NSW government pledges $150,000 to Tech23 awards

The New South Wales Government has thrown its support behind technology entrepreneurs, pledging $150,000 towards the Tech23 technology showcase to be held in Sydney in August.

Deputy Premier and Minister for Trade and Investment, Andrew Stoner, said the funding would help lift employment in the ICTsector across the country.

“By bringing together the best emerging technologies and investors, Tech23 is a practical initiative that helps foster new commercialisation and business opportunities,” he said in a statement.

“The $150,000 in innovation awards for category winners at this year’s Tech23 provided by the NSW Government will help new technologies into the marketplace and create smart jobs and economic benefits for NSW and Australia.”

The award categories include the broadband innovation award, outstanding collaboration for innovation award, community contribution award and greatest potential award, with all four category award winners set to receive $25,000 in prize money.

A $50,000 award will also be awarded to the company judged by Tech23 as developing a unique technology product, in the innovation excellence award.

Last year’s nominees included Cocoon Data; a local company responsible for developing a secure file transfer system that simplifies the act of securing sensitive data and has clients in the banking, health, and defence sectors.

The project isn’t the first technology initiative from the new state government, with Barry O’Farrell last week announcing his plans to invest $23 million in an electronic whiteboard scheme for schools across the state, as well as committing to rip out speed cameras across the state if an audit proved they were not having an impact on road safety.

Follow Lisa Banks on Twitter: @CapricaStar

Follow CIO Australia on Twitter: @CCIO_Australia