November 2021

A word from the Minister 

As Minister for Innovation and ICT, I am very pleased to bring you this edition of the New Industries newsletter.

The McGowan State Government is committed to supporting innovation and raising the profile of local small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and start-ups through the delivery of initiatives that build the innovation ecosystem.

I am pleased to announce that the New Industries Fund (NIF), established in 2017, will continue for a further four years to support innovation in Western Australia.

Renewed support for the NIF will accelerate new and emerging businesses with the aim of diversifying the State’s economy and creating new jobs. 

The $16.7 million New Industries Fund supports a range of initiatives including the flagship WA Innovator of the Year (IOTY) program.

I recently had the privilege of attending the 2021 IOTY awards ceremony where I saw first-hand the superb innovation occurring in Western Australia and had the privilege of announcing the winners of this year’s program.

The Western Australian Innovator of the Year program exists to support our local innovators by recognising and showcasing exceptional innovation.

The awards celebrate the ingenious work of our state’s most cutting-edge and forward thinking innovators.

So many high-quality entries were submitted this year - a reflection of the passion our innovators have for what they do.

I congratulate each winner for their outstanding commitment and courage to forge creative solutions that will help tackle problems, address our communities’ needs and benefit WA economically, socially and environmentally.

Previous IOTY winners have gone on to international commercial success.

2019 WA IOTY winner Mining and Process Solutions (MPS), for example, recently won the category of Clean-Tech in the 2021 Extreme Tech Challenge, a global start-up competition.

Roborigger, who took home three platinum awards in the last program, has since opened a new production facility in Wangara this year, grown from five employees in 2019 to 17 full-time workers and multiple contractors and expanded into overseas markets including Indonesia, Japan, the Middle East and Germany.

The McGowan State Government has committed more than $33 million dollars to supporting and driving innovation and will provide ongoing support across the state by promoting equity, diversity and commercialisation.   

The continuation of the NIF will support foundational programs such as the WA Innovator of the Year program, the X-TEND WA program, the Innovation Vouchers Program, along with Innovation Hubs. The NIF programs will be delivered state-wide and seek to support and meet the needs of regional innovators and entrepreneurs. 

I encourage you to visit and explore the many resources available to SMEs and start-ups on the Department of Jobs, Tourism, Science and Innovation's (JTSI) website, remain subscribed to this newsletter, and/or visit JTSI’s LinkedIn page.

Hon Don Punch MLA
Minister for Innovation and ICT

2021 WA Innovator of the Year Awards 

First launched in 2006, the WA Innovator of the Year (IOTY) awards showcases the state's brightest innovators and entrepreneurs, helping them realise the full potential of their innovation.

Minister for Innovation and ICT Don Punch announced this year's category winners at an awards ceremony on Wednesday 3 November, 2021, where some of Western Australia's most cutting-edge companies and innovators were recognised. 

Vision Pharma Pty Ltd was named the WA Innovator of the Year 2021 and was awarded $70,000. 

Congratulations to all the award winners of the 2021 WA Innovation of the Year Awards! We wish you every success in your endeavors.

Click the following link to know more about this year's winners and finalists: 2021 WA Innovator of the Year Awards

X-TEND WA Program 2021 

More investor and start-up training is on the way to help grow the state's economy with the opening of Round 3 of the X-TEND WA grants program, which is a part of the WA government's $16.7 million New Industries Fund.

The program provides grants of up to $100,000 to organisations that help innovative Western Australian businesses build their capability, as well as educate investors on the opportunities of WA innovation.

Applications are encouraged from organisations that are able to provide training programs to a range of businesses, as well as start-up owners of diverse backgrounds, to foster diversity and inclusion in the state's business sector. 

Applications close: Wednesday 1 December 2021 

Click the following link: X-TEND WA Program 2021 

WA has been chosen to deliver AusBiotech 2022 and the Australian Biotech Invest and Partnering Conference

Two of Australia’s premier life science industry events are heading to Western Australia in 2022, for the first time in more than 15 years. AusBiotech 2022 and Australia Biotech Invest & Partnering 2022 will showcase Australian life sciences, and deliver the biggest week in biotech for the year.

Click the following link: AusBiotech 2022

WA Health and Medical Life Sciences Industry Strategy has been announced

The strategy will build on Western Australian Government initiatives to stimulate and strengthen the industry over the next four years, and position the health and medical life sciences sector in WA as a world-leading, sustainable and value-adding industry.

Click the following link: WA Health and Medical Life Sciences Industry Strategy

(L to R) Eddie Pahor, Commercial Director, Zipform Packaging, Dr Josephine Muir, CEO Noisy Guts, the Hon. Don Punch MLA and Professor Barry Marshall, Nobel Laureate. Image Supplied.

Recipients of the 2021 Innovation Vouchers Program announced

Successful recipients of the 2021 Innovation Vouchers Program were announced on 13 August by the Minister for Innovation and ICT, Hon. Don Punch. Congratulations to all the recipients and wishing them every success in their endeavors.

You can find a list of the 2021 Innovation Voucher recipients here.

To stay tuned on future updates regarding the Innovation Vouchers program, visit the Innovation Vouchers Program website and the WA Media Statements website.

Western Australia's first satellite deployed from International Space Station

Launched into space back on 29 August this year, Binar-1, the brain child of the Space Science and Technology Centre (SSTC) at Curtin University, has now left the International Space Station and entered low earth orbit. Binar-1 is the first integrated satellite fully designed and built in Western Australia.

Click the following link: Binar-1

Industry News

WA-born-and-bred start-ups, as featured in Startup News:

$1M boost for WA medical products manufacturing
A new voucher scheme from the MTPConnect WA Life Sciences Innovation Hub will see a major boost for medical products manufacturing in Western Australia. Under the scheme, five WA-based companies have been awarded a total of $450,000 to accelerate innovation projects requiring advanced manufacturing capabilities. Matched with cash co-contributions of $600,000, the initiative is injecting more than $1 million into WA medtech, biotech and pharma sectors.

Gridcognition awarded $998K Accelerating Commercialising (AC) Grant 
Congratulations to WA-based energy tech startup Gridcognition on being one of the eight Australian businesses to receive a share of $3.9 million in funding through the federal Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources. Kudos to Gridcognition for also being acknowledged as a 2021 WA Innovator of the Year finalist in the Rio Tinto Growth Category! 

World-leading automation and robotics test facility coming to northern suburbs
Located in Neerabup, the new 51-hectare precinct, around 40km north of Perth, will serve as a major development and testing ground for the future of automation, robotics systems and remote operations in Western Australia. It is planned to be one of the biggest test facilities of its kind in the world!

WA takes out 3 of 9 national iAwards 2021
What The Doctor Said, Avicena Systems, and SpacetoCO, were the three state winners in the National iAwards categories. WA tech companies also won five merit awards. Innovation is truly alive and thriving in Western Australia!

Events & Opportunities

West Tech Fest is a week-long festival held in Western Australian for the local startup and tech community. 

Don't miss this fantastic opportunity to connect with and hear from global leaders as they share insights into how to grow a successful business.

Dates: 6th to 10th December 2021

To know more click the following link: WestTech Fest 2021

Join the Perth Biodesign for Digital Health 2022 cohort!
This course has been specifically designed for: 
-Software developers and IT professionals
-Healthcare professionals 
-Business professionals
-Postdoctoral researchers and academic staff

However, the program welcomes all aspiring entrepreneurs and innovation staff with a passion for digital health.

Applications close Monday 29 November 2021

Core Innovation Hot 30 2022 Awards
Applications and Nominations for Core Innovation Hot 30 2022 are now open. Individuals can apply on behalf of, or nominate an innovative company they feel is one to watch within the mining, energy, resources, oil & gas, space or defence industries.

CORE Innovation Hub’s Hot 30 is a curated list of technologists and entrepreneurs driving innovation across Australia’s most important industries: mining, energy, resources, oil & gas, space and defence.

Radical innovations sought for child and youth mental health issues
The Western Australian government has launched an Innovation Challenge to improve mental health outcomes for Western Australia's children and young people. Up to 10 innovators will be awarded up to $50,000 to undertake feesibility studies or build prototypes, and further one of these will be the selected winner and be awarded up to $1.5 million to develop and implement their solution in Western Australia. The need for this initiative was identified by the Western Australian Future Health Research and Innovation Fund Advisory Council, which was established in 2020.

Don’t miss the next WA MTP Sector Spotlight event!
The MTPConnect WA Life Sciences Innovation Hub invites you to join the monthly WA MTP Sector Spotlight Series event.

Tuesday 30 November 2021, 7:30-9:00am – in conversation with Dr Liz Dallimore and Dr Samantha South (Argenica Therapeutics)

To know more about the event and to register, click the following link: WA MTP Sector Spotlight Event

To keep up to date with MTPConnect news and events, visit the WA MTP Connect website.