University of Western Australia
Innovative companies working to develop a seaweed alternative to plastic, cancer immunotherapy in a tablet, creating wave powered generators and 3D-printed polymeric heart valves have been named finalists in the 2024 State Government’s WA Innovators of the Year awards.
The companies, which are affiliated with The University of Western Australia, make up four of the 19 finalists, chosen from 89 applications.
A company using seaweed to create a greener future is a finalist in the Rio Tinto Emerging Category and the Business News 'Great for the State' Platinum Award.
Dr Julia Reisser, from UWA’s Ocean Institute, is the co-founder and co-CEO of Uluu, a start-up working to replace fossil plastics with natural materials derived from seaweed, seawater and 'salt loving' microbes.
CoraMetix and Setonix Pharmaceuticals are Wesfarmers Wellbeing Platinum Award finalists.
CoraMetix co-founders Associate Professor Abdul Ihdayhid, from UWA Medical School, and Associate Professor Elena Juan Pardo, a biomedical engineer, work with the spin-off company undertaking research at Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research and supported by UWA.
CoraMetix is bioengineering a next-generation heart valve using polymeric materials and automated 3D printing to deliver lifetime durability.
Researchers at The Kids Research Institute Australia and UWA formed a start-up company called Setonix Pharmaceuticals.
Co-founders Associate Professor Joost Lesterhuis, The Kids Research Institute Australia Cancer Centre head, and Associate Professor Matthew Piggott, from UWA’s School of Molecular Sciences, together with the Setonix team are developing a cancer immunotherapy booster in a pill.
WaveX is developing a new generation of wave energy technology and is a finalist in Woodside Energy Platinum Award for Energy Innovation.
The company works closely with UWA scientists Dr Adi Kurniawan and Dr Hugh Wolgamot from UWA’s Coastal and Offshore Research Lab (CORL) and the centre for Marine Energy Research Australia (MERA).
WaveX has been working with CORL to perform scale-model testing in the University’s tanks, which provide a controlled environment where waves can be changed and adjusted.
Winners share in a $240,000 prize pool with each category winner taking home $60,000. There will also be prizes for two runners- up, and three platinum award categories.
The WA Innovators of the Year winners will be announced at an awards ceremony in October.