Federal government will allocate $3.5 million to new food security strategy if returned

The federal government has said it will develop a new national food security strategy titled “Feeding Australia” if re-elected, aimed at increasing “the security and supply chain resilience” of both agriculture and food production. According to a statement from agriculture minister Julie Collins (pictured) on Tuesday, Australia produces enough food “to feed more than twice…

New Austrade CEO appointed

Highly experienced public servant Dr Paul Grimes has been appointed the new CEO at the Australian Trade and Investment Commission (Austrade.) Grimes moves into the role following previous CEO Xavier Simonet and Acting CEO Daniel Boyer. According to a statement from trade minister Don Farrell on Monday, the trade commission plays a critical role in…

Avecho signs $23 million deal with Sandoz for CBD insomnia treatment

Avecho Biotechnology signed an exclusive ten-year development and licensing agreement with Sandoz for the commercial rights to its cannabidiol (CBD) insomnia treatment in Australia, according to an ASX announcement released on Monday. The deal includes an upfront payment of US$3 million (approximately A$4.8 million) and potential development milestone payments totalling US$16 million prior to commercialisation.…

Fashion’s second chance: Pact and BlockTexx team up to rescue clothes from landfill

Your old T-shirts and jeans might soon get a glamorous second life, as plastic recycler Pact Group and clean technology company BlockTexx joined forces on Friday to tackle Australia’s growing mountain of discarded clothing. The companies signed a memorandum of understanding to explore an end-to-end rescue mission for unloved polyester and cotton-blend garments. Instead of…

Australia and India join forces on new tech research institute

Swinburne University of Technology and the Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad (IITH) launched a joint research institute to tackle global technology challenges, according to an announcement from the universities. The Swinburne-IITH Manufacturing, Materials, Energy and Communication Technologies (SIMMECT) Joint Research Institute will focus on three primary areas: advanced materials and manufacturing, energy transition solutions, and…

A quantum computing startup says it is already making millions of light-powered chips

By Christopher Ferrie, University of Technology Sydney American quantum computing startup PsiQuantum announced on February 26 that it has cracked a significant puzzle on the road to making the technology useful: manufacturing quantum chips in useful quantities. PsiQuantum burst out of “stealth mode” in 2021 with a blockbuster funding announcement. It followed up with two…