Development Projects: Turning research and ideas into practical industry outcomes
AWRI Development Projects help promising research, technologies and new ideas move towards practical use by the Australian grape and wine sector.
Technical success is important, but it is only one part of determining whether an opportunity can deliver value in industry. A solution also needs to address a genuine industry need, work in real operating conditions, have a practical pathway for supply or delivery, and make economic sense for the people expected to use it.
Development Projects provide a structured way to build that evidence before larger investments are made in commercialisation, extension and adoption, or further technical development.
These projects are supported by Wine Australia, with funding from the Australian grape and wine industry’s levies and matching funds from the Australian Government.
How do opportunities enter the Development portfolio
Development Projects begin with an identified industry problem or opportunity. This may emerge from AWRI research outputs, conversations with growers and producers, Helpdesk enquiries, industry partners or broader sector priorities.
Before a project is established, the opportunity is explored to understand the problem being addressed, the maturity of the underlying technology or approach, who is likely to use it, how it might ultimately be delivered and whether there is enough evidence of potential value to justify further work.
Promising opportunities are progressively developed with input from Wine Australia, industry participants and prospective supply-chain or commercial partners. Where there is not yet enough evidence to support Development, an idea may require further research or remain under consideration until the technical case, industry need or potential pathway to use becomes clearer.
Projects proposed for investment are considered through AWRI and Wine Australia governance processes and, the Australian Grape & Wine Research Advisory Committee (RAC). This considers the desirability, feasibility and viability of the opportunity before a project proceeds to contracting.
What happens during a Development Project?
Development Projects are designed to answer more than simply “does it work?”
Work is structured to progressively build evidence across four connected areas:
Technical: Does the technology, process or solution perform as required, and what technical uncertainties remain?
Market: Who has the problem, how important is it, what value could the solution create and what might encourage or prevent its use?
Supply: How could the solution reach industry in practice, and which suppliers, manufacturers, service providers or extension pathways would be needed?
Financial: What would implementation cost, where is value created and under what circumstances could the solution be financially viable?
These areas do not necessarily progress at the same rate. A project may have strong technical evidence but still need to understand its market, delivery pathway or economics. Equally, industry interest may identify new technical requirements that need to be investigated.
Development therefore happens iteratively, with the project adapting as evidence is generated.
Industry involvement is part of Development Projects.
Industry participation is important throughout the process.
Depending on the project, growers, wineries and other industry partners may provide trial sites, operational data, materials, technical knowledge or feedback on how a proposed solution would work in practice. Technology providers, manufacturers and commercial partners may help assess production requirements, system integration, costs, service models or possible routes to market.
Bringing prospective users and delivery partners into Development early helps test not only whether a solution can work, but whether there is a realistic way for it to reach industry and create value.
Where possible, later-stage Development work moves into larger-scale or real-world trials so that assumptions can be tested under the conditions in which the solution would actually be used.
How do we decide what happens next?
Development Projects are reviewed throughout their life against agreed objectives, milestones and the evidence being generated.
At the end of a project stage, which usually lasts for 15 months, technical performance is considered alongside industry need, partner feedback, supply and delivery requirements, financial viability, adoption barriers and remaining risks and uncertainties.
The purpose of Development is not to make every project progress.
Depending on the evidence, a project may:
- continue through a further stage of Development;
- move towards a commercial product or service;
- transition into Extension and Adoption;
- return to research where further technical work is required; or
- be paused or discontinued where the evidence does not support further investment.
This allows projects to change direction as new information emerges and helps ensure further research, development and extension investment is directed towards opportunities with a clear industry need and a realistic pathway to use.
What does this mean for industry?
For growers and wine producers, the Development project approach is intended to increase the likelihood that promising research and innovation becomes something genuinely useful in practice.
It means potential solutions are tested not only for technical performance, but against the practical realities of industry: how they would be used, what they would cost, what infrastructure or support they require, who would provide them and what might stand in the way of adoption.
It also provides a disciplined way to identify when an idea needs more work, should take a different direction or should not progress further.
The result is a stronger pathway from research and innovation to products, services and extension resources that can deliver practical value to the Australian grape and wine sector.
How can I get involved?
Industry involvement is an important part of Development Projects, and there are several ways growers, wine producers, suppliers and other sector partners can contribute.
You may be able to get involved by:
- raising an industry problem or opportunity that you think needs further investigation;
- providing operational insight or data to help define the problem and test assumptions;
- participating in interviews, workshops or consultation to help assess industry need, potential value and barriers to adoption;
- hosting or participating in trials to test a technology or approach under commercial operating conditions;
- contributing to project development through in-kind support, co-investment or access to equipment, facilities or expertise; or
- helping test whether a proposed solution is practical, valuable and realistic for industry to use.
Participation will depend on the needs and stage of each project. Some opportunities may require a trial site or specific operating conditions, while others may simply need industry perspectives, data or specialist expertise.
If you have an industry problem that could benefit from further research or Development, are interested in participating in an existing project, or believe your business could contribute to the delivery of a potential solution, contact AWRI to discuss the opportunity.