WA innovators awarded funding to boost their businesses

Innovation and ICT Minister Dave Kelly today announced 15 innovators and small businesses will each receive up to $20,000 to grow their businesses as part of the 2019 Innovation Vouchers Program.

The program supports small-to-medium enterprises to improve their capability and commercialise their innovations to facilitate economic growth and create West Australian jobs.

This year's successful applicants will get to access specialist services in research, product development, technology transfer, or intellectual property and commercialisation support.

The recipients hail from diverse industries and fields. These include Aboriginal heritage sacred site monitoring, which used e-tag technology fitted to vehicles to alert drivers when entering a heritage site, and a firefighter protection unit to provide a fireproof shelter to protect firefighters caught in a fire zone.

Last year, Kununurra business Red Rust Contracting was awarded an innovation voucher and successfully manufactured a prototype barbed wire fencing installation tool. This tool has enabled the company to hire more local community members, as previously barbed wire fence installation required specialist technicians.

For more information about the Innovation Vouches Program, visit: http://www.newindustries.wa.gov.au

As stated by Innovation and ICT Minister Dave Kelly:

"Creating more jobs for Western Australians and diversifying our economy is a priority for this Government. One of the ways we are achieving this outcome is by supporting local small businesses to grow.

"From food products to cancer treatments and Aboriginal heritage site monitoring, this year's voucher recipients are a testament to the diversity and strength of ideas we have in our State.

"I wish all the winners the best in using their grants to develop their innovation, and hope to see their businesses grow to ultimately boost our economy and create WA jobs."

The 2019 Innovation Voucher recipients are: