The iAwards Competition

The iAwards is Australia’s longest running and most broadly scoped innovation recognition program, promoting excellence in the Australian digital ecosystem from the likes of Google Maps, Atlassian, Wotif and WiseTech Global. The iAwards unearths, recognises and rewards excellence in Australian innovation that is making a difference and has the potential to create positive change for the community – whether this is at home, in the office or on a global scale.

iAwards entries are accepted from innovators across the whole Australian economy. Whether you’re an individual, organisation or a student with an innovation that is solving a problem, there’s an iAwards entry category for you. The categories include:

Student & Education

Entrants are individual students or groups of students who are enrolled (or who were in 2024 enrolled) at an Australian educational institution at a primary, secondary, higher education or tertiary level (Students). Students must only enter based on solutions worked on while enrolled as a student in 2024 and/or 2025.

Please note: This category is not for businesses who have developed a solution for the education sector.

Start-up

To be considered for the Start-up Award, organisations must meet all the following criteria:

• The organisation was registered as a company on or after 1 January 2022;
• The founder of the company and/or the product developers must still be the significant shareholder(s) of the company; and
• The company must not be a subsidiary of a parent company that was established prior to 1 January 2022.

 Business & Industry

• Solution related to a business or industry
• Companies or organisations entering must be registered and operating in Australia during the Entry Period and must have an ABN (Australian Business Number).

 Technology Platform

• Solution involving a new or repurposed technology platform
• Companies or organisations entering must be registered and operating in Australia during the Entry Period and must have an ABN (Australian Business Number).

Government & Public Sector

• Solution related to the government and/or public sector
• Companies or organisations entering must be registered and operating in Australia during the Entry Period and must have an ABN (Australian Business Number).

Not-for-Profit & Community

• The entering organisation must be not-for-profit, or the solution must address a problem in the not-for-profit or community sector
• Companies or organisations entering must be registered and operating in Australia during the Entry Period and must have an ABN (Australian Business Number).

Sustainability & Environmental

• For environmental solutions, and/or innovations that facilitate sustainability
• Companies or organisations entering must be registered and operating in Australia during the Entry Period and must have an ABN (Australian Business Number).

Diversity Award

Visit the Diversity Award Criteria page for more information about the Diversity Award.

The iAwards competition takes place over two competition rounds or levels:

State Level

All entries are first judged on a state level against the response criteria and scored appropriately. Winners and merit recipients are announced at our state-based awards ceremonies. Previous iAwards Ceremonies have featured State and Territory Premiers, Ministers and Government VIP delegates, who honoured the best and most innovative solutions in each State or Territory.

It should be noted that Western Australia (WAITA) and Tasmania (TasICT) conduct their own awards competitions and ceremonies and their winners are elevated to the AIIA’s national iAwards competition.

National Level

Winners of these awards go on to represent their State or Territory at the National iAwards. This pinnacle event in the iAwards calendar consists of a series of collaborative events, which showcase the inspiring achievements of our home-grown innovators.

International Level

National iAwards winners can go on to the Asia Pacific ICT Awards. With the support and participation of 16 member-countries from the Asia Pacific region, the annual APICTA competition, where all entrants are already winners of ICT related award schemes in member economies, is regarded as a quality, prestigious and ‘best-of-the-best’ award. It offers top innovators and technologies the opportunity to shine on a global platform, and pitch for the chance to receive a highly coveted international ICT award.