To clean up Australia’s power grid, we’re going to need many thousands more skilled workers – and fast

By Jay Rutovitz, University of Technology Sydney; Chris Briggs, University of Technology Sydney, and Rusty Langdon, University of Technology Sydney To get Australia’s grid 82% powered by renewables by 2030 is a huge increase. At present, the electricity powering eastern and southern states is around 33% renewable. To get there means a lot of work.…

Australia’s place in the semiconductor world – Software may be eating the world, but software is nothing without semiconductors

Due to an unexpected number of high-quality contributions, @AuManufacturing’s Australia’s place in the semiconductor world editorial series has been extended again. Here Mike Nicholls writes that Australia has the opportunity to build a thriving semiconductor industry without investing $20 billion to build a fab. But we do need to get started.  It’s hard to imagine,…

Australia’s place in the semiconductor world: The opportunities for Australia in the semiconductor industry

As our Australia’s place in the semiconductor world editorial series draws to a close, Steven Duvall and Glenn Downey provide the final part of their four-part feature. Here they propose steps to help build the semiconductor industry in Australia 1) Introduction This article concludes our four-part feature on semiconductors, continuing the themes from the three…

Australia’s place in the semiconductor world: IP is the main thing, says quantum computing hopeful

Today in Australia’s place in the semiconductor world we consider ASX-listed Archer Materials, which is developing a quantum processor. Brent Balinski spoke to CEO Dr Mohammad Choucair. A lot of things are impossible, as the quote goes, until they’re done. At this stage, building a practical quantum computer remains impossible. Asked about his company’s approach…

Australia’s place in the semiconductor world: A case for connectedness

A recently-launched semiconductor service bureau is part of the NSW government’s attempts to grow the local sector. In this edition of Australia’s place in the semiconductor world, Dr Nadia Court explains why the bureau exists and what it hopes to do.   The Semiconductor Sector Service Bureau (S3B) was established in July 2022 to make it…

Australia’s place in the semiconductor world — Barriers to bringing wafer production home

Today in Australia’s place in the semiconductor world, Andrew McLellan illustrates a case where local innovation requires overseas fabrication, and why the situation is unlikely to change.  While improvements in technology and knowledge have driven significant advances in life sciences and healthcare industries in recent decades, methods for identifying and tracking important biological samples stored…

Australia’s place in the semiconductor world: repositioning Australia’s chip industry

Today’s edition of Australia’s place in the semiconductor world takes a look at the growing importance of compound semiconductors. Stef Winwood argues that if Australia invests strategically, with a view to the future, it could carve out a logical niche and realise compound returns The global semiconductor industry is currently a $US 600 billion a…

Australia’s place in the semiconductor world — tech wars and factory floors

Beginning week three of Australia’s place in the semiconductor world, Sercan Altun considers the role of chips in enabling a nation’s self-sufficiency goals in manufacturing, and the implications for Australia. The seeds of the current “Cold War 2.0” discussions were laid due to a rising China on the global stage, with massive economic and military…