2024 Curtinnovation Awards celebrate world-leading innovators

A pioneering gene therapy formulation to restore vision in children, a predictive tool to optimise patient recovery from radiotherapy, and novel food packaging made from abalone are among the 16 finalists in the running for the 2024 Curtinnovation Awards.

The annual awards recognise and celebrate the development of new innovations through research, study, work, or partnership at Curtin University that will have a positive impact on society.

Curtin University Commercialisation Executive Director Rohan McDougall congratulated the finalists who represent a wealth of research collaborations.

“From innovations in health care to smart technology for the mining sector, the standard of finalists is impressive with the 2024 Curtinnovation Awards recognising another outstanding field of innovators,” Mr McDougall said.

“Now in their 17^th year, the Curtinnovation Awards continue to support the next generation of entrepreneurial thinkers developing brilliant products and services to solve real-world challenges.”

Previous winners have gone on to form successful businesses from their innovations including ClimateClever who help schools reduce their carbon footprint and save money via their novel data-driven app; Vetchip, a biotech company whose health monitoring systems are improving animal welfare; and Earflo, who have created a device that saves children with chronic ear infections from surgery.

This year’s finalists are:

• Eye drops delivering gene therapy to restore vision in children with Usher syndrome;
• A tool predicting the response of patients to chemotherapy prior to the start of treatment;
• An imaging technique improving patient recovery from radiotherapy by predicting healing trajectories;
• An Australian designed spacecraft thruster enabling small satellites to affordably achieve higher orbits and longer missions;
• Technology to help the mining industry automate production drilling processes for maximum efficiency;
• A tool to reduce mineral exploration risk and audit resource origins using statistics and artificial intelligence;
• A two-sided marketplace connecting property owners with trusted construction experts;
• An AI-enhanced stethoscope designed to improve early detection of heart valve disease;
• Software that uses facial landmark tracking and detection to aid speech pathologists in diagnosing speech sound disorders in children;
• A digital AI-powered platform helping workshop facilitators record and report group discussions automatically;
• An AI chatbot streamlining support for university students reducing the need for direct input from staff;
• ‘Healthy Connections’, a mobile medical kit providing preventative health screenings in Pilbara communities;
• A virtual reality educational program designed to inspire children to engage with their Noongar culture and language;
• A new sustainable type of food packaging for manufacturers incorporating waste from abalone processing;
• An interactive experience to help parents and educators safely build children’s digital literacy and skills;
• An auto-optimisation technology transforming the way maintenance planners build their shutdown schedules.

Finalists will have the chance to promote their work to business leaders with the winners to be announced on 30 August.

For more information about the Curtinnovation Awards sponsored by Griffith Hack visit here.