2019 AIIA National iAward winners announced

Social analytics platform Neighbourlytics has topped the ‘Business Service Markets’ category at this year’s Australian Information Industry Association’s (AIIA) National iAwards.

The platform — which provides city makers and social impact organisations with data insights on how people use and experience their neighbourhoods — earned the opportunity to compete in the national awards after being named Startup of the Year at the Victorian iAwards in May.

According to the AIIA, the iAwards recognise digital leaders — across various categories — that are disrupting and transforming their target markets and generating tangible end-user outcomes.

Categories include: ‘Community Service Markets’, ‘Consumer Markets’, ‘Industrial and Primary Industries’, ‘Research and Development Project’, ‘Artificial Intelligence or Machine Learning’, ‘Big Data’, ‘Startup’, ‘Innovation of the Year’ and the ‘Victoria State Government Inspiration of the Year’, which came with a $10,000 business incentive.

INWENTECH won the latter award for its ChestPhan-4D medical device, which aims to improve radiotherapy imaging and treatment of lung, liver and breast cancers through better tumour targeting and management of tumour movement caused by the patient’s respiratory motions.

Meanwhile, Deloitte won the ‘Research and Development Project of the Year’ award for its artificial intelligence (AI) enabled patient communication platform, DeloitteASSIST, which allows hospital patients to speak their request for assistance — rather than press a button — and uses AI prioritising and smart-routing to ensure the requests reach the right people.

AIIA CEO Ron Gauci said the innovation showcased by the 2019 finalists builds on the shining outcomes of the 2018 iAwards, as well as the historical success of the likes of Google Maps, Atlassian, Wotif and WiseTech Global.

“For 26 years, the iAwards has recognised and celebrated the achievements of those Australian businesses, individuals and students that are conceptualising and developing leading Australian digital innovations,” Gauci said.

“AIIA would like to congratulate the winners and merit recipients of the 2019 National iAwards and sincerely thank them for their creative and tireless efforts to improve our lives and workplaces. We continue to be inspired by Australian innovators, whether they’re in start-ups, the public sector, community services, primary school, academia or private enterprise.” 

Other winners include: FLAIM Systems, for its virtual reality training system, FLAIM Trainer, which provides immersive training experiences for firefighters and first responders; IP Australia and Agile Digital, for their Smart Trade Mark, a blockchain-backed digital fingerprint for trademark owners to prove their products’ Australian origin; and Water Corporation and Optika Solutions’ H2OME — which analysed data to determine how much water Perth should be using to preserve the community’s livability, amenity and quality of life amid climate change and population growth challenges.

Neighbourlytics’ Co-Founder and Chief Innovation Officer, Lucinda Hartley, was also a finalist in this year’s Australian Women in Tech Pitch event.

Image credit: ©stock.adobe.com/au/fotobieshutterb