Decide on a direction or die off

Despite the Industry 4.0 theme emerging from Germany early in the last decade, local uptake of the “Fourth Industrial Revolution” (or smart factories, 4IR or a handful of other near-synonyms) appears to be slow. The benefits have been spruiked ad nauseum in the intervening years by industrial technology vendors, researchers, manufacturing advocates and others. Yet…

Best of the week — the five most popular stories among readers, May 19 – May 23, 2025

What were the five biggest stories of the week? Here’s what visitors to @AuManufacturing were reading. 5) Introducing Spotlight on Scaling Up: an unmissable June 25 event about one of Australian manufacturing’s key issues @AuManufacturing is excited to announce an upcoming event on the morning of June 25, in partnership with BDO, the Advanced Manufacturing Growth…

Between Botswana and the Ivory Coast: Australia dives further in economic complexity rankings to 105th

The newly-returned government’s ambition to make Australia a manufacturing powerhouse comes with its difficulties, as newly-updated Economic Complexity Index (ECI) rankings show Australia in its worst placing yet. The rankings are published by the Harvard Kennedy School’s Growth Lab and go back to 2000. They measure the sophistication and diversity of a country’s exports.  An…

Best of the week — the five most popular stories among readers, November 18 – November 22, 2024

What were the five biggest stories of the week? Here’s what visitors to @AuManufacturing were reading. 5) $60m in defence quantum technology grants announced The federal government has invested $60 million in quantum and counter disinformation technologies critical to defence and to a future made in Australia. The Advanced Strategic Capabilities Accelerator’s (ASCA) Emerging and Disruptive Technologies…

Australia goes from terrible to worse in economic complexity, but nobody seems to notice

By Brent Balinski The most recent Economic Complexity Index rankings continue a downward slide for Australia, which has fallen from 93rd to 102nd.  The figures, compiled by the Growth Lab at the Harvard Kennedy School, were updated in September, though have not been noted in news coverage since. According to Australia’s profile in the Atlas…

Towards 3% R&D – a Future Made in Australia needs innovation boost

By Peter Roberts @AuManufacturing’s editorial series – Towards 3% R&D – turbocharging our national innovation effort which is now seeking your input – has been made more relevant with the announcement by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese of a Future Made in Australia Act. Australia’s manufacturing future lies in technology and skills based products, as well…

Battery talks with Indonesia – ‘It’s value-adding stupid!’

By Peter Roberts The Minister for Industry and Science Ed Husic is to visit Jakarta to further cooperation and collaboration with Indonesia on battery technologies and electric vehicles. Husic’s two-day trip is a long overdue ramping up of Australia’s industrial relationship with our close neighbour – one that has often seemed neglected in recent decades…