Best of the week — the five most popular stories among @AuManufacturing’s readers

What were the five biggest stories of the week? Here’s what visitors to this site were reading.

5) $10.2 MILLION IN ARC LINKAGE GRANTS ANNOUNCED FOR ADVANCED MANUFACTURING PROJECTS

Advanced manufacturing had a high representation among the latest round of projects supported through the Australian Research Council Linkage program.

Funds totalling $40 million for 81 new projects were announced under the program on Tuesday.

By “Science and Research Priorities” areas, 20 Advanced Manufacturing projects were awarded funding (out of 49 considered), more than any other. The cumulative grant amount of $10,186,959 was also the highest for any of the nine priority areas.

4) AUKUS INNOVATION: ABOUT FAR MORE THAN SUBMARINES

The focus of reporting on the AUKUS agreement between Australia, the US and the UK has been on the promise of locally built nuclear-powered submarines.

But it is about so much more from AI and quantum computing, to hypersonic aircraft and systems.

In this article, Michael Sharpe explains how AUKUS will unlock the power of innovation in Pillar Two of the agreement – Technology and Capabilities.

3) TWO MAJOR ANNOUNCEMENTS ABOUT AUSTRALIA’S DEFENCE FORCE ARE IMMINENT. HERE’S WHAT TO EXPECT

The United States’ shooting down of a Chinese spy balloon off the coast of South Carolina over the weekend points to international security affairs being on a knife edge.

It follows a surge in crises and tensions over the past few years, including Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, prompting the Albanese government to commission an accelerated Defence Strategic Review in August 2022. This is expected to be handed to the government as early as this week, and the government’s response to the review is expected in March.

In this article, Professor John Blaxland from the Strategic and Defence Studies Centre at Australian National University discusses what the government should weigh up in its decisions.

2) DOWNER NAMED PREFERRED SUPPLIER ON QUEENSLAND GOVERNMENT’S $7 BILLION TRAIN MANUFACTURING PROGRAM

Engineering firm Downer has been named the preferred supplier on the Queensland government’s plan to build 65 new passenger trains in the state.

Transport minister Mark Bailey said Downer’s proposal offered “strong value for money, leading-edge accessibility and a modern design, whilst delivering maximum benefit to the region and to our great state.

Downer was earlier shortlisted to lead the project, along with Alstom and CAF.

1) PLANS FIRM FOR AUSTRALIA-US-UK DEFENCE INDUSTRIAL BASE

The nature of the final arrangements to be announced in March for the construction of Australian nuclear submarines is becoming clearer, as Peter Roberts explains.

As envisaged by the original Aukus agreement between Australia, the UK and the US, the programme will likely be a genuine three-nation effort to boost submarine capability in all three nations, with the three contributing to each other’s production.

There is still an intention to build nuclear submarines in Adelaide, with the Osborne naval shipyard ramping up to build an existing design, or a new, joint Australia, UK and US submarine design.

And in case you missed our podcast…

Matt Holloway and Jim Prior — CEO and COO respectively of Holloway Group — told us about mixed signals from government when it comes to sustainability and recycled plastics in episode 43; and

Dovetail Electric Aviation co-founder and Business Operations Manager Rachael Barritt shared the company’s story so far in episode 44,