The iAwards
The iAwards, hosted by the Australian Information Industry Association , are one of Australia's premier technology innovation awards. The 2024 edition of the National iAwards was held on 29 August at Sky City in Adelaide and brought together nearly 400 tech leaders in industry and government from across the country.
The iAwards recognise and celebrate excellence in Australian technology innovation across various categories, including:
- Business and industry
- Education and student solutions
- Government and public sector
- Not-for-profit and community
- Start-ups
- Sustainability and environment
- Technology platform solutions
The event also features special categories that highlight diversity, inspiration and trailblazing innovations.
Winners of the National iAwards will have the opportunity to represent Australia on the global stage at the Asia Pacific ICT Alliance Awards.
2024 iAwards National Award Winners and Merit Recipients
National Award winner - Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO)
CSIRO clinched the Government and Public Sector Solution award at the 2024 National iAwards with its groundbreaking quantum computing error mitigation technology. The patent-pending innovation, called Spin-Error Mitigation for (SEMO), addresses a critical challenge in quantum computing: qubit noise in solving complex optimisation problems.
SEMO significantly improves quantum processing efficiency, reducing the time needed to achieve optimal solutions. This solution shows how government research organisations can drive innovation in emerging technologies, with potential applications across various public sector challenges.
Merit recipients
Several public and private organisations received merit recognition in the Government and Public Sector Solution category for their innovative work. The Department for Education, South was acknowledged for EdChat, an AI chatbot designed to enhance teaching and learning in schools.
, a global professional services network, was recognised for its integrated solutions across digital and engineering services, while Victoria's Department of Transport and earned recognition for its work connecting communities through unified transport and planning functions.
Compass IoT rounded out the merit recipients with road intelligence technology that uses connected vehicle data to help governments improve road safety and city planning across Australia.
iAwards State 2024 Winners
The AIIA also holds state-level iAwards, and the 2024 edition recognised outstanding government technology solutions that address local and national challenges. In the ACT, Trellis won for its AI-powered Universal Translator, which enables real-time communication across different languages for emergency responders and defence personnel.
The University of Technology claimed the NSW award for , an innovative search and rescue system that combines drones and AI to achieve 90% accuracy in detecting targets. In Queensland, the Sunshine Coast was recognised for its IoT solution that monitors mountain bike tracks to better manage maintenance and environmental impact.
The Department for Education's EdChat project won in South Australia/Northern Territory, while CSIRO's quantum computing solution was the Victorian state winner.
Salsa’s Digital take
The 2024 iAwards, both at the national and state level, showcase how Australian government agencies and public organisations are embracing emerging technologies like AI, quantum computing and IoT to solve complex public sector challenges.
From CSIRO's groundbreaking quantum computing work to practical solutions like Sunshine Coast Council's track monitoring system, these innovations demonstrate that digital transformation in government can deliver real benefits to communities while pushing technological boundaries.