Innovative individuals and projects across seven fields have an opportunity to secure cash prizes and national recognition as part of the Australian Innovation Challenge, an initiative of The Australian newspaper in association with Shell Australia.

 

The seven fields in which prizes are awarded are: Environment and Agriculture/Food; Health; Community Services; Minerals and Energy; Manufacturing and Hi-Tech Design; ICT; and Education.

 

The Federal Government is supporting the Australian Innovation Challenge support through the Department of Industry, Innovation, Science, Research and Tertiary Education.

 

The technology created by the winner of last year's challenge, Professor Mark Kendall, is being commercialised by Vaxxas Pty Ltd, a company established with funding from the Government's Innovation Investment Fund.

 

The Australian Innovation Challenge has seven categories: Environment & Agriculture/Food, Health, Community Services, Minerals and Energy, Manufacturing and Hi-tech Design, ICT, and Education.

 

The winner of each category will receive $5,000 and the overall winner will receive $25,000.

 

In addition, there is a Backyard Innovation category (prize money of $10,000), which covers inventions by the general public that are at an advanced stage.

 

Entries close on August 12. Details are available at www.theaustralian.com.au/innovationchallenge and www.ausindustry.gov.au.