About
The Western Australian (WA) Government’s WA’s Innovators of the Year awards program recognises local businesses, government entities and young people that have developed an outstanding innovative product, technology or service.
Launched in 2006, the program has celebrated WA’s innovative and entrepreneurial spirit for 20 years.
Administered by the Department of Energy and Economic Diversification, the program has also raised the profile of WA’s innovation ecosystem, helped to spotlight local talent and supported the growth of the State’s innovation-based industries.
In 2026, the program will recognise WA innovators across eight award categories.
This includes a new category, Advanced Manufacturing, awarded to a WA applicant who has used advanced technology and knowledge inputs as an integral part of their manufacturing process to create efficient, higher value-add and more complex manufacturing goods across the manufacturing value chain.
Applicant Guidelines
This page provides the applicant guidelines for the following six awards:
- Energy Innovation Award
- Growth Innovation Award
- Advanced Manufacturing Award
- Community Benefit and Wellbeing Award
- Emerging Innovation Award
- Great for the State Award
The applicant guidelines for the Government Innovation Award and Young Innovators Award are provided in separate documents. Please note that these two awards also have a longer application period.
- WA Innovators of the Year: 2026 Applicant Guidelines – Government Innovation Award
- WA Innovators of the Year: 2026 Applicant Guidelines – Young Innovators Award
All award winners will be announced at an Awards Ceremony to be held on Monday 2 November 2026.
Applications for Western Australia’s Innovators of the Year 2026 program are now open.
Print this page
