Sustainability – WA Innovation Calendar

DEADLINE: AI For Good Innovation Factory

Innovate Australia is bringing the United Nations AI for Good Innovation Factory Australia back for a second year and invites startups to pitch their AI‑driven solutions that address one of UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.

Five finalists will be chosen to pitch at a live AI for Good Innovation Factory Australia showcase at The Platform on Wednesday 27 May. At this event, a winning finalist will be selected to represent Australia at the AI for Good Innovation Factory Grand Finale in Geneva, Switzerland, competing on the world stage with the support and visibility of the United Nations.

A final follow up event will be held in early-to-mid July, where the winning finalist will return to Perth to share insights and learnings from the international experience, helping to inspire and strengthen Australia’s AI and innovation ecosystem.

Deadline Friday 8 May, 5pm (AWST)

Deadline has been Extended to 13 May

2026 AI for Good Innovation Factory – Australia

Innovate Australia is proud to host the Australian chapter of the United Nations’ International Telecommunication Union AI for Good Innovation Factory Contest. This global Competition and Summit brings together AI startups, industry experts, and thought leaders to showcase AI-driven solutions addressing the world’s most pressing challenges, aligned with the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Building on last year’s successful inaugural event, the 2026 program has attracted an even stronger pipeline of Australian AI startups. Five finalists will be selected to pitch at the Australian Final on Tuesday, 27 May 2026, 5:30 pm AWST at The Platform, Level 3, 256 Adelaide Terrace, Perth, with the event also live-streamed to a global audience.

The finalists will present cutting-edge AI solutions across critical sectors such as energy, education, advanced technologies, sustainability, and climate action, all aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals. The press and public are invited to attend this showcase of cutting-edge AI innovation.

Proudly supported by Meshpoints, the Department of Energy and Economic Diversification, the City of Perth, and industry partners, this event reinforces Perth’s growing global reputation as a leader in AI innovation and social impact. Be part of this global movement and help shape the future of AI-driven progress.

Learn more and register for the event

Have an AI solution that can improve the world? You can still apply by visiting Innovate Australia’s website: https://innovateaustralia.org.au

Rethinking Business as Usual (Regional Development Australia)

If we want to achieve meaningful gains, we need to discard the everyday settings that are hard-wired in all of us. Revitalise conventional approaches to boost productivity and innovation.
Join for a full-day event designed to challenge traditional approaches. Through practical examples and open minds, you can move beyond ingrained habits and think differently. Don’t miss this opportunity to reignite and revitalise your world.

Spealers include:

Scott Robinson, RDASW
Josh Whiteland, Koomal Dreaming
Charles Jenkinson, RDASW
Tash Teakle, Innovation Cluster
Tony Johansen, TMC
Harold Tracey, H&M Tracey
Scott Bell & Jordan Parker, Capel Marron Farm
Plus others

Site visit: Perth City Farm, engineered for circularity

In recognition of National Volunteer Week, join Engineers Australia for a special site tour at Perth City Farm. This tour offers volunteers the opportunity to explore circular economy principles in action and see how sustainable systems are applied within an urban farming environment.

Perth City Farm is an ideal setting to showcase practical circularity, from composting and soil regeneration to resource reuse and community-led sustainability education. This facility highlights a shared commitment to minimising waste, regenerating natural systems and designing for long-term environmental resilience.

Circular economy thinking aligns closely with Engineers Australia’s focus on sustainable infrastructure, climate‑conscious design, ethical practice and innovation, and reinforces the themes of World Engineering Day for Sustainable Development, which recognises the essential role engineers play in shaping a sustainable and resilient future.

Innovative Industries of the Future (iiF) 2026

A premier economic event series culminating in a two‑day conference in Bunbury, 27–28 October 2026.

Where investors, industry and government connect on advanced manufacturing, energy, agritech and the circular economy.

Why attend:

Hear directly from leaders in their field offering knowledge and insights applicable to local industries including your workplace
Network with like-minded leaders, decision-makers and innovators
Gain insights into emerging technologies and workforce trends
Be prepared for the trends shaping the future
Explore investment opportunities

DEADLINE: AusSRC HPC Funding Applications Close

The Australian SKA Regional Centre (AusSRC) is proud to launch the Astronomy Resources for Industry Applications (ARIA) Program, a new initiative designed to accelerate innovation through access to high-performance computing (HPC).
AusSRC is Australia’s contribution to the international SKA Regional Centre Network (SRCNet). The SRCNet will support the global flow of data and processing needed for the SKA telescopes – the two most advanced radio telescopes in the world, located in Australia and South Africa.
One of AusSRC’s goals is to support discovery and delivery of impact beyond radio astronomy. By working with industry to foster data-intensive innovations across sectors, AusSRC aims to leverage astronomy capabilities to generate broad benefits to the Australian economy and community.

The ARIA Program has been established to provide Australian start-ups and small to medium businesses with access to HPC resources to enable innovation in products and services aligned with key technical priorities.

For the 2026 inaugural funding round, AusSRC will support projects focused on:

Data Management
Data Visualisation
Data Compression

We are seeking applications from SMEs and start-ups that would benefit from HPC capability but face barriers accessing research-based or large-scale infrastructure schemes.

Applications are open to organisations from any industry excluding astronomy that can demonstrate how covering HPC-related expenses would directly enable innovation in one or more of the priority areas.

For a full explanation of the ARIA Program, please refer to the ARIA Program Guidelines and ARIA Program Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs).

UNSW Perth Alumni Talks | The Future of Mining

Join fellow alumni in Perth for an exclusive thought leadership event featuring Professor Serkan Saydam, Chair of Mining Engineering at UNSW Sydney and Director of the UNSW ARC Research Hub for Next Generation Mining Methods (NextGenMIN).

Professor Sadam will explore how the industry must shift from simply adopting new technologies to creating new knowledge, integrating advanced technology and human capital to design mining systems designed for:

Zero waste
Zero (net) emissions
Zero (human) entry
Improved safety, productivity and efficiency

Aeroecology: challenges, opportunities and its societal relevance

University of Amsterdam Professor Judy Shamoun-Baranes shares insights from her study of Aeoecology and its relevance in society.

The first event as part of the Murdoch University HBI Visiting Scholar Lecture Series

Through several examples of long term collaboration and societal engagement, Judy will demonstrate how they have used aeroecological research to sup-port aviation safety, the energy transition and inspire fascination and appreciation for life in the air.

Circular Design & Innovation: Empowering the Commercial Transition ahead of Climate Action Week

Businesses are consuming more resources than ever — yet waste, inefficiency and lost value remain built into how many products and systems are designed. As pressure mounts from climate targets, procurement expectations and rising costs, circular design is no longer a niche sustainability concept, but a commercial imperative.

This webinar explores how circular thinking can be applied across design, materials and business models to unlock efficiency, reduce waste and create long-term value. From early design decisions through to production, use and end-of-life, the session will unpack how designers and businesses can move beyond linear approaches and embed circular principles in ways that are practical, scalable and commercially viable.

Join us for a grounded, real-world discussion featuring practitioners working at the intersection of innovation, design and sustainability. Through case studies, lived experience and panel discussion, speakers will share what’s working, what’s challenging, and where the biggest opportunities lie for organisations ready to transition from intention to action.