Judging for the competition, which is in its fifth year, has reached completion and 21 companies will share in A$105,000 (US$82,700) worth of prizes to help showcase their wares here and overseas.

Minister for communications, information technology and the arts, Senator Helen Coonan, said the winners covered seven categories-business industrial software solutions, communication applications, security, commerce, health, learning and entertainment.

"We understand that innovation-developing skills, generating new ideas and turning them into commercial success-is the key to the nation's future prosperity, " Coonan said, adding that all of the winners will have opportunities to promote their innovative ideas to investors.

"The winning companies will now gain valuable exposure not only for their products and services but for the entire Australian ICT industry."

The Secrets of Australian ICT Innovation competition is an initiative of the Committee Marketing ICT of Australia and has received support from state and territory governments, industry associations and research bodies.