Indo Pacific 2022 – Innovation Awards and Pitchfest winners

Six Australian innovators have been named winners of the Indo Pacific 2022 Innovation Awards and the Innovation Pitchfest. The Innovation Award winners received their Award from the then-Minister for Defence Industry, Melissa Price MP, at Indo Pacific 2022. The Innovation Pitchfest winners were presented with their prizes at the same event after delivering their pitches to a five-strong international panel of judges.

The Innovation Award winners are:

• Indo Pacific 2022 National Innovation Award: CBG SYSTEMS (TAS) – RAC Plus, the Rapid Access Composite fire-resistant, non-combustible lightweight insulation panel for ships.
• Indo Pacific 2022 SME Innovation Award ($15,000): Sentient Vision Systems (VIC) – ViDAR surveillance imagery analysis pod for aircraft and helicopters
• Indo Pacific 2022 Young Innovator Award ($15,000): Mr Alex Murphy (WA) Fugro Australia Marine – containerised C3 and data gathering system for offshore exploration

Short videos of the three winners are viewable on the Indo Pacific 2022 web site – https://www.indopacificexpo.com.au/innovation/awards.asp

The Innovation Pitchfest winners are:

• Best Presenter: Mr Mat Brown –Starboard Maritime Intelligence – Devious deviations: Real time automated identification of suspicious vessels.
• Best Overall Innovation: Mr Graeme Speak –BankVault – Invisible Passwordless Authentication
• Best Maritime Innovation:Prof Sarah Zhang – Western Sydney University – High performance adhesive materials using innovative nanotechnology for defence infrastructure safety and resilience

In addition, four Award contenders won a High Commendation:

• Indo Pacific 2022 National Innovation Award HIGH COMMENDATION: DMTC Limited (VIC) – Enhanced shipbuilding steel in partnership with Bluescope Steel, DST Group and the University of Wollongong
• Indo Pacific 2022 SME Innovation Award HIGH COMMENDATION: Pivot Maritime International (TAS) – CONTAINERSIM – Containerised and relocatable bridge simulator
• Indo Pacific 2022 SME Innovation Award HIGH COMMENDATION: UAM TEC Pty Limited (VIC) – Barreleye diver, camera, safety officer and supervisor network
• Indo Pacific 2022 Young Innovator Award HIGH COMMENDATION: Mr Matthew Harrison (VIC), UAM TEC Pty Limited – Barreleye diver, camera, safety officer and supervisor network

Innovation Pitchfest 2022 was organised by the Defence Science Institute (DSI) with AMDA Foundation and its ADSUN partners in SA, WA, NSW and Queensland. The panel of six judges included three naval subject matter experts:

• Commodore Greg Yorke CSC RAN
• Commodore Rachel Durbin, Director-General Navy-Engineering
• Mr John O’Callaghan, Victorian Defence Advocate
• Dr Clint Novotny, Science Director, US Office of Naval Research
• Prof Claire Davis, Associate Director, DSI
• Mr Geoff Thomas, Axant Corporate Advisory