Every year Cicada x Tech23 offers a glimpse into Australia’s future.
Behind each breakthrough is world-class science and engineering. Together, these technologies reveal something even bigger: the capabilities, industries, and opportunities that are starting to take shape across the country.
Each year we group the 23 companies into themes. More than a way to navigate the day, they reflect the forces shaping Australia’s deep tech ecosystem - from strengthening our sovereign capability and engineering new industrial practices, to reimagining how we build, power and care for our communities.
When Australian deep tech founders and their technologies succeed, their impact extends far beyond a single company. They strengthen supply chains, attract investment, create highly skilled jobs and lay the foundations for the industries Australia will rely on in the decades to come.
The themes below offer a window into that future. Together, they pose five bold questions about how we live, work and grow - and introduce the founders and breakthrough technologies working to answer them.
The five themes for the 2026 edition of Cicada x Tech23 are: Strengthening our Sovereignty, Engineering New Capability, Re-Sourcing the World, The Built World Upgraded, and A New System of Care.
The questions are bold. The technologies are real.
Secure your seat to Cicada x Tech23 here.
Each of these themes will be expanded upon in the coming weeks as we offer a snapshot of where Australian deep tech is heading - and the capabilities being built to shape our future.
We’ll explore each theme in more detail and highlight the founders, technologies, and opportunities driving them forward, before they all take the stage at Cicada x Tech23 2026 on Wednesday 9 September at Jones Bay Wharf.
To secure your seat, click here.
Meet the 2026 Tech23 here.