Tech / Data / AI – WA Innovation Calendar

DEADLINE: West Tech Next Youth Committee 2026

West Tech Next members will contribute advice to support and attract more young people to West Tech Fest. Members will also design and deliver an event as part of WTF 2026 targeted at 18-25 year olds inclusive of the full suite of event design and execution such as sponsorship, marketing, community engagement, and operations, post event wrap.

Members will also provide the following support to the West Tech Fest team;

Help plan and deliver youth-facing or emerging-talent experiences during festival week
Assist with volunteer coordination and attendee experience
Create and/or coordinate social content (short-form video, stories, posts)
Help amplify program announcements and community moments
Support outreach to student, founder, and young professional networks
Bring fresh ideas that make the festival feel more inclusive, accessible, and exciting
Support relationship-building with youth-aligned ecosystem partners
Contribute to debriefs: what worked, what didn’t, and what to improve

WiTWA Breakfast Networking Series – First Edition!

Start your morning with connection and inspiration at the launch of WiTWA’s Monthly Breakfast Networking Series.
Welcoming allies of all genders who want to grow their networks, share ideas and make an impact, these sessions bring together practical insights and genuine community.

Featured Spark Session: Lacey Filipich “Get Future Rich: Protecting Your Wealth in a Disrupted Decade.”

Bots & Bevs March feat. Aora Solutions

Join the Monthly Bots & Bevs Networking Evening, at the AARP. This is a fantastic opportunity to connect with innovators, robotics thought leaders and business insiders working right across the robotics and automation sector. Connect, collaborate and be part of the future of robotics.

For March, hear from the team at Aora Solutions – a team who are empowering the future of off-road logistics and advanced off-road autonomy.

Society for Underwater Technology April ETM

“Beneath the Surface: Uncovering Maritime Mysteries Through Underwater Technology”

The SUT April ETM will showcase how advancements in underwater technology are redefining maritime archaeological research and underwater exploration.

Highlighting the intersection between engineering, science, archaeology and underwater exploration, this event will demonstrate how technological innovations are progressing investigations of our submerged cultural heritage, support more engaging communication to the public and how these methods can translate into broader industry applications.

Learn more and register here: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/april-evening-technical-meeting-tickets-1983737789128

AI: Productivity, Power & Prosperity

What happens when frontier models collide with hard industry problems? Compute, talent density, regulatory lag, how will these shape WA’s future? Two tech nerds go deep on the fears and the fantasies, pulling apart what’s hype, what’s real, and what choices we still have left to make.

Hear from two leaders in AI as they debate… well actually we don’t know what they will say:

Jeroen Van Dalen Founder, technologist, chief tinkerer of all things AI. Back in December 2026 he made 14 AI predictions. How’d he do? ✓ 10 spot on 🟡 2 on the way ❌ 2 still loading Basically: the guy to listen to when the future is speeding toward us.
Alex Jenkins Director at WA Data Science Innovation Hub, an advocate for Applied AI across Industry, Government Sectors, Academic Research, Health and Education.

Join the conversation shaping WA’s future. Because when it comes to AI, the questions matter just as much as the answers.

Cicada x Tech23 Online: The Road to Tech23 2026

Join Cicada Innovations online on Wednesday, 18 March for a candid look at the grit, determination, and persistence it takes to build a deep tech venture in Australia today.

For 25 years, Cicada Innovations has been the home for deep tech, and Tech23 has been the launchpad for Australia’s most ambitious companies—like Morse Micro, Samsara Eco, and Q-CTRL. These are startups not just pioneering technology, but securing major investment and reshaping global industries.

But deep tech is never built in easy conditions. Right now, the pressure is unmistakable. Tech23: Search the Nation is a call to the founders who are still building with intent and at scale, despite the headwinds. We are looking for those aiming to create companies that endure—even when support wavers and the odds are steep.

This webinar is your gateway to the 2026 cohort. Hear from visionary alumni founders on what it really takes to transition from lab-scale breakthroughs to global impact, and learn how you can stand on deep tech’s biggest stage this September.

DEADLINE: Australian Technologies Competition

Since 2010, the Australian Technologies Competition has created an alumni pool of more than 500 semi-finalists, many of whom have had significant international success. With a spotlight on innovation with global impact, the ATC offers entrants a gateway to invaluable connections with investors, mentors, and industry leaders.

Companies can enter up to two categories across a total of 17 award categories. Each finalist will be in the running to win the overall ‘Australian Technology Company of the Year’ Award. Categories include:

Advanced Manufacturing
AI Tech
Alumni Achievement Award
Circular Economy
Clean Energy
Cybersecurity
DeepTech
Disaster & Emergency Management
Edtech
Fintech & Regtech
Global Social Impact
Growth Equity
MedTech & Pharma
Proptech
Sustainable Cities & Communities
Sustainable Mining & Resources
Water, Food & Agribusiness
Overall Winner

Nominations close 10 May 2026

DEADLINE: WAITTA INCITE Project Award Nominations

Western Australia’s premier technology innovation awards, INCITE showcases and supports the technology sector. The 35-year-old program provides an exclusive pathway to the Australian iAwards and international Asia-Pacific ICT Alliance Awards (APICTA).

The WAITTA Awards were established in 1991 with the intention of recognising outstanding performance and contributions by members of the ICT and telecommunications community in Western Australia. Today, that purpose and mission has evolved to the technology industry and community at-large.

Learn more and nominate here: https://www.inciteawards.org.au/

DEADLINE: Cicada Tech23 2026

Cicada x Tech23 is not your typical startup event. It is a curated platform designed to elevate Australia’s most promising deep tech ventures, connecting them with the capital, industry and decision-makers that shape what comes next.

Being one of the 23 means more than just recognition—it’s an opportunity to amplify your impact and connect with the right people. If chosen, you’ll receive:

A Spot on Stage – Share your story and innovation in front of investors, industry leaders, and media.
Showcase Your Tech – Your own dedicated demo area to bring your technology to life.
VIP Events – Invitations to Founder-Exclusive events in the lead up to Tech23
Speaker Coaching – Get expert guidance to refine your presentation and maximise your impact.
Benefits & Perks – Unlock unique opportunities, connections, and benefits from Cicada and our sponsors.

Transforming How Industries Connect

The difficulty of getting independent systems to share data and work together — the interoperability challenge — has been navigated ad hoc for decades, but the problem continues to grow. And while industry change is never easy, the time is right for a more complete and audacious vision.

Tim will introduce us to an innovative open and federated platform, rooted in DevOps and Agile principles, that is designed to help organisations address interoperability challenges in ever more complex environments. This platform, and the approach behind it, is currently being considered by a federal industry body to support upcoming conformance testing challenges.