A local market too small for meaningful sales of a highly-specialised product. Overseas copycats. Prospects interested yet stuck on the notion that “it’s too good to be true.” TNA Solutions saw a set of problems familiar to many early-stage Australian businesses setting out with an interesting bit of technology. Their breakthrough invention, launched in 1985,…
Australia’s innovation system is constrained by a persistent failure to translate world-class research into industrial capability and commercial outcomes. Drawing lessons from the German city of Kaiserslautern and its transformation through Fraunhofer Institutes, Dr John Howard and Peter Moar argue that Australia must have applied research institutes dedicated to bridging the gap between universities and…
Bygen appoints new CFO Waste-to-value startup Bygen has announced Michael Macrides as its new Chief Financial Officer. According to a Linkedin update from the company — which is commercialising its processing technology for turning waste products into activated carbon — Macrides brings extensive experience as a VC investor, advisor and executive across various roles. “With…
Clean technology companies MGA Thermal and Knode have cracked the code for Australia’s largest industrial-scale thermal energy storage project, promising to transform how heavy industry heats up, according to an announcement on Monday. The massive 180 megawatt-hour “thermal battery” will pump out 20 tonnes per hour of clean, high-temperature steam to Western Australian industrial sites.…
Australia’s energy technologies have received their annual report card, and renewables are still the class champions whilst nuclear small modular reactors remain firmly planted at the bottom of the cost league table, according to CSIRO’s latest GenCost report released on Tuesday. The comprehensive study found wind and solar backed by storage and transmission continue to…
Approximately $62 million has been awarded across 13 new Training Centres and Research Hubs through the Australian Research Council’s Industrial Transformation Research Program (ITRP.) According to a statement from ARC on Tuesday, the funding will help “drive innovative research to advance Australian industry and research capability.” Six Industrial Transformation Research Hubs were funded, including: $3,693,326…
The federal opposition has called a rejection of a senate inquiry into the nation’s troubled metals manufacturing industry an “extraordinary move”. According to a joint statement from five MPs and senators, the government used its numbers to “arrogantly block” a motion from senators Susan McDonald and Matt Canavan on Monday, with the proposed inquiry to…
RMIT University engineers have created a new 3D-printed titanium alloy that is 29 per cent cheaper to produce than standard titanium whilst delivering improved strength and performance, according to research published on Monday. The team replaced expensive vanadium with readily available alternative materials to reduce costs. Lead researcher Ryan Brooke said the breakthrough addresses key…
Archer Materials has achieved accuracy improvements in its blood potassium biosensor and successfully demonstrated lithium ion detection, according to a company announcement on Monday. The Adelaide-based semiconductor company said its Sydney engineering team has made measurable improvements to the sensor’s accuracy while building on early test results from February. The biosensor is designed to measure…
Wood supplier ForestOne will close its dry sawmill and particleboard manufacturing operations at its Benalla facility, according to an ABC report on Saturday. The company announced on Friday it would maintain its green sawmill manufacturing and lamination line but scale back other operations due to increased manufacturing costs and weak market demand. Managing director Ian…