Why homegrown powerline safety technology startup IND Technology is turning to international markets

For tech start-ups, Australia often feels like merely a launchpad for big ideas. It’s frustrating to see a life-saving technology developed right here in Victoria gaining more traction overseas than at home, according to Professor Alan Wong, leader of the RMIT High Voltage Research and Teaching Laboratory and CEO and Founder of IND Technology.

“This issue isn’t unique to our business. It’s a long-standing challenge for local start-ups and entrepreneurs. While we do want to pursue business development opportunities wherever we find them, our primary focus remains on supporting our communities. We often find ourselves exporting to places like North America just to stay afloat, which helps us sustain the business for eventual local adoption.”

“Over the last ten years, we have grown at annual rates between one hundred and four hundred per cent each year, ninety nine per cent of our sales in overseas markets. We started with two employees and now have eighty-five.”

IND Technology has recently released a report submitted to Victoria’s Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA) on the FireSafe SWER Early Fault Detection (EFD) Trial. This trial tested EFD powerline bushfire safety technology across rural Victoria, one of Australia’s most fire-prone regions.

Despite the success of eight local trials of EFD systems over nine years, almost no action has been taken to deploy EFD technology in Victoria to fulfil its essential purpose: protecting rural communities from catastrophic powerline fires.

Fifteen years after the catastrophic Black Saturday bushfires, which resulted in 173 fatalities and the destruction of over 2,000 homes, Australia remains one of the world’s most bushfire-prone countries, highlighting an urgent need for effective solutions.

EFD systems continuously monitor powerlines for faults, identifying issues before they can spark a fire. Trials have consistently demonstrated that this technology is a practical and effective solution that significantly reduces fire risks from powerlines.

In North America and Canada, EFD systems have now stopped over 500 potential fires from starting.

Keeping manufacturing operations in Victoria not only helps protect our communities but also creates local hi-tech manufacturing jobs. When businesses choose to remain and grow here, it encourages other start-ups to innovate and launch local ventures.

Businesses will recognise that Victoria, and Australia as a whole, is not merely a temporary space for testing ideas but a supportive environment where they can truly grow over time.

This kind of stability encourages more entrepreneurs to take a chance and invest in their ideas right here in Australia, knowing they have a strong base to build on.

“It’s ironic that this technology was developed to protect Victoria yet is more widely used internationally. We often see this with local tech start-ups: we’re trying to solve local problems, but we’re not receiving the support we need,” Professor Wong said.

“As a result, many of us are forced to look overseas for opportunities, even though our priority is to keep production, manufacturing, and implementation right here to benefit our communities.”