- Finalists shortlisted in the McGowan Government's 2022 Innovator of the Year program
- The WA Innovator of the Year program assists in profiling and giving credibility to local innovative companies
- This year's finalists include a diverse mix of founders and innovators, including five female founders
Sixteen local innovators have been named by the McGowan Government as the finalists for the coveted 2022 WA Innovator of the Year (IOTY) awards.
Finalists in this year's awards are developing a range of exciting projects including a smart walking stick for Parkinson's sufferers, and technology for mitigating antimicrobial resistant bacterial infections.
First launched in 2006, the WA IOTY awards showcase the State's brightest innovators and entrepreneurs, helping them realise the full potential of their innovative creation.
The 2022 WA IOTY finalists will undertake training in pitching, mentoring, digital and social media strategy, in addition to receiving legal, IP and accountancy advice. Finalists will also be provided with a professional photography and video package to assist in the marketing of their innovation.
A prize pool of $140,000 will be shared by six recipients, with the category winners to be announced in December.
The 2021 WA IOTY overall winner, Vision Pharma Pty Ltd, utilised the funding to advance the commercialisation of their next generation RNA therapeutics.
In May this year the company announced the completion of preliminary studies into the novel treatment of a blinding eye disease called Retinitis Pigmentosa type 11, and is on track to submit an Investigational New Drug application with the US Food and Drug Administration later this year.
Rio Tinto is the primary sponsor of the 2022 WA IOTY awards, with Woodside Energy, Business News and Wesfarmers as platinum award sponsors; Griffith Hack, Wrays, Biodesign Australia and The Centre for Entrepreneurial Research and Innovation (CERI) as gold sponsors; and Murfett Legal, Moore Australia and PwC as silver sponsors.
The WA IOTY awards are funded through the State Government's $16.7 million New Industries Fund, which supports new and emerging businesses to diversify the WA economy and create new jobs.
To learn more about the WA Innovator of the Year program, please visit wa.gov.au/IOTY
Comments attributed to Innovation and ICT Minister Stephen Dawson:
"It's vitally important that we not only acknowledge and celebrate WA's most promising innovators, but also provide the support and the network to assist them bring their innovation to fruition.
"The 2022 WA Innovator of the Year program is integral to this process by showcasing the industry's best ideas and steering them on a pathway for further success.
"Through the WA Innovator of the Year awards our local talent has an avenue in which to connect and develop, harness their skills and cultivate a network to progress their projects.
"Congratulations to all 16 finalists in this year's awards and I wish them all the best for the future."
Minister's office - 6552 5800
Innovator of the Year Finalists:
Rio Tinto Emerging Finalists
Company: Ex Planta Pty Ltd
Description: Unlocking the power of synthetic biology - Isoflavonoids 2.0
Company: Neurotologix Pty Ltd
Description: Remote patient monitoring for dizziness and vertigo
Company: Protective Pty Ltd
Description: Broken Neutral Protection Device
Company: Speed Signature
Description: Describing running gait characteristics
Company: Walk to Beat Pty Ltd
Description: Smart Walking Stick for Parkinson's sufferers
Company: Xsights Digital Pty Ltd
Description: XIoT Health Tag for livestock health and welfare monitoring
Rio Tinto Growth Finalists
Company: Assuro
Description: Bank guarantees and bonds made easy
Company: Heat Trap Solutions Pty Ltd
Description: Safety shower continuous recirculation technology
Company: Pixelcase Group Pty Ltd
Description: Aero Ranger - AI for vehicle management
Company: Sentient Hubs
Description: Dynamic Master Planning Platform
Company: Vedi (formally known as VetDB)
Description: Powering veterinary care through trustworthy data and seamless technology
Company: Vitruvian
Description: Vitruvian Trainer+ Smart Home Gym
Wesfarmers Wellbeing Award Finalists
Company: Lixa Pty Ltd
Description: Neo X, a platform technology mitigating antimicrobial resistant bacterial infections
Company: Neurotologix Pty Ltd
Description: Remote patient monitoring for dizziness and vertigo
Company: Triphasic Cardiac Pump Pty Ltd
Description: Triphasic blood pump for open heart surgery
Company: Walk to Beat Pty Ltd
Description: Smart Walking Stick for Parkinson's sufferers
Business News Great for the State Award Finalists
Company: Assuro
Description: Bank guarantees and bonds made easy
Company: Sentient Hubs
Description: Dynamic Master Planning Platform
Company: Vedi (formally known as VetDB)
Description: Powering veterinary care through trustworthy data and seamless technology
Company: Xsights Digital Pty Ltd
Description: XIoT Health Tag for Livestock health and welfare monitoring
Woodside Energy Award Finalists
Company: Axiom Sensing
Description: Autonomous Soil Gas Monitoring Unit for Energy Transition Industries
Company: FoundAt Pty Ltd
Description: FoundAt Augmented Reality Based Data Management
Company: Protective Pty Ltd
Description: Broken Neutral Protection Device
Company: Sentient Hubs
Description: Dynamic Master Planning Platform
