Nine local software companies have received innovation awards at the 2008 Consensus Software Awards in Sydney last night.

The winners were CarbonView for carbon accounting, Koukia for its SOA-based insurance system, Mint Wireless for its portable payment system, Mozone for mobile device management, PocketPhrase for its digital communication aids, Technology One for its student management application, TwoSecure for its token aggregation application, Task Retail Technology for its Xchangexec point of sale application, and Xbio Systems for its drug development lifecycle software.

Consensus managing director Julian Day said the awards ceremony, now in its ninth year, is recognized as offering the preeminent awards for software developers.

"The quality of nominations grows each year and 2008 has produced yet another crop of outstanding software solutions, ready to take on the world," he said.

The Awards is sponsored by Microsoft, IBM, Bartier Perry and BDO Kendalls and is endorsed by Austrade, New Zealand Trade & Enterprise, the Australian Computer Society (ACS) and the New Zealand Computer Society.

Consensus partner Keith Brady said the judging was conducted by more than 50 industry experts who evaluated each product "on its own merits" and were allowed to confer as many awards as they desired.

"Our judges expressed great satisfaction with not only the quality of the products, but also the professionalism of each presenting finalist," Brady said.

"The practice of offering targeted support services to finalists and winners, to help them better exploit opportunities and reach their potential, has added real value and substance to these awards. We provide assistance and introductions to venture capital, marketing services, industry development and a network of excellent contacts."