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The 2026 program marks 35 years of recognising Western Australian individuals, teams and organisations using technology innovation to deliver practical outcomes across business, government, research and the community.
Run by the Western Australian Innovation, Technology & Talent Alliance (WAITTA), the INCITE Awards provide a formal pathway for the State's technology innovators to progress to the national Australian iAwards.
From the iAwards, Winners and Merit recipients go on to represent Australia internationally at the Asia–Pacific ICT Alliance (APICTA) Awards.
To enter the iAwards and APICTA Awards, Western Australian individuals and organisations must participate in the INCITE Awards.
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Nominations are assessed on impact alongside scale or profile where relevant, with judges considering the problem being addressed, the
technology innovation involved, measurable outcomes, and the people behind the work.
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).
| 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 |
|
iAwards: Not-for-Profit & Community; Sustainability & Environment APICTA: Inclusions & Community Services |
| Research & Development |
|
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 |
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 Tuesday, 7 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.
INCITE Awards
INCITE Awards
INCITE Awards
