• Finalists announced for the 2018 WA Innovator of the Year program
• $165,000 in prizes to be shared at the awards ceremony in November
• Criteria revised to focus on creating and supporting WA jobs 

Innovation and ICT Minister Dave Kelly has today announced the finalists of the 2018 Western Australian Innovator of the Year program.

The awards, which began in 2006 under the Carpenter Labor Government, acknowledge and reward exceptional innovators in Western Australia who have developed an outstanding innovative product, technology or service.

The innovation must be at the emerging or growth phase of development, and demonstrate an economic, social or environmental benefit for the State.

This year, the criteria of the awards was revised to focus on those innovations that would lead to creating and supporting WA jobs.

There are eight finalists across the WA Innovator of the Year's Mitsubishi Corporation Emerging Innovation category and the Mitsubishi Corporation Growth category. These finalists are in the running to be crowned the WA Innovator of the Year - Overall Winner.

In addition, there are 16 finalists for the program's Encouragement Awards. This year, the program has four Platinum Encouragement Award sponsors - Woodside, South32, DXC Technology and Business News.

The WA Young Innovator of the Year award also continues this year, open to high school students taking part in the Just Start IT program.

Winners will share in a prize pool of $165,000 and will be announced at the program's awards ceremony on November 7, 2018.

The list of 2018 Innovator of the Year finalists is available at http://www.jtsi.wa.gov.au.

Read more via the media statement.