WA-based innovators have been recognised at the national technology awards, including West Perth-based startup Avicena Systems.
Avicena is behind the development of a rapid screening system for COVID-19 and other pathogens using saliva samples, which is capable of testing more than 90,000 people daily and delivering results in under 45 minutes.
The system can be adapted to large scale screening for other infectious diseases, including SARS, Malaria, Zika, Dengue fever, Hepatitis-B, and Tuberculosis.
The company took out the Start Up of the Year award at the 2021 National iAwards in Melbourne overnight, as well as honourable mentions in the Technology Platform Solution of the Year and Business & Industry Solution of the Year categories.
Avicena Systems chief executive Tony Fitzgerald said the awards were well-deserved recognition for the outstanding technological innovation of the company’s team.
“I’m incredibly proud that Avicena represents home-grown West Australian innovation that potentially will help millions of people around the world by contributing towards a faster, easier and more comfortable global COVID-19 screening solution,” he said.
“As the world begins to learn to live with COVID-19, Avicena’s technology is stepping up to facilitate, in particular, the return of large-scale air travel while protecting the health of passengers and airline staff.”
Perth-based SpacetoCo was awarded Government and Public Solution of the Year for its space-sharing platform, which connects hosts to spaces available for short-term hire and handles payments, receipts, and reminder emails.
As national winners, the companies will now progress to the international Asia Pacific ICT Awards.
