Deadline extended: INCITE nominations close 15 April

Hot off the press: Nominations for the milestone 35th INCITE Awards are now due by 15 April!

As one of Australia's longest-running technology innovation programs, the 2026 program marks 35 years of recognising Western Australian individuals, teams and organisations delivering real outcomes across business, government, research and community.

Run by the Western Australian Innovation, Technology & Talent Alliance (WAITTA), the INCITE Awards are a formal pathway for WA's technology innovators to progress to the national Australian iAwards — and from there, to represent Australia at the Asia–Pacific ICT Alliance (APICTA) Awards internationally.

To enter either program, Western Australian individuals and organisations must first participate in INCITE.

Nominations are assessed on impact. Judges consider the problem being addressed, the technology involved, measurable outcomes, and the people behind the work. Scale and profile are considered where relevant.

Nominate now
Nominate now

New era for INCITE Awards' 35th year

The 35th INCITE Awards sees a refreshed category framework designed to better reflect how technology is being developed, applied and scaled across Western Australia today. There are now nine project award categories Western Australians can nominate in. Each project can be nominated in up to three different categories.

As well as this, there has been strengthened alignment between INCITE's award categories and the pathways they lead to at the national iAwards and international Asia-Pacific ICT Alliance Awards (APICTA).

2026 INCITE Awards categories

Award	Previously known as	Pathways this provides
Digital Government	Innovating Government	iAwards: Government & Public Sector APICTA: Public Sector & Government
Start-Up	Startup	iAwards: Start-Up APICTA: Start-Up
People & Planet	Social Impact Sustainability & Environmental Impact	iAwards: Not-for-Profit & Community; Sustainability & Environment APICTA: Inclusions & Community Services
Research & Development	Research & Innovation (Industry) Research & Innovation (Post-Graduate)	iAwards: Government & Public Sector APICTA: Public Sector & Government
Student Tech Solution	Emerging Leader; Peter Fillery Undergraduate Solution	iAwards: Student (undergraduate tertiary) APICTA: Student (undergraduate tertiary)
Technology & Business	Transformative Solutions (previously retired)	iAwards: Business & Industry; Technology Platform APICTA: Business Services; Consumer
Artificial Intelligence	New category	iAwards: Artificial Intelligence APICTA: Artificial Intelligence
Industrial Technology	New category	iAwards: Industrial APICTA: Industrial

Diversity & Digital Inclusion

Digital Inclusion (previously an INCITE honorary award)

iAwards: Diversity
APICTA: Inclusions & Community Services across three sub-categories: Community wellbeing; Access and participation; Inclusion and equity

Nominations are open to startups, established businesses, government and public sector teams, researchers and research students, not-for-profits and community organisations of all ages and backgrounds.

Entrants do not need to be associated with a technology company provided technology is central to the solution and outcomes delivered.

Following INCITE Awards nominations closing Wednesday, 15 April, the first phase of judging will take place online from 28 April to 8 May.

Shortlisted nominees will be announced Monday, 18 May 2026. Those shortlisted will move forward for the second phase of judging, set to conclude 19 June 2026.

Winners and Merit recipients of the 35th INCITE Awards will be announced Friday, 17 July 2026 at the black tie gala night at The Westin Perth. Tickets are available for purchase on the INCITE Awards website.

Western Australian Winners and Merit recipients receive entry to participate in the national iAwards, set to take place late August 2026 in Sydney, New South Wales.

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