Manufacturing news briefs — stories you might have missed

Universities can apply for AUKUS funding for 4,000 more places

Universities can now apply for additional Commonwealth supported places (CSPs) targeted at graduates in STEM courses, the federal government announced on Friday. The additional CSPs are designed to attract more students to train in engineering, mathematics, chemistry and physics and meet the needs of the AUKUS submarine program. The government has budgeted to invest $128.5 million over four years to fund the extra 4,000 university places. 800 of these will go to South Australian universities, as part of the Cooperation Agreement to support the construction of the submarines in Adelaide.

Spiral Blue launches ‘Your Code In Space’ initiative

Edge computing company Spiral Blue announced the launch of the ‘Your Code In Space’ (YCIS) initiative on Thursday. The company described it as first of its kind in Australia, empowering anyone, including developers, researchers and innovators from around the world, to run their custom code on Spiral Blue’s SE-1 space edge computer, “facilitating real-time AI processing on satellite imagery to unlock unparalleled insights from space.” SE-1 is stationed aboard a Satellogic satellite, and “allows users to harness the power of AI and apply it to satellite imagery, enabling applications that were previously unimaginable.” Spiral Blue suggested that applications might include environmental monitoring, natural disaster response, agricultural insights, urban planning, and wildlife conservation. Developers are invited to submit their proposals through the Spiral Blue website (linked.)

Elexon announces move

Brendale, Queensland contract manufacturer Elexon Electronics announced further steps in its recovery on Thursday, following recent fire damage to its factory and warehouse. According to a Linkedin update it is transitioning to a newly leased facility at 2/209 Leitchs Rd, close to its former address, “driven by our dedication to seamless services and improved operational efficiency”. It added that the new site “will serve as both an advanced manufacturing hub and an optimized administrative centre”, with the team currently transferring inventory there.

Fractal to expand in Melbourne site

Multinational artificial intelligence company Fractal has announced that it is expanding into Melbourne and estimates it will create 60 new jobs over three years. According to a statement from Victoria’s trade and investment minister Tim Pallas, the company was “attracted by Victoria’s tech talent pool and innovation ecosystem.” Fractal recently achieved “unicorn” status (a $1 billion valuation) and provides AI and advanced analytics solutions to entities including Fortune 500 companies. According to the statement, Mumbai and New York-headquartered Fractal is working with Victorian universities to develop a future pipeline of technical talent “to service clients in pure-play data, cloud tech and analytics, and in niche research areas of mutual interest.” “The opening of Fractal in Melbourne follows a trend of Indian tech success stories looking to Australia to establish or expand their initiatives in the region,” said Pallas on Friday.