AIIA National iAwards 2018 showcases excellence in Australian tech innovation

Melbourne, Australia – The Australian Information Industry Association (AIIA), the nation’s peak industry body for the technology sector, has announced the National iAwards and PitchFest winners for 2018.

AIIA’s iAwards, now celebrating 25 years, is Australia’s leading awards program for technology innovation. PitchFest is an opportunity for iAwards finalists to showcase their innovations to an expert panel of industry judges.

Over a period of six months, entrants from ACT, New South Wales, Northern Territory, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria and Western Australia have competed for the State titles. Winners from each state and territory then came head to head for the national title in their respective categories.

The award categories included Business Service Markets, Community Service Markets, Consumer Markets, Industrial & Primary Industries, Infrastructure & Platforms, Students, Research & Development Project, Public Sector & Government, Artificial Intelligence or Machine Learning, Big Data, Startup, Innovation of the Year and the Victoria State Government Inspiration of the Year.

At a gala event held at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, The Hon. Philip Dalidakis MLC, Victorian Minister for Small Business, Innovation and Trade, presented Blamey Saunders Hears with the Victoria State Government Inspiration of the Year Award.

“The Victorian Government is proud to support AIIA’s iAwards which showcase the incredible innovation and expertise we have in our tech sector. The talent on show at AIIA’s iAwards will play a crucial role in Australia’s future, not only by making our lives better but by growing the digital economy and creating new jobs,” said Mr Dalidakis.

Rob Fitzpatrick, AIIA CEO, said the passion and dedication shown by the 2018 finalists will inspire other Australians to continue to develop ideas and further technological innovation in Australia.

“What we’ve seen tonight from our finalists is awe-inspiring. It’s real proof of the power of innovation to change our world. A modular, self-fitting hearing aid is nothing less than life- changing. Using VR to treat phobias is truly inspired thinking. We’ve got robots that write

  1. 2018 PITCHFEST

    AIIA’s 2018 PitchFest and Innovation Showcase, sponsored by CSIRO’s DATA61 and hosted by RMIT, continues to be an exciting feature event in AIIA’s iAwards program. Prior to the iAwards ceremony it provided a day-long opportunity for the community to hear from a range of this year’s finalists, as they pitch their innovations to our esteemed panel and live audience. S

    “The Victorian Department of Economic Development has been a long-time supporter of AIIA’s iAwards Program, recognising it as a fantastic showcase and celebration of Australian tech innovation, and a key part of our Digital Innovation Festival. It has been so inspiring this year to see such a broad range of innovations,” said Kathy Coultas, Director, Strategic Innovation Investment at the Department of Economic Development, Jobs, Transport and Resources, State Government of Victoria.

    2018 PitchFest is structured around the three student categories and the five core organisation categories.

    2018 PITCHFEST WINNERS

    Junior Students

    § Sacred Heart College – Passion your Purpose Senior Students

    § Rosny College & Launceston College – aWear: Aged Care Watch Undergraduate Tertiary Student

    § University of Wollongong – GenSpeak – A Language Program for Everyone Public Sector & Government

    § CSIRO & Western Health – CALD Assist Consumer Markets

    § Voxon Photonics – VX1 3D Volumetric Display Community Service Markets

    § Blamey Saunders Hears – Facett: A Modular Self-fit Hearing Aid System Industrial & Primary Industries

    § CSIRO’s Data61 – Hovermap Business Service Markets

    § Boundlss – Boundlss

    The 2018 iAwards is proudly supported by Major National iAwards Partner the Victorian Government, National Program Sponsors Informed Solutions and AuDA, and Platinum Table Sponsors NGS Global, Launchvic, Edith Cowan University, Optus, Dialog, University of Technology Sydney, Oakton, CSIRO’s DATA61, The University of Melbourne, Cisco, Holding Redlich, Salesforce and Wipro.

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