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2022 Innovator of the Year finalists announced

Liam Wignell
Liam Wignell
innovator of the year
// //16 diverse innovators and entrepreneurs make up this years cohort....

The WA government has announced the 16 finalists for the 2022 Innovator of the Year (IOTY) awards program, including five female founders.

The program is designed to raise the profile and celebrate innovators and innovation in our state.

This year’s cohort includes a range of exciting projects that include a smart walking stick for Parkinson’s sufferers, and technology for mitigating antimicrobial resisting bacterial infections.

Since 2006, the program has assisted innovators and entrepreneurs in realising the full potential of their innovation. All finalists undertake free training in pitching, mentoring, digital and social media strategy, in addition to legal, intellectual property, boardroom and accountancy advice.

Finalists are also provided with a professional video and photography package, to assist in marketing their innovation.

Six recipients will share a $140,000 prize pool, with category winners to be announced in December during West Tech Fest.

Last year’s 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. They are also 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 awards, with Woodside Energy, Business News and Wesfarmers as platinum award sponsors. Wrays, Griffith Hack, Biodesign Australia and CERI (Centre for Entrepreneurial Research and Innovation) as gold sponsors; and Murfett Legal, Moore Australia and PwC as silver sponsors.

The program is funded through the state government’s $16.7 million New Industries Fund, which supports new and emerging businesses.

Minister Stephen Dawson
Minister Dawson, at the WAIOTY launch in May

Innovation and ICT Minister Stephen Dawson congratulated all 16 finalists.

“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.

Stephen Dawson, ICT Minister

Innovation of the Year finalists

Rio Tinto Emerging Finalists

  • Neurotologix – remote patient monitoring for dizziness and vertigo
  • Ex Planta – unlocking the power of synthetic biology – Isoflavonoids 2.0
  • Protective – broken Neutral Protection Device
  • Speed Signature – describing running gait characteristics
  • Walk to Beat – smart Walking Stick for Parkinson’s sufferers
  • Xsights Digital – XIoT Health Tag for livestock health and welfare monitoring

Rio Tinto Growth Finalists

  • Assuro – bank guarantees and bonds made easy
  • Heat Trap Solutions – safety shower continuous recirculation technology
  • Pixelcase Group – Aero Ranger – AI for vehicle management
  • Sentient Hubs – Dynamic Master Planning Platform
  • Vedi (formerly known as VetDB) – powering veterinary care through trustworthy data and seamless technology
  • Vitruvian – Vitruvian Trainer+

Wesfarmers Wellbeing Award Finalists

  • Neolixir Pty Ltd – Neo X, a platform technology mitigating antimicrobial resistant bacterial infections
  • Neurotologix – as above
  • Triphasic Cardiac Pump – triphasic blood pump for open heart surgery
  • Walk to Beat – as above

Business News ‘Great for the State’ Finalists

  • Assuro – as above
  • Sentient Hubs – as above
  • Vedi (previously known as VetDB) – as above
  • Xsights Digital – as above

Woodside Oil & Gas Award Finalists

  • Axiom Sensing – autonomous Soil Gas Monitoring Unit for Energy Transition Industries
  • FoundAt – Augmented Reality Based Data Management
  • Protective – as above
  • Sentient Hubs – as above

The winners will be announced on Mon 5 December 2022, at the awards ceremony; as part of West Tech Fest 2022.

Read more of the latest news from the startup ecosystem here

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Liam Wignell

Liam Wignell

Liam has extensive experience across marketing, procurement and project management roles in both the public and private sector. He contributed to Startup News from 2020 to 2023 and was contracted as Managing Editor in 2022.
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