There are vast technical hurdles and skills availability issues to deliver the AUKUS submarine program, according to Dr Edward Obbard, the head of UNSW’s nuclear engineering program, based on an analysis of the those needed to build, operate and maintain the new fleet. Prime minister Anthony Albanese recently announced a project worth up $368 billion,…
FLAIM Systems, which makes virtual reality-based technology for training firefighters, has announced a $6.7 million Series A round, led by the Victorian government investment vehicle Breakthrough Victoria. FLAIM was established in 2019 to migrate technology from Deakin University in fields including virtual reality and haptics into a new company, and has since achieved sales to…
To begin the third week of our Celebrating Australian sovereign capability series, we hear about some ways government could help drive IP creation and commercial impact. Brent Balinski speaks to Grey Innovation founder Jefferson Harcourt Governments have been poor at seeing the value of procurement and other measures that could make a real difference in…
In the latest profile of a nominee for our Australia’s 50 Most Innovative Manufacturers list, we learn about White Graphene. WG was founded in 2020 to commercialise production technology developed at Deakin University for a promising 2D material. Brent Balinski speaks to the company’s Lieuwke de Jong. Graphene – with its host of superlative attributes…
What were the five biggest stories of the week? Here’s what visitors to this site were reading. 5) RAIL PROCUREMENT SHAKEUP TACKLES $2 BILLION WASTED ON IMPORTS Assistant Minister for Manufacturing Tim Ayres has stepped up reform of rail sector procurement in response to a damning report suggesting importation has cost governments $2 billion and…
Today we publish the second profile of a nominee for our Australia’s 50 Most Innovative Manufacturers list. Brent Balinski speaks to Miheer Fyzee from Workspace Commercial Furniture. As this series gets started examining innovation among Australian manufacturing businesses, we expect to be overwhelmed by the complexity and sheer volume of what can be and is…
The half-century-old Monash Institute of Railway Technology has been awarded an $500,000 R&D grant by the Victorian government, which will assist in development of a next-generation recycled plastic product to use in place of concrete sleepers. Monash IRT has been involved in a collaboration with Integrated Recycling since 2015, which has produced the Duratrack sleeper.…
The House of Representatives Standing Committee on Employment, Education and Training will begin holding public hearings this week for its inquiry into the perceptions and status of vocational education and training (VET.) The inquiry – which accepted written public submissions from February 9 until the beginning of this month – is chaired by Labor Bendigo…
Dr Matthew Priestley explains why greater respect and education is needed regarding the use of lithium-ion batteries at home and in the workplace. Lithium-ion batteries are the most widespread portable energy storage solution – but there are growing concerns regarding their safety. Data collated from state fire departments indicate that more than 450 fires across Australia…
To begin the second week of @AuManufacturing’s Celebrating Australian sovereign capability series, Brent Balinski speaks to Adam Gilmour from Gilmour Space Technologies about the company’s planned orbital launch. If things go to plan, this year Gilmour Space Technologies will become the first Australian company to build a rocket and put it into orbit. The company,…
