The Curtinnovation Awards is an annual awards program run by Curtin University to celebrate innovators and change-makers connected to Curtin through research, study, work, or partnership who are developing innovations that will have a positive impact on society. This year’s winners will be announced at an awards ceremony on Friday, 30 August at Optus Stadium.
“From innovations in health care to smart technology for the mining sector, the standard of finalists is impressive with the 2024 Curtinnovation Awards recognising another outstanding field of innovators,” Curtin University Commercialisation Executive Director Rohan McDougall said.
“Now in their 17th year, the Curtinnovation Awards continue to support the next generation of entrepreneurial thinkers developing brilliant products and services to solve real-world challenges.”
There are 16 innovators and teams that have been shortlisted for the awards from a pioneering gene therapy formulation to restore vision in children to a predictive tool to optimise patient recovery from radiotherapy and novel food packaging made from abalone. Regardless of who takes away the awards in August, it’s safe to say that this is a list of teams to keep an eye on over the next few years.
Curtinnovation Awards Categories
There are seven categories within the Curtinnovation Awards; they are:
| Griffith Hack Overall Award | $15,000 cash prize awarded to the best innovation from the overall applicant pool. |
| Curtin Entrepreneurs Award sponsored by the Malka Foundation | Awarded to the best innovation developed by a graduate of Curtin’s Ignition or Accelerate programs. Ignition graduates will receive a Golden Ticket to the annual Curtin Accelerate program whilst Accelerate graduates will receive two Festival Passes to West Tech Fest 2024. |
| Business and Law Award | $5,000 cash prize awarded to the best innovation related to the fields of business and law. |
| Health Sciences Award | $5,000 cash prize awarded |
| Humanities Award | $5,000 cash prize awarded to the best innovation related to the field of humanities. |
| Science and Engineering Award | $5,000 cash prize awarded to the best innovation related to the fields of science and engineering. |
| Trailblazer Award | Supported by the Resources Technology and Critical Minerals Trailblazer program, this $5,000 cash prize is awarded to the best innovation that can support the resources technology and critical minerals sectors. |
Here are the 16 Curtinnovation Awards finalists
- RETdrop: Eye drops delivering gene therapy to restore vision in children with Usher syndrome;
- ChemoDX: A tool predicting the response of patients to chemotherapy prior to the start of treatment;
- ImageHeal: An imaging technique improving patient recovery from radiotherapy by predicting healing trajectories;
- MiniJet: An Australian designed spacecraft thruster enabling small satellites to affordably achieve higher orbits and longer missions;
- DRPO: Technology to help the mining industry automate production drilling processes for maximum efficiency;
- AnalyZr: A tool to reduce mineral exploration risk and audit resource origins using statistics and artificial intelligence;
- Procuracon: A two-sided marketplace connecting property owners with trusted construction experts;
- An AI-enhanced stethoscope designed to improve early detection of heart valve disease;
- SMAAT: Software that uses facial recognition detection and tracking algorithms to aid speech pathologists in diagnosing speech sound disorders in children;
- Edison Collab: A digital AI-powered platform helping workshop facilitators record and report group discussions automatically;
- CeSL: An AI chatbot streamlining support for university students reducing the need for direct input from staff;
- Healthy Connections: a mobile medical kit providing preventative health screenings in Pilbara communities;
- Moombaki VR: A virtual reality educational program designed to inspire children to engage with their Noongar culture and language;
- Shell-to-Sheet: A new sustainable type of food packaging for manufacturers incorporating waste from abalone processing;
- Children’s Technology Cove: An interactive experience to help parents and educators safely build children’s digital literacy and skills;
- An auto-optimisation technology transforming the way maintenance planners build their shutdown schedules.
More information
For more information about the Curtinnovation Awards visit here.
Featured image: Last year’s Curtinnovation Awards winners. Credit: Curtin University.
