What were the five biggest stories of the week? Here’s what visitors to this site were reading. 5) Australian FMCG brands facing extinction? Sara Lee has been billed as the latest Australian food brand to go to the wall – it is actually New Zealand owned. Nevertheless, here Allen Roberts explains why it is next to…
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Ten Australian manufacturers will share more than $3.6 million to develop cutting-edge defence capabilities and boost exports in the latest round of Defence grants. The payments include more than $800,000 to a New South Wales company producing hard armour for military personnel, $585,000 to a South Australian manufacturer to develop a large-scale environmental test chamber…
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The Australian and United Kingdom governments have signed an MoU, agreeing to cooperate on innovation, research and commercialisation of quantum technology, during the AI Safety Summit at Bletchley Park this week. A joint statement (accessible here) “reaffirms the strong technology relationship” between the pair, supporting joint activities under the Australia-UK Cyber and Critical Technology Partnership…
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By Reuben Finighan, The University of Melbourne This article is part of a series by The Conversation, Getting to Zero, examining Australia’s energy transition. In Australia’s race to net zero emissions, nuclear power has surged back into the news. Opposition leader Peter Dutton argues nuclear is “the only feasible and proven technology” for cutting emissions.…
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Submarine construction and maintenance company ASC has renewed its longstanding supply chain partnership with defence contractor MacTaggart Scott Australia (MTSA). ASC built the conventionally powered Collins class submarines at Osborne in Adelaide and is heavily involved into the future in the planned Life of Type Extension (LOTE) for the fleet. ASC’s Chief Executive Officer and…
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The University of Sydney has launched the Australian Robotic Inspection and Asset Management Hub (ARIAM) which researchers say will transform the way important assets are handled. ARIAM’s work will reduce the need for people to enter dangerous or hazardous locations to maintain assets such as tunnels and underwater infrastructure, according to an announcement. It will…
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Robotic construction technology company FBR has filed nine new International PCT patent applications covering a range of technologies involved in the next-generation Hadrian X block laying system. This brings the total number of patent families covering the Hadrian X, DST, the Fastbrick Wall System and adjacent outdoor robotics applications to over 40. The filing of…
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AM2D to launch at Monash this month The ARC Research Hub for Advanced Manufacturing with 2D Materials (AM2D) will be officially launched at an in-person event on Monday, November 20. The launch will be officiated by a host of delegates including a local MP, the Australian Research Council, Monash University’s Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Enterprise) Prof Doron…
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Tasmanian companies have secured up to $100 million in contracts on the two upcoming Spirit of Tasmania ferries, currently being built in Finland, the state government said on Thursday. In a statement, the Tasmanian government said Launceston business Waverley Mills has secured a contract to supply two types of throw rugs, with an order for…
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By Zdenka Kuncic, University of Sydney and Ruomin Zhu, University of Sydney The world is infatuated with artificial intelligence (AI), and for good reason. AI systems can process vast quantities of data in a seemingly superhuman way. However, current AI systems rely on computers running complex algorithms based on artificial neural networks. These use huge…
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