- State Government announces WA Innovator of the Year winners
- Six finalists share in a $220,000 prize pool
- Portable PPB Pty Ltd named WA Innovator of the Year
A high-tech portable gold detector has caught the judges' eye at this year's prestigious WA Innovator of the Year awards.
Innovation and Digital Economy Minister Stephen Dawson commended Portable PPB Pty Ltd on taking out the top prize for their highly sensitive detector, which was among a field of 17 finalists vying for the title.
Mr Dawson said the other winners included a device to treat chronic ear infections for children at home and an autonomous solar cleaning robotics system.
The six winners, who will share in a total prize pool of $220,000, showcase the variety of impressive innovations across many industries which are being developed here in Western Australia
The overall winners in the five categories are:
- Rio Tinto Emerging Innovation Category Winner - Earflo for their device which treats chronic ear infections for children at home;
- Rio Tinto Growth Innovation Category Winner - Leisure Technologies Pty Ltd for their wireless towing and anti-theft system;
- Business News 'Great for the State' Platinum Award - Reliis Ltd for their Aqueous Quetiapine solution;
- Wesfarmers Wellbeing Platinum Award -Inspiring Holdings Pty Ltd for their Novel Universal Spacer System; and
- Woodside Energy Platinum Award for Energy Innovation - Innovation Energy Solutions for their autonomous solar cleaning robotics.
Prior to the awards ceremony each finalist was able to take part in a wide variety of training and development workshops to help grow their innovation and take it to the next level.
The awards are sponsored by primary sponsor Rio Tinto, along with Business News, Wesfarmers, Woodside Energy, Griffith Hack, Nexia Australia, Wrays, CERI, Biodesign Australia, Murfett Legal, Moore Australia and PwC.
For more information see the Department of Jobs, Tourism, Science and Innovation WA Innovator of the Year webpage:wa.gov.au/IOTY
As stated by Innovation and Digital Economy Minister Stephen Dawson:
"On behalf of the Cook Government, I congratulate our six winners as well as all the other finalists that took part in this year's Innovator of the Year awards.
"It was a very tough job for the judges to choose the winners from such a wide range of amazing high tech and innovative solutions and full credit to Portable PPB Pty Ltd for coming out on top with their gold detector.
"All participants are well deserved and for me as the State Minister for Innovation, it's fantastic to see such a variety of innovation solutions that are being developed here in WA.
"The Innovator of the Year awards have been running for 17 years now and the level of talent continues to grow and impress each year."
