The SA Innovation Challenge, launched 2021, focussed on the theme of ‘Augmenting Ability’ and asked applicants to:

Demonstrate South Australia’s capability to harness frontier technologies across the research and innovation value chain to develop new products or services that augment the ability of a person at any stage of life to live independently, productively, with dignity and wellbeing, and create early market advantage for South Australian businesses.

Funded projects are now underway, with a description of each below:

• Lateral Vision received $486,000 in partnership with the University of South Australia, ECH and EnvisageAR to develop virtual environments using 360-video conferencing technology, which will enable people who cannot participate in social or community experiences in person to experience these events in a full interactive mode.
• Goldilocks Suit has received $230,000 in partnership with The University of Adelaide and ECH to develop a range of ‘smart garments’ to help older people age well at home.
• Neo Care has received $200,000 in partnership with The University of Adelaide, University of South Australia, Life Care and REDARC Electronics to develop AI-based sound detection sensor technology to support older people to live independently and safely in their homes.