BP Ventures invests in solar PV manufacturer 5B

bp ventures has made a $20 million investment in 5B Holdings, the Australian renewable company with technology that enables rapid deployment of solar power at scale. The investment closes 5B’s $55 million AUD Series B funding round, which was co-led by existing investors The AES Corporation and Artesian. 5B’s leading solar technology, the 5B Maverick…

CSIRO’s On accelerate backs 10 deep-tech startups

CSIRO has announced 10 deep-tech game changers from Australia’s universities and research community selected to develop their innovative ventures through the science organisation’s ON Accelerate programme. The innovators backed include nascent companies working with AI, new materials, nasal vaccines, the Internet of Things (Iot) and plant proteins. They draw on a number of inspirations, in…

Carbonix and H3 Dynamics to develop hydrogen-electric drone

Australian UAV producer Carbonix and hydrogen-focused H3 Dynamics are working together to develop and produce the first Australian hydrogen-electric vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) unmanned aircraft system (UAS). ‘Moving fast and starting now’, H3 Dynamics will be integrating its off-the-shelf hydrogen systems to Carbonix’ existing fleet of small unmanned VTOL systems – enabling training and…

1414 Degrees’ SiBox system milestone

Energy storage system developer 1414 Degrees has successfully reached a major milestone in the development of its SiBox molten silicon energy storage demonstration module. A furnace has been installed and heated to 1420°C, with construction almost complete. According to the company: “What this means, is that we’re confident moving forward with the installation of our…

Digital shipbuilding revolution propels the Hunter programme forward

Australia’s largest manufacturing project – the construction of frigates for the Royal Australian Navy – is gaining momentum at the Osborne naval shipyard in Adelaide. Here Craig Lockhart outlines BAE Systems Australia’s vision of an all-digital shipyard. BAE Systems is progressing the world’s most advanced anti-submarine warfare frigate and building a critical industrial capability that…

Industry-led research drives manufacturing growth – report

By Peter Roberts The importance of linking manufacturers to public sector research capabilities compared to grant-focused programmes favoured by the previous Coalition government has been confirmed through a major study of the Innovative Manufacturing Cooperative Research Centre (IMCRC). The report by consultants ACIL Allen report found the IMCRC’s 71 manufacturing R&D projects were on track…

Free TAFE places announced for Victoria

The federal and Victorian Governments have inked a 12-month Skills Agreement which will inject more than $250 million into the Victorian skills and training sector to support access to more than 55,000 Fee-Free TAFE and vocational education and training (VET) places in 2023. The agreement also includes an Australian Government commitment of $4.2 million to…

Husic warns the energy Czars

Industry minister Ed Husic has hit out at energy companies threatening to renege on a deal between the federal government and gas producers to increase the supply of gas to east coast markets. Interviewed by Patricia Karvelas on ABC radio, Husic said the companies would ‘need to consider their steps very carefully’. He said: “What…