Top innovators share $40,000 prize pool

Four Australian innovators have been named winners of the IODS 2026 Innovation Pitchfest and Awards following live pitches delivered onsite today

The event brought together 10 national finalists who each delivered a three-minute pitch showcasing their innovations across defence, security and dual-use applications.

Finalists competed across four award categories, with winning innovations including a rapid-response kit designed to quickly replace damaged hoses in the field and keep critical systems operating, secure communications technology designed to protect data against future quantum computing threats, and early-stage advanced chip design concepts exploring new approaches to improving computing performance and capability.

The judging panel, comprising senior representatives from defence, industry and the innovation ecosystem, assessed each pitch on innovation merit, market readiness, customer understanding and competitive advantage. Scores were combined with pre-selection assessments from a separate judging panel to determine the category winners.

The winners announced of the IODS 2026 Innovation Pitchfest and Awards are:

• Innovation Award:Peter Baker, Greenroom Robotics – Lookout+
• Young Innovator Award:Alice Haddon, Chief Fluid Systems – Emergency Hose Replacement Kit
• Emerging Technology Award: Carley Scott OAM, Space CoLAB – Post Quantum Security Communications
• Blue-Sky Thinking Award: Dylan Muir, LexChip Pty Ltd

Each winner received a $10,000 prize and an engraved trophy in recognition of their achievement. A Best Presenter trophy was also awarded on the day to Alice Haddon from Chief Fluid Systems who best embodied the art of the three-minute pitch.

The awards were formally presented onsite by Ms Caitlin Collins MLA, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Defence Industries, Western Australia & Major General Gus McLachlan AO (Retd), AMDA Foundation Board Director and innovation judge.

The Judges highlighted the strength and diversity of the finalist cohort, noting the high standard of delivery and the clear relevance of many of the innovations to current and future defence and security challenges. The breadth of ideas presented reinforced the depth of Australia’s emerging innovation ecosystem.

The Innovation Pitchfest & Awards continues to provide a platform for Australian innovators to showcase technologies with potential application across defence and adjacent civil sectors, while also supporting early-stage development through targeted prize funding.

AMDA Foundation Board Director and innovation judge, Major General McLachlan said the 2026 cohort demonstrated exceptional capability and promise.

“The quality of ideas presented this year reflects the strength of Australia’s innovation community and its growing relevance to defence and national security priorities,” he said.

“By providing both recognition and financial support, we aim to help these innovators progress their concepts towards real-world application.”

The Innovation Pitchfest & Awards program was established by AMDA Foundation Limited in 2013 and is delivered as part of its broader portfolio of major defence, aerospace and industry events. Since inception, the program has awarded $1.09 million in prize funding to Australian innovators to encourage further product and professional development.