including specific projects you wish to propose or support);
4. What you can provide to enable projects to be delivered (including resources, expertise and assets); and
5. What support you would require from NAIC and other organisations to enable the proposed collaborative activities (including resources, expertise, funding).

All submissions will be reviewed by a panel including CSIRO and external AI ecosystem representatives (‘Review Panel’). Accordingly, please note that members of the Review Panel considering your submission will include parties other than CSIRO. Submissions will be reviewed on a rolling basis (i.e. reviewed at the next available meeting of the Review Panel).

The Review Panel will meet quarterly and NAIC will endeavour to provide responses to submissions within 4 weeks following Review Panel meeting. There is no guarantee that any proposal submitted will be supported by the NAIC. Submissions that are rated highly by the Review Panel will be invited for further discussion with NAIC regarding potential collaboration.

Any collaboration with NAIC that involves confidential information is subject to you entering into an appropriate formal arrangement with CSIRO.

Criteria for assessment of submissions

The following criteria will be used to assess the suitability of submissions. Note that all collaboration submissions are required to involve a co-investment. This co-investment may include financial contributions as well as other forms of commitment.

1. Alignment with NAIC key priorities (30%):

• The extent to which the proposed collaboration or project aligns with NAIC’s key priorities.
• The potential for the collaboration or project to contribute to the development of AI expertise within the Australian commercial sector, particularly for businesses adopting and/or creating AI.
• The organisation’s commitment to Safe and Responsible AI practices. 

2. Industry-Wide Impact (20%):

• The capacity of the collaboration or project to deliver widespread support to businesses adopting and/or creating AI.

3. Expertise, Capability, Resources (20%):

• The level of capability, commitment and resources, including financial, human capital, and technological resources that the submitter can bring to the collaboration or project.
• Experience in working collaboratively with other organisations to impact businesses adopting/and or creating AI.

4. NAIC Support Required (20%):

• The level of commitment and resources, including financial, human capital, and technological resources sought from NAIC to enable the collaboration or project to be successful.

5. Long-Term Sustainability (10%):

• The collaboration or project's long-term sustainability, beyond the initial project phase, including plans for continued collaboration and growth in the field of AI to further promote safe and responsible practices.