A software application that turns any i-device into a mobile checklist-style database has taken top honours at the 2012 Tropical Innovation Awards.

Hundreds of supporters of innovation gathered at the Cairns Convention Centre on Friday night to hear whose idea would shine the brightest.

Inspection Apps picked up the $10,000 cash prize as the James Cook University Innovation of the Year, as determined by a panel of independent judges.

Submitted as an established innovation, Inspection Apps is a business tool that allows the entry of data directly into a centralised resource via an iPad or iPhone.

Mayor Bob Manning said the Cairns-based product “ticked all the boxes”.

“While the judges would not have had an easy time choosing a winner from the 91 entries, the feedback is that, when assessed against the key criteria, Inspection Apps did not disappoint.

“They were looking for something that was practical, user-friendly and cost-effective but also demonstrated creativity and meeting a need in the marketplace," Cr Manning said.

“I offer my congratulations to the creators of Inspection Apps and wish them the best of success with their product.”



In the coveted People’s Choice Award, Pocket Cricket - a fast and fun dice game - took the prize by a whisker.

“It was the closest voting this award has seen, with just one vote separating Pocket Cricket from Allaro Advantage,” Cr Manning said.

Just one further vote behind was The Original Survival Swag. More than 1500 votes were submitted in the People’s Choice Award.

Acting Minister for Science and Innovation John-Paul Langbroek said the awards showcased North Queensland as a centre for tropical expertise and underpinned the region’s innovation capacity.

“Innovation is the key to economic growth, higher productivity and resilience against future global economic shocks,” Mr Langbroek said.

“It’s extremely important that we develop a culture of business innovation in Queensland, particularly given the opportunities that are coming with the growing middle classes in China and India.

“It also just makes good business sense. Studies show that innovative businesses are twice as likely to report increased productivity, twice as likely to export and up to four times more likely to increase employment.”

Category winners are:

• James Cook University Innovation of the Year: Inspection Apps
• Cairns Chamber of Commerce People’s Choice Award: Pocket Cricket
• Sea Swift TNQ Innovation: Anchor Release Mechanism
• ARUP Established Innovation: The Clip Slip
• WHK & MacDonnells Law Emerging Innovation: The Original Survival Swag
• Expressway Signs & Printworks Community Innovation: Going Places Homeless Program
• Barron Gorge Hydro Stanwell Youth Innovation: Waterwise Warrior