New Industries and Innovation Fund: WA Innovators of the Year

Applications for Western Australia's Innovators of the Year 2026 program are now open. Visit the Western Australia's Innovators of the Year: 2026 Application Information page to learn more and apply!

Western Australia’s Innovators of the Year

Western Australia's (WA) 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.

In alignment with the New Industries and Innovation Fund, the objectives of WA’s Innovators of the Year award program are to:

• Promote and acknowledge the success of WA innovators.
• Encourage co-support from industry for promotional activities.
• Activate and strengthen industry-government research collaborations.
• Engage communities throughout Western Australian regions in innovation.
• Promote job creation and economic diversification in Western Australia.

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.

All finalists will receive a professional video of their innovation and photography session, as well as an invitation to an Accelerator program, aimed at upskilling early-stage innovators and entrepreneurs.

Winners will share in a prize pool of up to $310,000 to support the commercialisation development of their product/service.

Applications for Western Australia’s Innovators of the Year 2026 program are now open.

Apply now