Hypersonix Launch Systems and Victoria’s Thornton Thomasetti engineer Mr Rhys Centin have been recognised with awards at the Indo-Pacific 2023 International Maritime Exposition in Sydney.
Professor Emily Hilder, FTSE, Head of the Defence Advanced Strategic Capabilities Accelerator (ASCA), presented the Indo Pacific 2023 Innovation Awards as part of the event at Sydney’s International Convention Centre.
Hypersonix won both the National and the SME Innovation Awards, for its world-leading work developing a 3D-printed hypersonic vehicle and hydrogen-powered propulsion system, that have been selected by the United States Pentagon’s Defense Innovation Unit for the Hypersonic High-Cadence Airborne Testing (HyCAT) program.
The Young Innovator Award was presented to Melbourne-based Thornton Thomasetti engineer, Mr Rhys Centin, for his work on two projects: explosive ordnance blast modelling for the Royal Australian Navy; and shock-testing naval equipment weighing more than one tonne, using Australia’s only JASSO shock-testing machine.
The panel of eight judges, led by former Director of the Defence Industry Innovation Centre Mr Tony Quick, agreed that Hypersonix Launch Systems’ entry was a worthy winner of both the National and SME awards, usually presented to separate companies.
The winners are:
- Indo Pacific 2023 National Innovation Award: Hypersonix Launch Systems (NSW)
- Indo Pacific 2023 SME Innovation Award ($50,000): Hypersonix Launch Systems (NSW)
- Indo Pacific 2023 Young Innovator Award ($50,000): Mr Rhys Centin, Thornton Thomasseti (VIC)
Winners of the SME Innovation Award and Young Innovator Award were presented with a cheque for $50,000 each.
These monetary Awards, funded by Indo Pacific 2023 organiser AMDA Foundation Limited, are designed to be substantial enough to be life-changing, especially for the winner of the Young Innovator Award.
In addition, three Award contenders won a High Commendation:
- Indo Pacific 2023 SME Innovation Award HIGH COMMENDATION: Advanced Navigation (NSW)
- Indo Pacific 2023 SME Innovation Award HIGH COMMENDATION: AMOG (VIC)
- Indo Pacific 2023 Young Innovator Award HIGH COMMENDATION: Mr Joshua Cribb, Electro Nautic (WA)
“Once again our awards are highlighting the ingenuity of Australian individuals and organisations, which are proving themselves the equal of any in the world,” said AMDA Foundation CEO Justin Giddings. “These monetary awards are designed as rewards for their efforts and as a practical financial contribution to further innovation and the development of professional skills.”
The Indo Pacific 2023 Innovation Awards recognise and reward Australian individuals and organisations at the forefront of defence innovation in products, services and business processes.
The Awards are open to Australian companies and the Australian divisions of international organisations.
Innovations are judged on their commercial success or market potential, understanding of user needs and originality.
Since the launch of the Innovation Awards program in 2012, Indo Pacific organiser AMDA Foundation has presented SME Innovation and Young Innovator Awards to a value of $685,000 through its Avalon Australian International Airshow, Indo Pacific and Land Forces events.
This year the AMDA Foundation Board moved to increase the cash prize awards from $15,000 to $50,000 to encourage local innovation at a critical time in Australia’s industrial and strategic development and to make a significant impact on a company’s operations or the professional development of a young innovator.
