Australian owned defence prime contractor NIOA has confirmed the extension of its partnership with Defence which it says will ‘future proof’ supply surety of advanced artillery rounds to the Australian Army. At a time of unprecedented worldwide demand for 155mm ammunition, the Brisbane company has locked in another five-year term to supply the Assegai suite…
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Mining company Rio Tinto will partner with Gemco Rail to bring local iron ore rail car manufacturing and bearing maintenance to the Pilbara region in Western Australia in what the company calls an industry-first. The partnership will enable Gemco Rail to expand its existing operations in Perth and establish the first ever rail ore car…
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The Holmes Imager, a telescopic camera made by HEO Robotics for collecting data from satellites in orbit, has been launched aboard a SpaceX rocket. In a statement on Tuesday morning, the Sydney-based company said Holmes was “the world’s first commercial camera dedicated to non-Earth imaging” and made entirely within Australia. HEO praised its collaborative partners…
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Brain imaging company EMVision Medical Devices has announced receipt of a $1.75 million payment under the Modern Manufacturing Initiative (MMI) grant. EMVision was awarded a grant worth $5 million in non-dilutive funding in May 2022 from the previous federal government’s MMI. The funding under the initiative’s Translation stream is to assist establishing commercial production of…
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CSIRO has released Reshaping Australia’s Food System, which it describes as a new roadmap for “a more sustainable, productive, and resilient future for [Australia’s] food, environment, and people.” It defines food systems as “the entire food pipeline from production to consumption and waste management” plus the societal, cultural and governance systems related to these. The…
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By Peter Roberts I have just been reminded by a former colleague of the bad old days when policy, any policy, favouring manufacturing was seen as protectionism and picking winners. Those times lasted for decades, with the Productivity Commission and the Coalition weaponising the words against manufacturers. My former colleague asked: what government policy is…
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Businesses must get better at transforming themselves to seize new opportunities rather than focussing on business as usual, according to a new survey by the Committee for Economic Development of Australia (CEDA). The report – Dynamic capabilities: How Australian firms can survive and thrive in uncertain times – reveals the results of the first broad…
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University of Queensland researchers are working with industry to develop biodegradable ‘plastic’ bags for use in mushroom farming, which could open lucrative opportunities in packaging and manufacturing. Dr Nasim Amiralian from UQ’s Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology (pictured) is collaborating with Queensland producer Scenic Rim Mushrooms to reduce the company’s reliance on plastic ‘grow…
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The Royal Australian Navy has received its fifth and final BlueBottle Uncrewed Surface Vessel (pictured) powered only by the wind, sun and wave action. Manufactured by Ocius Technologies, the BlueBottle can cover long distances, undertake a variety of missions, and stay at sea for extended periods. BlueBottle vessel BEACON recently spent two travelling to and…
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Business and industrial researchers led by Adelaide defence company leader Jim Whalley have featured in the King’s Birthday 2023 Honours List among 1,192 recipients. Whalley, Deputy Chair of Nova Systems and a former RAAF officer, was among the six appointed to the top category of Companion of the Order for distinguished service to business, particularly…
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