The Hot 30 Awards showcase the next generation of mining, energy and resources businesses successfully developing technology and shaping the future through innovation.
The awards aim to highlight businesses which have worked hard and achieved despite global setbacks and barriers, including those leading the way in South Australia.
CORE is Australia’s first collaboration and innovation hub focussed on the resources, mining and energy industries, initially opening in Perth in 2016, followed by Adelaide last year. A hub in Newman in the Pilbara, partnering with BHP, will open in 2022.
CORE Innovation Hub provides meeting and workspaces, regular networking events, opportunities to collaborate on emerging technologies and professional development programs to future proof the resources workforce.
With the expansion of CORE Hub nationally, Director Brodie McCulloch said industry participants had created partnerships and collaborated on projects, connecting with like-minded businesses and local industry leaders.
McCulloch said he hoped the application process would reveal many more emerging businesses contributing to the vibrancy of the sector and offering fresh ideas, through the CORE networks both in-person and virtually.
CORE National Innovation Hub Manager Renee Hakendorf said the CORE Hot 30, which will be announced in February 2022, would showcase the top SMEs, highlighting those successfully scaling their ideas to solve real-world problems, creating new technologies and improving operations in their industry.
“The Hot 30 and Innovation Awards panel will consider the problem the innovation is solving, growth and potential, product market fit, the scale of impact and its ability to be applied globally, and the combined experience in their team,” Hakendorf said.
“It’s a fantastic opportunity to showcase how well a team works together to solve industry problems and advance their operations, taking the resources, energy, and mining industries to another level.
“Many businesses are driving change in their sector, but rarely put their hand up to tell the world what they’re doing or how they’re having an impact locally and internationally.
“Whether it’s in renewables, creating efficiencies in energy supply, harnessing space or satellite technology for the resources or mining and exploration sector, and channelling Industry 4.0, it’s time to tell these stories.”
Hakendorf said the 2020 CORE Hot 30 Winners continued to excel in their industries, including South Australian businesses Ping Services, Tekuma and Western Air.
Ping Services records changes in the acoustic signature of wind turbine blades, which allows the continuous monitoring of the blade’s health and advanced analysis to detect damage.
The technology has the capacity to be employed in the renewables industry worldwide.
Tekuma has developed a force-based six-degrees of freedom control orb module for drones, robots and other devices, which allows users to intuitively control any device with one hand, freeing your other hand to control other devices.
Western Air is a high-pressure equipment supplier to the mineral exploration industry, with CORE identifying and facilitating connections with the right partners for growth and expansion, including securing a new premises in the Tonsley Innovation District.
Western Air Managing Partner Gary Algate and Chief Financial Officer Carly Ascott
“These industry-leading businesses were among nine in South Australia to have been included in the 2020 Hot 30, and we’re hoping this round will again highlight some of the outstanding leaders we have here,” Hakendorf said.
“With South Australia’s economy bounding back from COVID and growing by the day, it’s a great time to be building businesses, advancing innovation and carving a niche within the sector.”
CORE Hot 30 winners will receive industry recognition, be offered brand-building opportunities, business growth training, mentoring, offered connections to industry and be invited to take part in innovation events across the ecosystem in 2022.
For the first time, along with the Hot 30 winners, Innovation Awards will be handed out in five categories: the Innovator of the Year Award, the Sustainability Innovation Award, the Emerging Industry Award, the Female Leadership Award, and the Indigenous Innovation Award.
To find out more about the Hot 30 click here.
Applications will be open until 30 November. Click here to apply.
Foundation Partners in CORE Innovation Hub and the Hot 30 Awards include METS Ignited, Minerals Council of Australia, the South Australian Department for Energy and Mining, Spacecubed and Unearthed.
