Best of the week — the five most popular stories among readers, June 16 – June 20, 2025

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

1) Australia’s 50 Most Innovative Manufacturers 2025 report — now available to download for free

@AuManufacturing is very happy to release our campaign report, wrapping up 2025’s iteration of the 50 Most Innovative.

This 48-page report features never-before-published Q and As with six of the list’s Top 10 companies – Advanced Navigation, Micro-X, Kite Magnetics, Modra Technology, Wild Tech, and Allegro Energy – plus insights on what separated good from exceptional by judge Mike Jennings of WAVE Design, plus a poll of 49 of this year’s nominees.

Among results (responses came in between November 18, 2024 and the close of nominations on March 15) are how our innovators rated the first Albanese government’s understanding of and support for innovation.

2) Hazer Group raises $10 million to commercialise methane pyrolysis technology

Hazer Group announced that it has raised $10 million through a placement and share purchase plan to drive commercialisation of its methane pyrolysis technology for clean hydrogen production.

The Perth-based technology company successfully raised $8 million from existing and new institutional and sophisticated investors through a placement at 31 cents per share, representing a 13.9 per cent discount to the last trade price.

The company also launched a share purchase plan for eligible shareholders to raise an additional $2 million, offering existing shareholders the opportunity to purchase shares on the same terms without brokerage costs.

3) How Australia’s grant system is currently locking $33 million from those doing the heavy lifting

Right now, if you’re a small business or a not-for-profit, there’s likely a funding stream available to help you test an idea, buy equipment or build capability. If you’re a multinational or a university, there’s even more.

But if you sit in the middle, a commercially viable, medium-sized business with proven success, and the capacity to deliver major outcomes, you’re often left with nothing. This isn’t sour grapes, it’s missed opportunities, writes Paul Carmignani.

4) Adelaide tech company achieves $2.3 million in development milestones

Adelaide-based Micro-X has achieved $2.3 million worth of development milestones across three major contracts with international partners, the company announced on Monday.

The hi-tech company achieved Milestone 3 under its Development Agreement with the US Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health for a Full Body CT scanner, delivering $1.4 million.

Micro-X also achieved Milestone 2 under its Strategic Partnership Agreement with Billion Prima for a baggage and parcel scanning unit due for completion in 2025, delivering $900,000.

5) MicroBioGen, Lesaffre announce exclusive worldwide licensing and collaboration deal on industrial yeast technology

Sydney-based industrial biotechnology company MicroBioGen has struck a deal with French research and bioengineering group Lesaffre, initially focussing on baking, food and biochemicals.

According to a statement from the pair on Thursday (Central European Time), the deal involves a “worldwide exclusive license and collaboration agreement” combining MicroBioGen’s expertise in yeast biotech with Lesaffre’s “bioengineering and fermentation expertise, global R&D and production footprint and network”.

Picture: credit Hazer/Facebook