AVALON 2023: Australian Innovators celebrated with Avalon 2023 Innovation Awards

In a first for the Avalon Innovation Awards, presented on the first day of AVALON 2023, both the National and the SME Innovation Awards were won by the same company.

Melbourne-based 1MILLIKELVIN Pty Limited was named winner of both the National Innovation Award and SME Innovation Award at the presentation ceremony, held at the Australian International Airshow & Aerospace and Defence Exposition at Avalon Airport at Geelong, Victoria.

1MILLIKELVIN won both awards for its world-leading work developing a stress imaging camera system which provides a full-colour representation of the stress on a mechanical structure under loads, such as the airframes of crewed and uncrewed aircraft and helicopters.

The panel of eight judges, led by former Deputy Chief Defence Scientist Dr Bill Schofield AM, agreed that 1MILLIKELVIN’s entry was a deserving winner for both awards.

The Young Innovator Award was presented to BAE Systems Australia Melbourne engineer, Mr Callum Rohweder, for his work on developing the core guidance, navigation and control algorithms at the heart of the Australian-developed Vehicle Management System (VMS) for the Boeing MQ-28A Ghost Bat uncrewed aerial vehicle.

This year, for the first time, the winners of the SME Innovation Award and Young Innovator Award were presented with a cheque for $50,000 each. These monetary Awards, funded entirely by AMDA Foundation Limited, are meant to be life-changing, especially for the winner of the Young Innovator Award.

“A sum like $50,000 can lever as much again in grants and project funding to help a project across the so-called ‘valley of death’ and turn a smart idea into a proven reality,” said AMDA Foundation CEO Justin Giddings.

“It can help a young innovator undertake a Masters or a Ph.D, to study overseas or undertake an internship focussed on mastering a new technology.”

The awards are sponsored this year by Synergy Group, a team of thinkers, solvers and doers focussed on innovation and professional services.

The winners are:

• AVALON 2023 National Innovation Award: 1MILLIKELVIN Pty Limited (VIC) – for developing the stress imaging camera system which provides a full-colour representation of the stress on a mechanical structure under loads, such as the airframes of manned and unmanned aircraft and helicopters
• AVALON 2023 Defence SME Innovation Award ($15,000): 1MILLIKELVIN Pty Limited (VIC)
• AVALON 2023 Young Innovator Award ($15,000): Mr Callum Rohweder, BAE Systems Australia Limited (VIC) – for his work at BAE Systems Australia Pty Limited developing the core guidance, navigation and control algorithms at the heart of the Australian-developed Vehicle Management System (VMS) for the Boeing MQ-28A Ghost Bat, or Loyal Wingman

In addition, three Award contenders won a High Commendation:

• AVALON 2023 National Innovation Award HIGH COMMENDATION: DMTC Limited (VIC) – for leading a team, that has developed Laser Additive Deposition (LAD) techniques to repair corroded or damaged airframe and power train components far more cheaply and quickly than using traditional methods.
• AVALON 2023 SME Innovation Award HIGH COMMENDATION: MicroTau Limited (NSW) for the company’s persistent work developing an applique micro-rib film that reduces drag and therefore aircraft fuel burn and pollutant emissions significantly
• AVALON 2023 Young Innovator Award HIGH COMMENDATION: Mr Michael J Scott, RMIT University (VIC) – for his work on development of a novel Mixed-Reality Non-Destructive Evaluation (MR-NDE) framework approach to aircraft sustainment, using Mixed-Reality (MR) for aircraft maintenance inspections.

Short videos of the winners are viewable on the AVALON 2023 web site: https://www.airshow.com.au/airshow2023/TRADE/innovation/awards.asp

The Innovation Awards were created by AMDA Foundation Limited and presented for the first time ten years ago at the 2013 AVALON Australian International Airshow & Aerospace and Defence Exposition. Since then, some $585,000-worth of SME and Young Innovator Awards have been presented.

“Our Innovation Awards are designed to recognise and reward the innovativeness and achievements of innovative Australian companies and individuals. They’re still the only Awards of their kind and have become increasingly prestigious,” said Justin Giddings.

“The quality of the entries received this year is a reflection of both the excellence and ambition of Australian companies serving the country’s defence market. “They also reflect the increasing attention paid by the industry to export opportunities: a number of the entries are already very active in overseas markets.”

All of the Avalon 2023 Innovation Award winners were presented with engraved glass trophies, designed and made by Wathaurong Glass & Arts, an indigenously owned and managed cooperative in Geelong.

In addition, the winners of the SME Innovation Award and Young Innovator Award were presented with a cheque for $50,000 each.

AMDA Foundation Limited is an Australian not-for-profit corporation established to promote the development of aviation and Australia’s industrial, manufacturing and information/communications technology resources in the fields of aviation, aerospace, maritime, defence and security.

“That the awards have been won by such high-quality candidates speaks for the growing depth and capability of Australia’s growing industry and defence innovation ecosystem,” Mr  Giddings added.