• Dunsborough-based company Nauti-Craft wins national innovation award
• Defence Issues Minister attends Pacific 2017 with Defence Advocate
• WA Government supports defence SMEs through booth hosting

Defence Issues Minister Paul Papalia has congratulated Western Australian maritime company, Nauti-Craft Pty Ltd for taking home a national award for innovation.

The Dunsborough-based research and development company has been named a winner in the prestigious 2017 Maritime Australia Industry Innovation Awards, announced earlier today.

Nauti-Craft was awarded the Civil SME Innovation Grant of $10,000 for its patented marine suspension system, which provides increased levels of ride comfort, control and stability through an interlinked hydraulic system. 

The company is one of a number of WA's small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), along with South Metropolitan TAFE, being hosted on the Defence West stand during Pacific 2017, a major defence and maritime exhibition in Sydney.

The SMEs hosted on the stand represent a broad range of defence and maritime services and products, including engineering, underwater technologies and manufacturing.

Mr Papalia is attending Pacific 2017 along with WA's Defence Advocate Rear Admiral (Rtd) Raydon Gates AO CSM, and meeting a number of prominent organisations and companies involved in the defence industry.

Comments attributed to Defence Issues Minister Paul Papalia:

"Western Australia's maritime and defence sector is innovative, competitive and modern, from major contractors to small and medium-sized enterprises.

"Being here at Pacific 2017 with industry leaders from 35 countries has only reinforced my belief that our defence industry is ready to take its rightful place on the global stage.

"I congratulate Nauti-Craft on winning this prestigious award and look forward to seeing what comes next for this innovative WA company."