The Open Innovation Pipeline has been developed as an umbrella program to allow multiple small-scale technology trials to satisfy the livestock export industry’s desire for practical and immediate solutions to common supply chain problems.
The Pipeline will enable the LEP RD&E Program to leverage existing technology solutions or provide an avenue to trial novel solutions and technology through short, sharp projects.
Utilising an agile, open innovation approach will ensure that technology solutions can be identified faster and trialled within industry sooner, compared to the traditional research process.
This project is managed by the Livestock Export RD&E Program, a collaboration between LiveCorp and Meat & Livestock Australia.
The objectives of this project are to:
Identify and prioritise industry needs and gaps (or ‘problem statements’) and address these through Proof of Concept (PoC) trials.
Perform technology scouts/scans across other sectors, using problem statements as a guide, to identify promising solutions.
Conduct up to six PoC trials over a short period (up to three months each) to ensure timely assessment of the solution's viability.
Gas monitoring
Description: Advanced gas monitoring sensors will be installed on a livestock export ship to evaluate their effectiveness in automating the collection of data on ammonia, carbon dioxide (and potentially carbon monoxide) as well as temperature and humidity levels during livestock export voyages.
Benefits: Early intervention should gas levels increase, improving safety for the crew and livestock on board.
Provider: Startupbootcamp Australia & Transport Genie
Start date: 25 August 2023
Cattle counting and weighing
Description: A sophisticated visual recognition system developed for other livestock industries will be installed in livestock export facilities, to trial the use of artificial intelligence in automating cattle counting and weight estimation (or percentage change).
Benefits: Reduced manual effort, enhanced operational efficiency, real-time monitoring.
Provider: Pig Brother
Start date: 3 October 2023
Improved flooring
Description: Rubber matting will be installed in specific areas of a livestock export ship, such as ramps and corridors, to assess its effectiveness in reducing the risk of leg injury to cattle as they are being loaded and unloaded. Consideration will also be given to the weight and cost across an entire vessel.
Benefits: Improved safety of cattle being exported by sea.
Provider: Numat Group
Start date: 3 October 2023
The Open Innovation Pipeline will provide a pathway to trial technological solutions from other industries to address challenges within the livestock export industry and deliver faster solutions.