INNOVATION

Welcome to the AVALON 2023 Innovation Awards. They recognise and reward innovation by Australian individuals and organisations at the forefront of innovation in aviation, aerospace, defence and space products, services and business processes.

These Awards were launched in 2012 and the AMDA Foundation has now presented $425,000 worth of SME Innovation Awards and Young Innovator Awards.

There will be three Innovation Awards for space, aerospace and aviation innovators:

• AVALON 2023 National Innovation Award
• AVALON 2023 SME Innovation Award
• AVALON 2023 Young Innovator Award

The SME Innovation Award and Young Innovator Award are worth $15,000 each.

The Judges also have the right to Award a High Commendation to other entries in each category considered strong enough to be a winner or a very close runner-up.

The awards are open to Australian companies or the Australian subsidiaries of overseas parent companies operating in the space, aerospace and aviation sectors, and the innovation could be anything from a new product or service to a new approach to business. Young innovators may be engineers, managers or early-career researchers working in industry, academia or a specialist research institution.

We welcome entries from defence and civil organisations in all categories, including:

• Space Operations and Technology – anything relating to space technology and operations, from launchers, satellites and payloads to ground stations and control systems
• Aeronautics – anything relating to civil and military aircraft, helicopter and missile Structures, Aerodynamics, Propulsion, Role Equipment and Flight Control
• Autonomous and Unmanned Systems – anything from hand-held to HALE UAVs, advanced ground stations, autonomous systems and robotic ground vehicles
• Intelligence Reconnaissance and Surveillance (ISR) – ISR equipment and payloads for manned and unmanned aircraft and spacecraft
• Airspace Management – anything relating to air traffic management and control systems
• Sustainment – anything relating to sustainment and the Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) of manned and unmanned passenger, cargo and military aircraft and space craft
• Training – anything from flight and UAV control training through vocational training of LAMEs and air traffic controllers, to professional engineering training and education
• Counter-drone technologies – the detection, tracking and neutralisation of drones (or Unmanned Aerial Vehicles - UAVs)

AVALON 2023 will be held at Avalon Airport, Geelong, from 28 February to 5 March 2023. The Innovation Award nominees and winners will enjoy the attention of senior leaders and practitioners from the Australian defence and industry communities as well as specialist media attending AVALON 2023.

For further information please contact:

Gregor Ferguson
Executive Manager Innovation and Industry Engagement
AMDA Foundation Limited
PO Box 4095
GEELONG VIC 3220

Tel: +61 (0)414 803 717
Email: gferguson@amda.com.au