One Award we forgot to mention last week (oops) was the WA Innovator of the Year Awards. It’s now open for nominations, and has more awards and more prize money than ever…
$165,000 in prize money is on offer for the winners of this year’s WA Innovator of the Year (WAIOTY) program, with the overall winner pocketing $75,000.
Now in its 13th year, WAIOTY has been honouring some of the State’s top innovators since 2006 including Canva, SEQTA, Instatruck, Track Em, Kanopy, Sensear, ScanCam and FastBrick Robotics among many others.
Officially opened this morning at the now traditional breakfast at Frasers, Kings Park (see main photo), nominations are now open for WA innovators who are at the emerging or growth phase of development, and can demonstrate an economic, social or environmental benefit for the State.
There are now no less than 4 encouragement awards, each one attracting a $10,000 sponsorship package for the winners. The winner of each category receives $25,000 and the overall winner (chosen from either category) receives $75,000. 16 successful semi-finalists will receive business capability training throughout August, which include pitch-presentation skills, one-on one mentoring, financial planning tools, a legal health check, a digital marketing strategy workshop and more. The 8 finalists will also receive a professionally edited video of their innovation.
The program also links industry and academia through research collaborations to help innovators ground their ideas and move them forward.
In a slight tweak from previous years, applicants this year will have to demonstrate how their innovation will create or support Western Australian jobs and help diversify the local economy.
“The McGowan Government is committed to supporting our local innovation economy to create WA jobs and to help diversify the local economy,” said Innovation and ICT Minister Dave Kelly.
“That is why this year we have added in new criteria that means applicants will need to demonstrate how their innovation will create or support WA jobs and broaden our economy.
“This will ensure we are supporting innovative local companies to commercialise their unique products and grow their businesses for the benefit of all Western Australians.”
Just last week, a former runner-up in the Innovator of the Year awards, Melanie Perkins (of Canva) made the WA Rich List 2018. Ten years ago, Melanie and Cliff were recognised for their Fusion Books online design tool; this innovation led to the creation of Canva which is now Australia’s only official ‘unicorn’ (a private business valued north of US$1B).
There are more sponsors than ever, with Mitsubishi Corporation, Woodside, South32, DXC Technology, Business News, iPREPWA, Wrays, Watermark, EnterpriseFirst and Murfett Legal.
- NOMINATIONS ARE NOW OPEN: Nominate Here.
- Applications close at 11am on June 5, 2018.
- For more information, visit http://www.newindustries.wa.gov.au/ioty-2018
- Applicant Info Pack – download here.
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Main & Central Photo: Panel discussion on innovation in WA featuring Steve Durkin, David Lake, Tash Ayers, Neil Kavanagh, Peter Rossdeutscher, Steve Marmion & Lyn Beazley.
