The iAwards Competition

The iAwards are 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 unearth, recognise and reward 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

Entrants are individual students or groups of students who are enrolled (or who were in 2025 enrolled) at an Australian educational institution at a primary, secondary, or  undergraduate tertiary level (Students). Students must only enter based on solutions worked on while enrolled as a student in 2025 and/or 2026.

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 2023;
• 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 2023.

Diversity Award

• This award recognises technology companies that have made a deliberate and sustained commitment to building more diverse and inclusive workplaces.
• Important: This category is for organisations improving diversity and inclusion within their own workforce. Companies developing products or services aimed at improving diversity in the broader community should enter the Not-for-Profit/Community category.
• This award goes beyond gender to recognise broader diversity – including cultural background, age, ability, lived experience and perspective.
• At its core, this award celebrates organisations that are actively working towards a workforce that reflects the communities they serve.
• To enter, organisations should demonstrate:
  1. A clear and intentional approach to diversity and inclusion
  2. The policies, initiatives, or innovations implemented
  3. Measurable outcomes and impact (eg workforce composition, retention, engagement, or cultural change)
  4. The broader benefits to the organisation, its people and the community
• If you are unsure about where you should enter your innovation, please contact us at [email protected] and we can discuss your individual entry and help you to place it in the right area.  

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).

Artificial Intelligence Technology

• Solution related to the research, invention, and technical development of new forms of artificial intelligence and machine learning.
• Companies or organisations entering must be registered and operating in Australia during the Entry Period and must have an ABN (Australian Business Number).
• Note: This award is not for the application of existing AI tools.

Industrial Technology

• Solution related to the development of new industrial or automation technologies – not just the implementation – that advance the science and engineering behind industrial automation, control, and digital productivity.
• Companies or organisations entering must be registered and operating in Australia during the Entry Period and must have an ABN (Australian Business Number).

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.