Celebrating 25 years, the Australian Information Industry Association (AIIA) has announced the National iAward winners for 2018 in Australia’s leading awards program for technology innovation. 

Award categories included Business Service Markets, Community Service Markets, Consumer Markets, Industrial & Primary Industries, Infrastructure & Platforms, Students, Research & Development Project, Public Sector & Government, Artificial Intelligence or Machine Learning, Big Data, Startup, Innovation of the Year and the Victoria State Government Inspiration of the Year.

Entrants competed for state titles over a period of six months, before winners from each state and territory came head to head for the national title in their respective categories.

AIIA’s Innovation of the Year Award went to Adelaide-based Complexica Pty Ltd, a provider of Artificial Intelligence software designed to optimise business sales, marketing, and supply chain decisions.

Complexica’s flagship product, Larry, the Digital Analyst® uses data to generate insights and recommendations for sales and marketing staff, to help improve margin, revenue, and overall sales effectiveness. Larry is fully automated, providing users with the answers they need, when they need them. This year Complexica also won the iAward for Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning, the iAward for Business Service Markets and the Australian Business Award for CRM Innovation.

Matt Michalewicz, Complexica's co-founder and CEO, said "It's a great honour and tremendous privilege to receive this award. It's especially important recognition for all our technical staff that worked tirelessly for years on end to bring the idea of a digital analyst to market, and also recognition for our early customers, which backed Complexica and Larry, the Digital Analyst® when we were early in our development and commercialisation process."

Rob Fitzpatrick, AIIA CEO, said the passion and dedication shown by the 2018 finalists will inspire other Australians to continue to develop ideas and further technological innovation in Australia.

“What we’ve seen tonight from our finalists is awe-inspiring. It’s real proof of the power of innovation to change our world. A modular, self-fitting hearing aid is nothing less than life-changing. Using VR to treat phobias is truly inspired thinking. We’ve got robots that write their own code and a world first automatic, real-time, artificial intelligence shark detection system. These are creative, clever, and all home-grown innovations.

“We’re especially proud tonight, as for 25 years AIIA’s iAwards has been bringing inventive minds together from all Australian states and territories. AIIA congratulates 2018 iAwards winners and finalists. The inspiration behind this year’s iAwards program has been truly staggering. We look forward to the next 25 years of celebrating innovation.”

The Hon. Philip Dalidakis MLC, Victorian Minister for Small Business, Innovation and Trade, presented Blamey Saunders Hears with the Victoria State Government Inspiration of the Year Award at the ceremony.

“The Victorian Government is proud to support AIIA’s iAwards which showcase the incredible innovation and expertise we have in our tech sector,” said Mr Dalidakis. “The talent on show at AIIA’s iAwards will play a crucial role in Australia’s future, not only by making our lives better but by growing the digital economy and creating new jobs.”

The full list of 2018 iAWARDS winners and merit recipients can be found on AIIA's website.

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