Manufacturing news briefs — stories you might have missed

CRC round 24 applications open

Applications for funding under round 24 of the Cooperative Research Centres program were opened on Friday, supporting industry-led collaborative research centres of up to 10 years’ duration. Applications can be made by all industry sectors and research disciplines under the program, which has been running since 1990, with applicants at least matching the funding sought through cash or in‑kind contributions from partners. Round 24 bids include from the hemp CRC (a recent @AuManufacturing Conversations interview with hemp CRC’s bid lead Professor Gavin Ash and chair-elect Professor Kerryn Phelps is available here.) Round 24 CRC Stage 1 applications close March 7. More information is available at this link.

Guidelines released for Townsville Hydrogen Hub grants

Eligibility criteria are available for groups seeking to apply for grants worth between $30 million and $70 million through the federal government’s Regional Hydrogen Hubs Program – Townsville Region Grant opportunity. The funding, announced on Monday, hopes to create $140 million in investment in renewable hydrogen for local use or for export as fuel, energy generation and storage, or as a chemical feedstock. Applications open on February 28 and close April 12. Guideline and other information can be accessed here.

Cicada Innovations acquires Tech23

Incubator Cicada Innovations has acquired custodianship of Australia’s longest-running annual deep technology conference Tech23. According to a statement from Cicada, Tech23 and itself “have always been united by a shared mission to celebrate and support Australian deep tech innovators, with both organisations boasting a lengthy track record of nurturing some of Australia’s most successful companies”. It added that the capital collectively raised by the two organisations’ companies — including Morse Micro, Gelion and SpeeDx — had reached $5.7 billion. The next Tech23 event is planned for May 2023.

Queensland government launches battery discussion paper

Acting Queensland Premier Steven Miles was in Maryborough on Monday to launch a battery industry discussion paper. According to Miles, new battery storage will play a key role in the state’s “renewable energy revolution”, with “demand for this technology… set to increase more than tenfold by 2030.” The Battery Industry Opportunities for Queensland discussion paper, would give stakeholders the opportunity to help shape the state’s future battery industry, the government said, and assess how it could build a strong value chain building on its current strengths. It is open for feedback until March 31, and can be accessed here.

Monash real-time carbon price index launched

A Monash Business School research project monitoring real-time carbon prices is now available to finance professionals and investors around the world, via a relationship with media company Bloomberg. The Real Carbon Price Index, launched on the subscriber-only platform Bloomberg Terminal in late-2022. The ultimate aim, according to a statement on Monash on Monday, is for the Real Carbon Price Index to become the main reference point used by investors, policy makers and other finance professionals to monitor global carbon prices. “We want to raise awareness and drive policy change for governments and investors,” said Dr Bei Cui, one of the key researchers from the Monash Centre for Financial Studies (MCFS.)

Everhard wastewater system installed in Victoria

JH Plumbing in East Gippsland recently became the latest plumbing company to install Everhard Industries’ novel Aqua Advanced polymer wastewater system for their client in regional Victoria (pictured). The AQ system is an environmentally friendly wastewater solution for regional properties that do not have access to main sewer lines. Manufactured in Brisbane from either polymer or concrete, the system uses similar processes and technologies to that of the sewage treatment plants to process wastewater from laundry, kitchen, and bathrooms for reuse on lawns and gardens.

Healthy Mummy foods go on sale in Woolworths

The Healthy Mummy range of wellness products produced by Melbourne manufacturer Halo Food Co have been ordered for the first time by supermarket chain Woolworths. The total value of what the company called an ‘opening order’ is $290,000, with first year sales projected in an earlier announcement in November to be $2.5 million. Three powdered smoothie products – an on-the-go sachet and vanilla and chocolate ‘tummy’ smoothies – will be ranged in Woolworths stores nationally from late January.

Picture: Everhard Industries