Venture capital and the illusion of economic transformation: Balancing Australia’s innovation priorities

The venture capital sector must shift focus from headline valuations and funding rounds to long-term economic contributions, including profitability, job creation, export potential, and flow on investment, argues John H Howard. Here he looks at the growth of VC in Australia, its appeal to policymakers, journalists and others, and calls for a balanced appreciation of…

Why build nuclear power in place of old coal, when you could have pumped hydropower instead

By Timothy Weber, Australian National University and Andrew Blakers, Australian National University Australia’s energy policy would take a sharp turn if the Coalition wins the upcoming federal election. A Dutton government would seek to build seven nuclear power plants at the sites of old coal-fired power stations. The Coalition says its plan makes smart use…

New windfarms welcome, but will see local manufacturers sidelined over Chinese imports: Weld Australia

Three newly-approved wind farms for NSW will benefit Australia’s shift to renewable energy, though will help Chinese rather than local manufacturers, industry body Weld Australia has said. Welcoming the farms at Liverpool Range, Spicers Creek, and Hills of Gold, Weld Australia claimed them as “a necessary step forward in Australia’s renewable energy revolution”, yet will…

BluGlass appoints laser industry luminaries to new Industry Advisory Board

Semiconductor company BluGlass has appointed an Industry Advisory Board, led by University of California, Santa Barbara Professor Steven DenBaars and laser semiconductor executive Dr Richard Craig, as the company seeks to progress its gallium nitride (GaN) laser products commercially. Following an announcement last week of a world record result for power produced by a single-mode…