Innovators focused on advancing zero emissions are among a record number of applicants and finalists for the WA Innovators of the Year (WAIOTY) awards.
Among finalists are a range of innovative manufacturers and engineers including:
- Hy-Boost Technology for Emissions reduction and fuel saving for combustion engines.
- Nepternal Hydrogen who are developing a semi-vapor electrolyser system for cost-effective green hydrogen production.
Innovation and the Digital Economy minister Stephen Dawson said applications peaked at 89 across a diverse range of industries and the judges have now narrowed the field down to 19 finalists.
This is up from 74 applications and 17 finalists last year.
“Innovation is booming here in Western Australia and this is reflected in a record number of applications and finalists for the WA Innovators of the Year awards,” said Dawson.
“The Cook Government is helping to drive our dynamic innovation sector and directing funding to keep maintaining the momentum and these results are testimony to how exciting it is to be involved in our innovation sector”
Those who win their categories will share in an increased prize fund worth $240,000 with each category winner taking home $60,000.
There will also be prize funds for two runners up, and three platinum award categories.
This year has also seen the addition of a new category for innovation in the public sector, the WA Government Innovators of the Year.
Applications are still open for the public sector category, but close this Wednesday, 31 July.
There have been a number of contributors to this year’s awards including WAIOTY primary sponsor Rio Tinto along with Wesfarmers, Woodside Energy, Business News, Griffith Hack, Wrays, CERI (Centre for Entrepreneurial Research and Innovation), Biodesign Australia, Nexia Australia, BetterLabs, CSIRO, Moore Australia and AIMI (Australian Innovation Management Institute).
Full list of WA Innovator of the Year finalists
Rio Tinto Emerging Category Finalists
| Company | Description |
| Hermes and Soteria | Developing the Overwatch product to conduct subsurface monitoring of tailings storage facilities in mining |
| Materia Health Pty Ltd | Using the MateriaPOD unit to revolutionise organ/tissue cold storage and transportation to improve patient outcomes |
| Protect Devices Pty Ltd
|
A device to prevent extravasation injury in preterm neonates |
| RaptorTech Pty Ltd | Developing the Perceptn technology which is an advanced safe collision avoidance system |
| SeaStock Pty Ltd | Processing Asparagopsis seaweed to make agricultural products with less methane |
| Uluu | Using seaweed to progress the world’s first truly compelling alternative to plastic |
Rio Tinto Growth Finalists
| Company | Description |
| Deimos Laboratory Pty Ltd | Developing a cutting-edge visual analysis device |
| Genvis | Smart software systems for sharing emergency public information |
| Global Data Analytics trading as Tape Ark | Platform to collect and analyse data for organisations and industries |
| Hey Sister! | A new treatment for period pain, PMS and menopausal symptoms |
| Hy-Boost Technology
|
Emissions reduction and fuel saving for combustion engines |
| RaptorTech Pty Ltd
|
Developing a fleet management system |
Business News ‘Great for the State’ Platinum Award
| Company | Description |
| AMLab Pty Ltd | Transformational change at global ports through automation |
| Global Data Analytics trading as Tape Ark
|
Platform to collect and analyse data for organisations and industries |
| Uluu | Using seaweed to develop the world’s first truly compelling alternative to plastic |
| VetChip | Developing animal health monitoring technology |
Wesfarmers Wellbeing Platinum Award
| Company | Description |
| CoraMetix Pty Ltd | Bioengineering the next generation 3D-printed polymeric heart valve |
| Earthlingo Pty Ltd | Building a 3D world of language learning |
| Hey Sister! | A new treatment for period pain, PMS and menopausal symptoms |
| Setonix Pharmaceuticals | Cancer immunotherapy in a tablet |
Woodside Energy Platinum Award for Energy Innovation
| Company | Description |
| Nepternal Hydrogen | A semi-vapor electrolyser system for cost-effective green hydrogen production |
| Strada Percussion Drilling Systems (Australia) Pty Ltd | Developing a dual circulation water hammer drilling system |
| WaveX | Creating wave powered generators |