• ​54-hour hackathon focuses on gas industry solutions
• Competition builds Perth's reputation as global technology hub
• Record entries as top teams vie for cash and prizes

Coinciding with the prestigious LNG 18 International Conference and Exhibition on Liquefied Natural Gas, the Unearthed competition shows the world what Western Australia's local talent is capable of, State Development Minister Bill Marmion said.
 
"There is a perception the resources sector is just about digging up minerals and exporting it," Mr Marmion.

"What people don't realise is that the mining and petroleum industry is successful due to technology, including sophisticated software, the majority of which originates right here in Australia.
 
"It is only natural that Unearthed, a 54-hour hackathon challenge that focuses on solving real resource industry problems, had its origins in Perth."
 
The Minister congratulated Woodside Energy on its inaugural sponsorship of the weekend-long event, which will see the company put petroleum industry challenges to more than 110 competitors.
 
The State has a strong history in Western Australian companies being successful in the resources technology space including acQuire Technology Solutions, a Perth-based company which developed a geological data management program used on 450 mine sites; and Micromine, a mining operations software program used on 2,000 sites in 90 countries.
 
"Prototypes from Unearthed have the potential to reach similar heights," Mr Marmion said.
 
"Newton Labs won Unearthed Perth in 2014 with a boulder detection system set to save the mining industry hundreds of millions of dollars, which is already being rolled out across several mines.

"It is clear from events like Unearthed that WA's future remains bright, as the next generation of companies are born, creating the products and the jobs that will continue driving our economic growth."
 
Unearthed runs until April 10, 2016 at Spacecubed in Perth.


Fact File

• About 60% of the world's mining software originates from Australia
• Five Unearthed events will be held across Australia and one in South Africa in 2016