The operator of Australia’s B-cycle battery recycling scheme, the Battery Stewardship Council (BSC), has called for government regulation to boost the country’s recycling and materials recovery efforts. The call came with the release of the B-cycle 2024 Positive Charge Report which showed 2,935 tonnes of used batteries were collected in 20241 – a 24 percent…
Combined NSW and federal funding worth $47 million has been announced to establish the Illawarra Heavy Industry Manufacturing Centre of Excellence at TAFE NSW Wollongong, the third TAFE CoE announced for the state. According to a joint statement from the two governments on Tuesday, the upcoming facility will: Provide targeted training in traditional and emerging…
Grants have been announced for 12 companies under the Western Australian government’s Innovation Booster Grant (IBG) and Commercialisation Bridge Grant (CBG) programs. Funding totalling $736,157 was announced on Monday by state innovation minister Stephen Dawson, made up of $380,157 to 10 IBG recipients and $356,000 to two CBG recipients. IBG funding is aimed at early-stage…
Sparc Technologies has extended claims of improved anti-corrosive performance from solvent based coatings enhanced with graphene towards more environmentally desirable water based alternatives. The technology development company told investors that initial test work had demonstrated significant corrosion improvement in graphene enhanced water-based acrylic epoxy coatings which are experiencing strong market growth as alternatives to coatings…
First Graphene has announced it has entered new markets in Vietnam and China for its PureGraph graphene products through distribution agreements, while also revealing maiden sales and recurring orders from a textile company in Brazil. The two new distribution agreements cover the coatings, composites, and construction materials segments across Vietnam and China, and take the…
Japanese electronics company Omron has announced the opening of its new Oceania regional headquarters at Western Sydney University’s Engineering Innovation Hub, located at the Parramatta City Campus According to a statement from WSU on Monday, the precinct will be a regional base for Omron, which will officially launch its Proof of Concept (PoC) Centre on…
An expert panel led by businesswoman Robyn Denholm, who chairs lobby group the Tech Council of Australia and electric car maker Tesla, will conduct a year-long Strategic Examination of Research and Development (R&D) in the nation. According to The Australian Financial Review – which got advance notice of the announcement by industry minister Ed Husic…
Not enough is known about the nature of Australian manufacturing and the issues it faces to plan for a future made in Australia. Here Julie Harrison argues for as comprehensive audit to help move us forward. There’s an axiom of business that says you can manage what you measure – when you know the parameters…
State government-backed venture fund Breakthrough Victoria has announced a new $7.5 million Breakthrough Fellowship Program, aimed at supporting researcher entrepreneur talent. According to a statement from the organisation on Friday, the program aims to cultivate “the next generation of startup founders from Victorian universities and medical research institutes” and is predicted to “establish up to…
Melbourne’s RMIT University has launched the Centre for Atomaterials and Nanomanufacturing (CAN) to work with industry to commercialise nanomaterials. Led by Distinguished Professor Baohua Jia (pictured), CAN will drive the translation of atomaterial research to support industry and Australia’s transition to a circular economy. Distinguished Professor Jia said: “Atomaterials are microscopic materials about one millionth…