NEWS & MEDIA

The Land Forces Innovation Awards has undergone its own innovative transformation in 2024 with a new look format and more inclusive judging criteria.

The Innovation Awards, held in conjunction with the Land Forces 2024 International Land Defence Exposition, launched this year with the announcement it was combining the previously separate Awards program with Pitchfest, to create a new, more dynamic event.

"As an audience member you will still walk up and see new exciting ideas that you haven't heard previously," said Defence Science Institute's Craig Butler who has previously led Pitchfest at AMDA Foundation events including Land Forces and the Avalon Australian International Airshow.

"But as an innovator, there is now a two-phase benefit in that your submission will be evaluated by a board that specialises in innovation and for the first time there is a significant cash prize up for grabs."

The Innovation Program previously encompassed both the Innovation Awards, aimed at highlighting and rewarding Australian innovation, and Pitchfest, which gave a platform to early phase innovators to present a competitive three minute pitch to a panel of judges and exposition attendees.

The new-look program will combine the best of both events by giving platform to innovations in all stages of advancement, with the same exposure to innovation experts and opportunity for reward.

"By submitting an entry, you will be seen by the judges who come from places like DSTG, CSIRO, Austrade and your submission will be shared with ADSUN who can help make the right connections to further your idea," said Mr Butler

“The winner of the Emerging Technology award will also receive a $40,000 cash prize which could be used to take your innovation to the next level.”

For those with an early-stage innovation who are interested in the Innovation Awards but feeling intimidated, Craig has some words of advice:

"This is not a Shark Tank activity, this is a pull through activity," he said. 

“Opportunity is directly proportionate to exposure and in this particular case exposure is not only increased, it is of more significant quality."

The format of the Innovation Awards is not the only aspect that has evolved, with judges announcing that the criteria of the Young Innovator Award will be expanded from its previously strict cut off at 30 years of age, to allow those with less than seven years experience post-qualification to also apply. 

"We changed the eligibility criteria for this category to make the whole Innovation Awards program more inclusive," said Dr Gregor Ferguson, AMDA Foundation Innovation Coordinator and Innovation Awards judge.

"We felt that a blanket rule might exclude some potential entrants: people who'd been ill or who had come to the research community late, or had been forced to make some sort of career break; due to study or family commitments." 

Land Forces 2024 Innovation Awards submissions are now open. 

The Land Forces Innovation Awards are presented by AMDA Foundation and supported by the Australian Defence Science and Universities Network (ADSUN) which connects Defence with researchers from universities, industry and the broader research community, providing Defence with the best research and development capabilities in Australia and researchers with the opportunity to apply their research to real-world problems.

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