SAN FRANCISCO –  Leading innovator of hearing protection technology to the global industrial market Sensear has been named a finalist and the representative of the Australian State of Western Australia in the 2009 Innovation Shootout, to take place in January in Los Angeles and Silicon Valley.

Sensear has developed the world’s most advanced hearing protection technology called SENS (Speech Enhancement , Noise Suppression).  Its range of hearing protection devices  enable workers in high noise environments to significantly lower their risk of hearing loss by reducing background noise to safe levels, while simultaneously enhancing speech to ensure safe clear communication in high noise environments.  Sensear’s product enable face to face communication plus they connect to two way radios and sync to Bluetooth cell phones to deliver a complete hearing solution.

Sensear was formed in 2006 to commercialize technology initially developed by WATRI (Western Australian Telecommunications Research Institute), a joint venture of the internationally respected Curtin University of Technology and the University of Western Australia. After two years of Research and Development the first products were commercialized early in 2008 and are now selling globally into the industrial sector.

“Research shows that noise induced hearing loss is major safety factor in many industrial environments,” said David Cannington, chief marketing officer at Sensear.  “Sensear provides companies with a unique solution to protect their employees hearing without comprising their ability to communicate in noisy environments.”

The Innovation Shootout is sponsored by the six State Governments of Australia, each of which chooses a local company that has developed a cutting edge technological advancement as its state finalist.

Finalists will give presentations about their companies on January 13th during the Innovation Fast Pitch, taking place at the Business Technology Center, run by the Community Development Commission of the County of Los Angeles.  They will then travel to the Bay Area to participate in the Innovation Shootout on January 15th at the Quadras Conference Center in Menlo Park.  The winner will be selected by a panel of judges including technology experts, members of the media, and venture capitalists.

“The Government of Western Australia is extremely proud to have Sensear representing us at this year’s Innovation Shootout,” said Doug Partington, Regional Director of the Western Australian Trade and Investment Office for The Americas.  “Sensear is a perfect example of the level of technological innovation and creativity present in Western Australia, and I am confident they will go far.”