The Department of Commerce-run WA Innovator of the Year awards will continue in 2014 despite a 70 per cent cut to the department’s budget for industry and technology.
The announcement was made at the naming of this year’s winner of the Innovator of the Year title at a luncheon held today, which went to Curtin University researchers.
The Curtin University team took out the top award, and the $100,000 prize money, for its work developing an ion transport membrane to separate oxygen from air for use in the chemical storage of renewable energy.
A question mark had been hovering over whether the renowned annual awards would continue after the state government released its budget for the 2013-14 financial year.
In that, funding allocated for the Department of Commerce’s industry and technology programs was $33.7 million. However it’s slashed that funding to only $9.7 million for the 2014-15 financial year.
In addressing today’s audience at Frasers restaurant in Kings Park chairman of the organising committee for the awards, Mark Pullen, confirmed the awards would go ahead “despite some rumours” to the contrary.
In response, WA Chief Scientist Lyn Beazley said her “heart skipped a beat” at the news.
Other winners in the awards included Joondalup-based SEQTA Software, which has developed a web-based collaboration tool for teachers.
Founder Grant Grosser said being named the winner of the Growth category was a great win for teachers.
“It provides recognition that this is doing something really good for teachers and is going to do something good for students and their families as well.”
Meanwhile WA’s strength in biotechnology has been proven again with a Nedlands-based research company focussed on cancer treatments taking out the Emerging Innovator title.
MiReven has developed a cancer treatment called microRNA which acts against cancerous cells.
It follows in the footsteps of last year’s overall winner - a research team from the University of Western Australia which achieved a breakthrough in the treatment of Muscular Dystrophy.
It has licensed the medical technology to Nasdaq-listed drug company Sarepta.
Commerce Minister Michael Mischin said the future success of the innovations awarded today would generate more jobs and economic growth for WA.
"Innovation is key to finding new solutions, products and services for both established and emerging industries," he said.
Encouragement awards went to Inflatable Packers for its design of a valving mechanism specific for the oil and gas industry, and CASWA which has developed an access control system that ensures only authorised people can use electronic tools and equipment.
