Innovation Ecosystem Update: October 2026
There's plenty happening across the UWA and Perth innovation community this month. A youth design challenge is tackling the future of energy, a new job-finder tool is being introduced for the autonomous vehicles industry, and the UWA Robotics Club is holding its annual general meeting. Here's what's on, who each event is for, and how to get involved.
Bloom × Global Citizen NOW Design Challenge
Bloom is teaming up with Global Citizen for the Bloom × Global Citizen NOW Design Challenge, running from 16 to 18 October. It brings together 18 to 25 year olds from all disciplines to meet new people, form teams and explore the question: how do we power tomorrow's energy system?
The strongest teams will get the chance to pitch to an audience of global leaders and changemakers at the Global Citizen NOW: Perth conference.
The details
Challenge dates: 16 to 18 October 2026
Who it's for: 18 to 25 year olds, from any discipline
Launch event: Thursday 8 October, 5–8PM at Bloom Crawley. Anyone interested in taking part is welcome to come along to the launch.
Take action
Working with Autonomous Vehicles: Introducing a New Job-Finder Tool
Knowing how to build a robot is only part of getting hired in the autonomous vehicles (AV) industry. The other part is knowing who is hiring and which skills they care about.
This session introduces a new AV job market discovery tool, built by UWA Masters students. Since its launch, the tool has identified over 1,000 relevant jobs. It will show you:
Where the jobs are: which companies are hiring right now
What roles exist: from perception and planning through to fleet operations
How to target your experience: data on required skill sets, tools and industry trends
It's an informal, interactive session, so come along to learn, have some snacks and meet other people interested in the technology of the future.
The details
When: Thursday 8 October, 12–1PM
Where: 106.G58 ARTS (Murdoch Lecture Theatre), UWA
UWA Robotics Club Annual General Meeting
The UWA Robotics Club is coming to the end of another year of robots, workshops, projects and events, and its Annual General Meeting is the chance for members to have a say. You can hear how the club has gone this year, give input on where it goes next, and put your hand up for a committee position.
The details
When: Friday 16 October, 6–8PM
Where: 224.G06 CIV MECH Engineering (H & M Clough Lecture Theatre), UWA
Take action
October at a Glance
Date | Time | Event |
Thursday 8 October | 12–1PM | Working with Autonomous Vehicles: new job-finder tool |
Thursday 8 October | 5–8PM | Bloom × Global Citizen NOW Design Challenge launch |
Friday 16 October | 6–8PM | UWA Robotics Club AGM |
16–18 October | See event page | Bloom × Global Citizen NOW Design Challenge |
Keep Exploring
If you're working on an idea of your own, our VentureUp incubator and free EIR consultations are open to UWA students. You can see everything we have coming up on the Venture UWA events page.
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