Seeking innovative ideas to change the future of Canberra.

In collaboration with ActewAGL, the Canberra Innovation Network is encouraging people with innovative ideas to enter the Canberra Adaptive City Open Innovation Challenge. The competition is aimed at people with ideas, solutions and concept proposals that can help materialise a future of Canberra that is clever, connected and full of creative energy.  

The competition is running from the 8th of March until the 15th of April 2022 and will give entries the chance to win prizes from a cash pool of $20,000. This competition is free and open to all demographics within Canberra, we encourage all age groups and minorities within Canberra and surrounds to submit their great ideas.  

Submissions will be judged by a panel of experts and short-listed entries will be invited to the Canberra Innovation Network on the 26th of April 2022 to participate in mentoring and workshops to help nurture their concepts and produce a short pitch to be presented to the panel of experts.  

People are encouraged to submit ideas in the areas of technology, sustainability, architecture, transport, talent, skills, connectivity, health, design and creativity. While these are areas of focus, ideas are not required to fit into these categories to be eligible for the competition.  

The competition is split into two different challenge streams, the first being the “Drop an Idea” challenge that seeks concepts from Canberrans who may not necessarily be interested in being part of the implementation. Ideas in this category go into the running to win $5,000 cash after the panel has judged submissions. The second category for submission is “See you in 2040”. Entries in this category have the chance to win prizes from a pool of $15,000 in cash prizes as well as support and mentoring through the Canberra Innovation Network to help turn these ideas into reality.  

Entering the competition is free and open to all members of the public as we encourage and support the success of all Canberrans. 

“Our world is changing very rapidly. Over the past 18 months we have worked with the innovation community in Canberra on how to make our city more adaptive across a number of themes, including business, tourism, creative industries, skills and female entrepreneurship. But how do Canberrans see the opportunities for a future that is more clever, connected and creative? We partnered with ActewAGL to find out the answer to this question.”  – Petr Admek, Canberra Innovation Network CEO 

Competition details: 

Date: Tuesday March 8, 2022 – Friday April 15, 2022.