Security forces in Afghanistan were waging an ongoing battle with the destruction, death and injury wreaked by improvised explosive devices, or IEDs, as Australian forces began their phased withdrawal from the country.

That was why members of the Defence Department's Redwing project were tasked with designing and producing a low‐cost device that jammed the radio signals that triggered the explosions, in an effort to reduce casualties.

Defence science and technology group employee Darryn Smart said Australian soldiers had used a variety of high-tech equipment to protect against IEDs during their time in Afghanistan.

"We were gradually pulling out of Afghanistan but the Afghan security forces didn't have any of this equipment," he said.

"We couldn't give them the ADF-standard equipment but it was felt a moral imperative that we provide them with something."

Redwing project members quickly generated a series of design prototypes for a device that could be worn or fixed to a vehicle. They piqued significant interest when they were trialled in Afghanistan.

Mr Smart said the team expected initial sales of the final design to reach 9000 or 10,000, but more than 100,000 devices were manufactured and delivered after five months.

That initial demand was followed by orders for another 55,000 devices sold to the Afghan army and police, as well as other special forces and security forces.

"We've got comments coming back that these devices have saved their lives," Mr Smart said. "It's incredibly rewarding."

The Redwing project was named the most innovative solution in the inaugural public sector innovation awards at a ceremony at the Department of Human Services' design hub last month.

Winners in four categories were chosen from 12 finalists, whom judges had whittled down from more than 80 entries. The awards were created to recognise, celebrate and share innovation across the public service.

Industry Minister Greg Hunt said the honours, which he described as the "Academy awards of the Australian Public Service", recognised the important role that innnovation played in creating jobs and job security.

Other winners included Geoscience Australia's mineral potential mapper, which took out the "engaging with edge" category for its computer-based system that mapped the country's potential for a range of new mineral resources.

The Finance Department's govCMS service, designed to lessen the technology and compliance burden on public sector departments and agencies, was recognised for contributing to a culture or practice of innovation.

And "charity portal", an Australian Charities and Not‐for‐profits Commission digital-by-default service that has contributed $18 million in deregulation savings, won the award for best digital transformation.

Megan Gorrey is a Canberra Times reporter.