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April 2021
Welcome to the first New Industries WA newsletter for this year.
This edition is full of current opportunities on offer for local startups, small businesses and entrepreneurs, including two of the State Government's well-known New Industries Fund programs, the WA Innovator of the Year and Innovation Vouchers.
Those who are eligible and interested are encouraged to apply.
Please feel free to share information on these programs with your wider networks and any innovators you may know!
Pictured: Charlie Gunningham (Damburst Advisory) moderated a panel discussion which involved Michelle Radley (Rio Tinto), Ed Bostock (Wesfarmers) and previous IOTY winners, David Steadman (Steadyrack), Derick Markwell (Roborigger) and Ivor Bryan (Mining and Process Solutions).
WA Innovator of the Year 2021
The Department of Jobs, Tourism, Science and Innovation is thrilled to welcome back the WA Innovator of the Year in 2021, after postponing last year's program due to COVID-19.
Minister for Innovation and ICT, Don Punch, was joined by 150 attendees today to open the program. The audience heard messages delivered by program patron Winthrop Professor, Fiona Wood FRACS AM, and previous winner Olivia Humphrey, Entrepreneur-in-Residence at Curtin University.
Running since 2006, the program supports WA innovators with a promising new product, technology or service that is at the emerging innovation or growth phase of development.
The program has six awards, with a total a prize pool of $140,000 to help commercialise innovations. This includes the 2021 WA Innovator of the Year Overall Winner, who will receive a prize of $70,000.
Sixteen semi-finalists will receive intensive business commercialisation training, including pitch presentation training, one-on-one mentoring, a legal health check and financial planning tools. Eight finalists will also receive a professionally edited video of their innovation.
The WA Innovator of the Year 2021 is proudly supported by primary sponsor Rio Tinto, and additional sponsors Woodside, Wesfarmers, Business News, iPREPWA, Wrays, CERI, Griffith Hack, Murfett Legal and Moore Australia.
Applications open today, Tuesday, 13 April 2021 and close on Monday, 10 May 2021.
To download the guidelines for applicants and view an informational video on how to apply, please visit the WA Innovator of the Year webpage.
You can also read the official media statement released today, 'Search is on for next WA Innovator'.
Celebrating 10 years since it first began, the State Government's Innovation Vouchers Program helps startups and small businesses to commercialise their ideas.
The vouchers provide innovators with a financial boost in order to access professional skills, services or knowledge, enabling them to advance their commercial activity in Western Australia.
The program allows for funding up to $20,000 to eligible recipients. Successful recipients will need to provide a net cash co-investment at a rate of at least 20:80, applicant-to-state government funding. For example, a $25,000 project would involve a $20,000 voucher and $5000 co-contribution from the recipient.
Applications must fall under one of the Innovation Vouchers Program eligible expenditure categories:
- Research and Development
- Product Development
- Technology Transfer and Intellectual Property
- Commercialisation Support Services
Applications for the 2021 program will open shortly and it be announced formally via a media statement by Innovation and ICT Minister, Don Punch.
This year's applicant guidelines and an information video on how to apply will be made available soon on the Innovation Vouchers webpage.
Launch of PropTech Hub WA
Opening its doors just two months ago in February 2021, PropTech Hub WA now counts 24 full time and part time members, as it continues to grow rapidly.
PropTech Hub WA aims to bring the property industry together in a relaxed setting that allows for collaboration and network building opportunities. They provide quarterly workshops and have plans for a PropTech Pitch WA 2021 competition, which will take place in September. It involves a $20,000 prize in the form of in-house services and an opportunity to trial technology with REIWA.
Lenders, mortgage brokers, land agents and developers, residential and commercial builders, suppliers to the property and construction industry and of course, suitable emerging technology operators, such as PropTechs are all welcome to join.
"Our industry is very competitive, and implementation of disruptive technology will change the landscape over the next 10 - 20 years and beyond," says Cullum Ashton, General Manager of PropTech Hub WA.
PropTech Hub WA is a joint venture between JJ Leach Group, Jeff and Christian Leach, and Builderz WA Cullum Ashton, who created the idea for the PropTech Hub at West Tech Fest 2020.
If you are interested in learning more about the PropTech Hub WA and their services, they are located at Level 2, 110 William Street, Perth or you can visit their website: builderzwa.com.au/proptech-hub-wa
Pictured: PropTech Hub WA General Manager Cullum Ashton, Property Council WA Chair Sandra Brewer, City of Perth Mayor Basil Zempilas, Director of JJ Leach Group, Christian Leach.
Industry News
WA-born-and-bred start-ups, as featured in Startup News:
Quantum announces 10 startups for 2021 program
Supported by the State Government's New Industries Fund, the Quantum TX program aims to use technologies from mining, energy and defence by applying them to the space and advanced manufacturing sectors.
Startup News maps the WA ecosystem
Did you know that Startup News has a fantastic online resource available, showcasing all of the WA start ecosystem?
Be sure to check it out if you haven't already!
BetterLabs invests $2.7M into WA startups
The investment includes three well-known WA startups: fashion rental marketplace The Volte, social media training platform for kids, Digii Social, and Hey Lady, a social platform helping women learn English.
Canva's valuation doubles (again) to A$20B
Perth's best-known startup sees a 130% increase in annualised revenue.
CSIRO and Singular Health AI-driven project successfully delivered
2020 Innovation Voucher recipient and recently ASX-listed company, Singular Health, have announced a collaboration with the CSIRO to develop automated segmentation of spinal vertebra from CT scans.
9 years of Spacecubed
Written by Brodie McCulloch, this article provides both highlights of Perth's first startup co-working space from the past almost decade in operation and views on where the sector is heading in future.
VetDB wins investment from global biopharma
Congratulations to VetDB for securing an investment from global biopharma MSD Animal Health. This local company uses RFID technology to lock medical information to an animal's unique microchip.
Renergi wins $5.9M to turn trash to energy
Renergi’s goal is to commercialise bio-energy and bio-fuel technology developed by Curtin University's Fuels and Energy Technology Institute. Its initial project was regarded as a success and the company is now looking to apply its technology to waste recycling in Collie.
David Gribble recognised as global business innovator
David Gribble, CEO of Constable Care Foundation, has been awarded by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business. Thousands of young people have benefited from the foundation's augmented reality safety education app, Arility, which was an Innovator of the Year 2019 finalist.
Events & Opportunities
BioMedtech Horizons Medical Research Future Fund
$3.2 million is available to support the research and development of medical devices as they enter human clinical trials and early stage manufacturing. EOIs for Round 4 of this program are open until Monday, 19 April 2021.
Pitch Night 7.0 and Investor Networking Session
Tracie Clark, an experienced investor with Perth Angels and Scale Investors, will be joined by South West Angels to discuss strategies for investment in start-ups, with an opportunity to meet and network with other angel investors. Tickets are required.
Boosting Female Founders Initiative - Round 2
Grants between $25,000 - $480,000 are available to assist female entrepreneurs to expand their startup into domestic and global markets. Targeted support will be on a co-contribution basis.
Applications close on Thursday, 22 April 2021 at 5:00pm AEST.
Climate Launchpad Australia
2020 Innovation Voucher recipient, Sunovate, took out the prize last year and applications are open once again for the world's largest clean-tech and green business ideas competition. This initiative is run by Climate-KIC Australia and supported by the Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources, RACE for 2030 CRC and the Future Battery Industries CRC.
Applications close on April 22, 2021.
MTPConnect 2021 Seminar Series
This webinar is for start-up or early stage research companies seeking to develop and maintain relationships and find new strategic partnerships for funding or collaboration. There will be practical advice and case studies on successful partnering from industry experts in the MTP sector - those acquiring novel medtech and pharmaceutical products (big pharma and investors) to those developing them (startups/SMEs). Registration is essential.
Blockchain Pilot Grants
This Commonwealth initiative provides funding to demonstrate the potential for blockchain to reduce regulatory compliance burden for business. Two pilots will be funded at up to $3 million each to develop measures that demonstrate this potential in the Critical Minerals sector and the Food and Beverage sectors. Applications close Thursday, 29 April 2021 at 5:00pm AEST.
Premier's Science Fellowship Program
The Department of Jobs, Tourism, Science and Innovation is now accepting applications for packages of a Premier’s Science Fellow (a leading researcher from outside Western Australia) and a supporting Premier’s Early to Mid-Career Fellow to undertake research within the science and innovation priority areas of energy, environment, food, health, mining, space and technology.
Fellows will build on WA’s strengths to generate real world impacts. Fellows will assist in attracting research investment, enhancing global connections and training the next generation of highly skilled researchers.
Applications close Monday 3 May 2021 3.00 pm AWST.
Asia Business Capability Workshops 2021
Run by the Department of Jobs, Tourism, Science and Innovation, this opportunity is available to owners or employees of WA small to medium enterprises who are trading or looking to trade with Asia and who have been operating in the state for at least two years. There is no cost to attend however, registrations are essential. Workshops will take place 17 - 20 May.
AusMedtech 2021
This online conference (17 - 21 May) will feature an early stage investment pitching event, featuring presentations from Australia's emerging early-stage technologies. Tickets and registration are essential to attend.
Asian Engagement Summit 2021
Supported by the Department of Jobs, Tourism, Science and Innovation, this event is designed for representatives from Industry, Education and Government wanting to enhance leadership capabilities and build greater connection and collaboration within Asia. Tickets are required.
AMGC Commercialisation Fund
The Advanced Manufacturing Growth Centre's $30 million fund is now open for applications and will run over an 18-month period.
This fund will support projects within the Australian Government’s six National Manufacturing Priorities. These priorities are: Medical Products, Food and Beverage, Resources Technology and Critical Minerals Processing, Recycling and Clean Energy, Defence, and Space.
Commercialisation Fund grants will be between $100,000 and $1 million and must be matched by industry. These smaller-sized grants will complement the larger projects that will be supported through the $1.3 billion Modern Manufacturing Initiative. For more information, please visit the AMGC website.
