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Curtinnovation Awards 2025

Official Program
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Acknowledgment of Country

Acknowledgment of Country

Curtin University acknowledges all First Nations of this place we call Australia and recognises the many nations who have looked after Country for more than 60,000 years. We are honoured and grateful for the privilege to maintain campuses operating in Boorloo (Perth) and Karlkurla (Kalgoorlie) in Australia. We pay our respects to Elders past and present as Custodians and Owners of these lands.

 Order of proceedings

Official welcome

Professor Lindy Fitzgerald, Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Research Curtin University

As a university with an established reputation for innovation, Curtin excels in a diverse range of research areas that aim to make tomorrow better for people all over the world. Hear from Deputy-Vice Chancellor of Research, Professor Lindy Fitzgerald, as she explains how the Curtinnovation Awards help to showcase Curtin’s strengths in research, commercialisation and innovation.

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2025 Finalists

Celebrating Curtin University’s bold innovators.

Congratulations to our 2025 Curtinnovation Awards finalists on their innovation-driven projects:

AR Construction Safety Tool

Person in high-visibility gear and VR goggles interacting with a virtual interface at a construction site, with cranes and workers in the background

Aura-CXR

Five members of the Aura-CXR team stand in business and medical attire standing in front of a modern glass building.

Beeper Ball

Seven people, some blindfolded, play blind soccer on a grassy field, with one player in black athletic gear preparing to kick the ball near an inflatable barrier.

Bio-Refining of Abattoir Waste

Two hands holding a biochar above a larger pile of biochar

Cellulose Wound Patches

A gloved hand puts a specimen into a spectrophotometer machine to determine bacterial growth by the optical density

CuddleCup

Founder of CuddleCup Jessica Rees presents her startup in front of a large screen

Waste to Bioplastic

Two people stand in white coats in a laboratory setting.

Gel-Based Water Sensor

Person holding a smartphone near a waterfront with Perth city skyline in the background.

Indrus

Two professionally dressed Indrus project team members standing in a modern office space, holding a tablet and folder, with tables and posters in the background.

Mechanochemical Lithium Extraction

Mechanochemical Lithium Extraction

Minerva

Two Minerva project team members standing outdoors in front of stone steps, dressed in casual and business-casual attire.

NeuroPose

Medical professional in surgical attire reviewing brain scans on multiple monitors in a clinical setting.

Organic Oceans

Two Organic Oceans project team members in lab coats working in a laboratory with scientific equipment and seaweed-based substances on the table

Pyromantis

Aerial photograph of a bushfire with smoke billowing up from a cluster of trees

RapidGraphite

Two RapidGraphite project team members standing outside Curtin University, holding equipment near industrial units.

RetiDrop

Eleven RetiDrop project team members in white lab coats standing in a laboratory with scientific equipment and workstations.

RockAI

Person in high-visibility workwear and hard hat using a surveying instrument on sandy terrain, with an off-road vehicle and open landscape in the background.

SmartBuddy

Child sitting on a bed or couch holding a tablet, with an orange stuffed monkey toy beside them.

Upcycling offshore Assets

Offshore oil rig with cranes, pipelines, and a flare stack emitting flames, set against a partly cloudy sky and calm ocean.

Curtinnovation Event Showcase Booths

View the seven showcase booths located in the River View Rooms throughout the Curtinnovation Awards event.

Curtin University: A Global Entrepreneurial Institute

Innovation is embedded in Curtin’s identity. The University has a strong history of transforming ideas into successful products, services and businesses.

Programs

The Curtinnovation Awards recognises and celebrates innovative individuals and teams. Programs such as Curtin Ignition and Curtin Accelerate build capability in entrepreneurial teams.

Our Curtin Venture Studio is fast tracking the building of ‘protoventures’, successful enterprises based on demand driven research.

Our Entrepreneurs in Residence program is designed to inspire and guide the next generation of entrepreneurs while the Kickstart fund fills the gap in early-stage funding.

Our annual West Tech Fest will take place from 8 – 12 December 2025 and connects the local startup ecosystem with global tech titans.

Contact us

Curtin’s commercialisation team takes ideas from infancy to commercial viability.

If you’re a potential investor scouting for opportunities or you’re a researcher, student or alumni with a great idea for an innovative product or service, contact us today for a chat.

Available in alternative formats on request.

Disclaimer and copyright

Information in this publication is correct at the time of printing but may be subject to change. This material does not purport to constitute legal or professional advice. Curtin accepts no responsibility for and makes no representations, whether express or implied, as to the accuracy or reliability in any respect of any material in this publication. Except to the extent mandated otherwise by legislation, Curtin University does not accept responsibility for the consequences of any reliance which may be placed on this material by any person. Curtin will not be liable to you or to any other person for any loss or damage (including direct, consequential or economic loss or damage) however caused and whether by negligence or otherwise which may result directly or indirectly from the use of this publication.

© Curtin University 2025.

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Official Welcome

Every year, the Curtinnovation Awards showcase a remarkable blend of creativity, passion and real‑world impact, and 2025 is no exception. In fact, this year we received a record-breaking 109 applications, which is testament to our state’s flourishing environment of innovation and entrepreneurial thinking.

The 19 finalists span a breadth of fields, with innovations ranging from technologies designed to protect and restore our environment, to new tools that improve health and wellbeing, and novel applications of AI that are reshaping industries at pace. Together, they reflect the growing power of collaboration between research, industry and investors in generating solutions to local and global challenges.

Curtin University’s Commercialisation Team has been at the epicentre of these efforts for many years, helping West Australians turn bright ideas into commercially viable products and services. The team not only supports research translation – it delivers a series of programs that mentor and foster WA’s aspiring entrepreneurs at all stages of the innovation cycle, including Ignition, Accelerate, and West Tech Fest.

Building on this commitment, the Curtin Venture Studio established in 2024 continues to accelerate the growth of start-ups tackling some of the world’s most pressing issues, from achieving net-zero emissions to improving human health and quality of life.

Thank you to everyone who submitted applications to the 2025 Curtinnovation Awards. It was an exceptionally strong field and I congratulate the finalists on their success, which only comes from a combination of research excellence, rigour, ambition and persistence.

I encourage you to consider the potential of the innovations presented this year, and whether your organisation can form a mutually beneficial partnership with the innovators. Your support and investment can shape the future, drive positive change and yield substantial returns for both academia and industry.

Professor Lindy Fitzgerald
Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Research
Curtin University

AR Construction Safety Tool

Designed to make safety training in the construction industry more effective, engaging and realistic, this augmented reality tool offers immersive, scenario-based learning experiences, placing users in realistic simulations of construction hazards. Rather than passively receiving information, users become active participants in training which reinforces the learning outcomes. Trainees make real-time decisions in realistic scenarios that evolve in response to different user choices, mirroring the unpredictable and dynamic nature of actual construction environments.

Team: Ms Yingxue (Tori) Zhang, Prof Billy Sung, Dr Michael Ovens

Aura CXR

AURA-CXR is an AI-powered platform that helps radiologists generate fast, accurate chest X-ray reports with clear visual explanations. Designed for use across real-life workflows and clinician training, it reduces diagnostic delays and clinician workload. AURA-CXR tailors its reports to different experience levels, integrates patient history and doctor queries and ensures secure, standards-compliant data handling. By improving speed, clarity and trust in diagnosis, it enhances patient outcomes and supports more efficient healthcare delivery.

Team: A/Prof Sonny Pham, Mr Chayan Mondal, Dr Ashu Gupta, Professor Tom Gedeon, Professor Tele Tan

Beeper Ball

Beeper Ball is an electronic audible ball designed specifically for blind soccer. Featuring an embedded rechargeable audio player, it emits a continuous rattle-like sound when activated, allowing players with vision impairment to easily track the ball by sound. Beeper Ball is part of a larger PhD research project focused on enriching the experience of blind footballers through a suite of assistive technologies that combine multisensory design, sensors and digital fabrication. Developed in collaboration with Blind Sports Western Australia (BSWA) and, more recently, Australian Blind Football (ABF), the project bridges both amateur and professional perspectives to create inclusive sporting experiences at all levels.

Team: Mr Fitorio Leksono, Dr Qassim Saad, Dr Nigel Gribble

Bio-Refining of Abattoir Waste

Through enzymatic degradation and mild thermal treatment, this system transforms abattoir waste into three valuable products: a nitrogen-rich bio-fertilizer, energy-generating biochar and a CO₂-capturing bio-liquor. The process not only addresses waste management challenges but also contributes to sustainable agriculture, clean energy and industrial carbon capture, with potential for broader applications in other protein-rich waste streams, such as fish or food processing industries. With interest from the Australian Meat Processor Corporation and potential partnerships with CO₂-emitting industries like power plants and cement producers, this innovation offers a scalable, low-temperature solution for decarbonising multiple sectors while creating circular value from organic waste.

Team: Dr Ibukun Oluwoye, Dr Erika Suarez Rodriguez

Cellulose Wound Patches

Designed as a sustainable alternative to synthetic dressings, these medical-grade bacterial cellulose wound patches are grown from natural sources including waste coconut water. Unlike conventional dressings that adhere to wounds and may cause trauma upon removal, these wound patches ensure a gentle, pain-free healing experience while maintaining an optimal wound environment, offering exceptional moisture retention, breathability and antimicrobial properties.

Team: Ms Maryam Khan, Prof Chithirai Pon Selvan Muthu Perumal

cuddlecup

CuddleCup is a self-heating, single-use baby feeding pouch that warms breast milk or formula to a safe temperature without water, electricity or batteries. The lightweight, single-use foil pouch can be filled with breast milk or formula and fitted with a baby bottle teat, instantly transforming it into a sterile, ready-to-feed option making it ideal for parents, caregivers and healthcare teams in emergencies, travel or clinical settings. Soon to reach the market, it has won multiple awards and attracted strong interest from neonatal teams and industry partners.

Team: Ms Jessica Rees

Waste to Bioplastic

This green biorefinery innovation offers a zero-waste, energy-efficient solution for converting agricultural waste into eco-friendly bioplastics. The process uses a unique application of ozone via microbubbles to break down waste biomass, releasing sugars suitable for fermentation into lactic acid, a key ingredient in bioplastics. Operating under mild conditions without producing harmful by-products, the technology addresses major sustainability challenges in both the bioplastics industry and agricultural waste management.

Team: A/Prof Inn Shi Tan, A/Prof Henry Chee Yew Foo, Dr Tian Foon Howe, Dr Kevin Tian Xiang Tong, A/Prof Man Kee Lam

Gel-based water sensor

This portable, low-cost gel-based sensor detects water contaminants instantly, delivering lab-grade results in the field for just $1–$2 per test. Powered by small batteries or USB and simple enough for non-experts to use, it offers real-time, data-rich monitoring. Its rugged, energy-efficient design makes it especially valuable in regional communities across Australia, where water quality monitoring is often inaccessible or unaffordable. Filling the gap between costly professional instruments and unreliable test kits, it has strong industry interest and potential applications ranging from agriculture to pipeline monitoring.

Team: Dr Elena Gorenskaia, Professor Debbie Silvester

Indrus

Indrus turns existing CCTV into a GPS-like tracking system for vehicles and equipment in ports or yards. Currently in logistics trials with major partners, it calibrates footage to real-world coordinates, links multiple cameras and tracks assets in 3D space without physical tags. Unlike traditional systems that rely on visual recognition, Indrus uses each asset’s unique movement path to maintain accurate tracking – even when items look similar or move between camera views. It creates a seamless digital twin of the entire site, offering real-time visibility and end-to-end operational awareness.

Team: Mr Dre Siwela, Mr Ryan Liebregts

Mechanochemical Lithium Extraction

The mechanochemical lithium extraction process is a low-emission, low-cost and scalable alternative to traditional high-temperature methods that rely on energy-intensive thermal treatment. This method operates at temperatures below 100 °C and under atmospheric pressure, significantly reducing energy consumption, emissions and operational costs. The process flow requires minimal equipment, reduces extraction time and reagent use and involves the use of environmentally friendly reagents like organic acids. The process not only improves lithium selectivity and yield but also enables the recovery of valuable by-products like aluminium, potassium and rubidium, turning waste into economic value and further improving sustainability.

Team: Dr Richard Alorro, Mr Yuik Eom, Prof Aleksandar Nikoloski (Murdoch University), A/Prof Laurence Dyer

minerva

Minerva is a user-friendly medical imaging tool to support the treatment of complex congenital heart defects during pre-operative planning. Designed in collaboration with surgeons and radiologists, Minerva enables rapid, intuitive exploration of images formed from large CT and MRI datasets. Users can interact with 3D medical images in virtual reality, using a standard laptop and off-the shelf headset, facilitating quick clinical insights and effective multidisciplinary collaboration.

Team: Dr Michael Ovens, Professor Zhonghua Sun, Dr David Andrews, Dr Ashu Gupta

neuropose

NeuroPose is a low-cost system which uses three small radar sensors to provide real-time, non-invasive 3D tracking of a patient’s head during delicate surgeries. It detects even minute misalignments without physical contact, enabling immediate surgical adjustments to improve safety and precision. With lab-validated accuracy and strong clinical interest, NeuroPose offers an affordable alternative to costly imaging technologies, delivering continuous monitoring for both high- and low-resource healthcare settings.

Team: Dr Himanshu Agrawal, Prof Yue Rong, Prof Tele Tan, Dr Gabriel Lee, A/Prof Sonny Pham, Mr Marcus Fong, Mr Joseph Scott

Organic Oceans

Organic Oceans has created SeaSoothe, a gut health supplement made from land-farmed seaweed pioneered in Western Australia, to help manage inflammation, improve fibre intake and support microbiome balance. Through enzymatic processing, SeaSoothe delivers bioavailable antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds at up to 10 times the potency of traditional seaweed powders. Grown in clean, mineral-enriched tanks, the seaweed is free from heavy metals and pollutants often found in ocean-harvested alternatives. Scalable, sustainable and clinically backed, this innovation offers a safe and effective way to harness the full health benefits of seaweed.

Team: Dr Alexis Chung, Dr Joel Wynhorst

Pyromantis

Pyromantis is a multispectral camera system designed give local communities and emergency services timely, science-backed insights to better manage fire risk and help prevent bushfires. With five specialised “eyes” that see across visible and infrared light, Pyromantis captures high-resolution images to map vegetation dryness, a key risk factor in how fires start and spread. Developed by Curtin students as part of the Binar Space Program, the system is designed for both space and stratospheric balloon flights, with a successful test already completed over bushfire-prone areas in Western Australia.

Team: Dr Eriita Jones, Mr Dale Giancono, Ms Athena Galbraith, Ms Meg Berry, Dr Robert Howie, Prof. Phil Bland

RapidGraphite

RapidGraphite is pioneering a breakthrough in synthetic graphite production, a critical component in fast-charging lithium-ion batteries. While traditional manufacturing methods are slow, carbon-intensive and energy-hungry, requiring heating to 3,000 °C over several days using coal-powered electricity, RapidGraphite’s novel catalytic process produces high-quality graphite in a fraction of that time, dramatically reducing energy use, emissions and costs. The technology also enables the use of sustainable feedstocks like biomass and is compatible with renewable energy, making it a strong candidate for supporting the global energy transition.

With synthetic graphite comprising up to 25% of a lithium-ion battery’s weight, and no viable alternative currently available, demand is expected to far outstrip supply with a projected 9 million ton shortage by 2035. RapidGraphite’s innovation offers a scalable, low-carbon solution to meet this growing demand. Backed by Curtin and commercial partners, it’s advancing toward pre-seed funding and pilot validation.

Team: Dr Jason Fogg, Dr Jacob Martin, A/Prof Nigel Marks, Dr Irene Suarez-Martinez, Ms Kate Putman

RetiDrop

RetiDrop is a nanotech eye drop for retinal diseases like age-related macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy, offering a non-invasive alternative to painful, frequent eye injections. Using advanced nanotechnology, RetiDrop delivers medication directly to the retina, overcoming the natural ocular barriers that prevent traditional eye drops from reaching the back of the eye, enabling patients to manage their treatment at home. With controlled, sustained drug release and made entirely from FDA-approved ingredients, RetiDrop is safe, scalable and cost-effective, reducing clinic visits and improving treatment adherence.

Team: Dr Bozica Kovacevic, Dr Hani Al-Salami. Dr Livia dos Santos Carvalho, A/Prof Fred Chen, Dr Sam McLenachan

RockAI

This AI-powered rockfall detection system uses thermal videography and computer vision to monitor rockfalls in real time, even in low-visibility conditions like dust, fog or darkness. Unlike traditional methods that miss small or fast-moving events, the system provides instant alerts and tracks rock trajectories, helping mine operators respond quickly to hazards, minimise haul road disruptions and improve safety. Successfully quarry-tested, it reduces reliance on costly radar systems and manual inspections, offering a scalable solution for continuous, all-weather monitoring. With strong industry interest and upcoming mine trials, the system is advancing toward commercial deployment.

Team: Mr Daniel Goldstein

smartbuddy

SmartBuddy is an AI-powered interactive toy designed to support children’s cognitive and emotional development. Responding to parental concerns about intrusive online toys, its knowledge base is customised rather than relying on online sources and does not need an internet conection to function, ensuring a safe, controlled environment free from online risks. By combining interactive play with safe, adaptable learning, SmartBuddy offers a new model for educational technology, one that grows with the child and prioritises wellbeing as much as development.

Team: Dr Farveh Farivar, Mr Cyrus Salehi

Upcycling Offshore Assets

A practical, low-carbon method to repurpose decommissioned oil and gas equipment by turning it into reinforced concrete structures such as sea walls and breakwaters that protect coastlines from erosion, sea level rise and extreme weather. This method eliminates the need for energy-heavy recycling processes and reduces the demand for new concrete and steel, cutting the carbon footprint of coastal infrastructure by up to 25%. Backed by Woodside Energy and validated through extensive research, this innovation bridges the gap between offshore decommissioning and climate-resilient construction, supporting the circular economy while offering environmental and cost benefits for both the energy and construction sectors.

Team: A/Prof Xihong Zhang, Mr Lendyn Philip (Woodside)

Program of events

12:00pm Registration
Refreshments and canapés
12:40pm Welcome to Country
Robyn Collard & Tryse Rioli
12:45pm Opening Remarks
MC Rohan McDougall
Executive Director, Commercialisation, Curtin University
12:50pm Vice-Chancellor’s Address
Professor Harlene Hayne, CNZM
Vice-Chancellor, Curtin University
12:55pm Ministerial Address
Hon Stephen Dawson MLC
Minister for Regional Development; Ports; Science and Innovation; Medical Research; Kimberley
1:00pm Curtinnovation Awards
MC Rohan McDougall
Trailblazer Award; Curtin Global Award; Learning and Teaching Award 
1:15pm Lunch Served
1:55pm Curtin Entrepreneurs Award
Derek Gerrard
Chairman, Malka Foundation
2:00pm Curtinnovation Awards
MC Rohan McDougall
Science and Engineering Award; Business and Law Award; Health Sciences Award; Humanities Award; Griffith Hack Overall Winner
2:25pm Vote of Thanks
Professor Melinda Fitzgerald
Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Research, Curtin University 
2:30pm Closing Remarks
MC Rohan McDougall
2:35pm Networking and Refreshments
4:30pm Event Concludes