The Victorian government has announced funding of $5.1 million to accelerator programs and the Wade Institute of Entrepreneurship, in an announcement they said will support “up to 165 early-stage startups”. According to a statement from minister for economic growth Danny Pearson on Tuesday, the funding will assist startups in accessing “resources, mentorship and vital capital”.…
Industry association the South East Melbourne Manufacturers Alliance (SEMMA) has blamed factors including “poor policy, cheap imports, government over-taxing businesses and crippling union agreements” for Dandenong-based architectural glassmaker Oceania Glass falling into administration this week. In a statement on Wednesday, following news of Oceania’s collapse on Monday, SEMMA said it was “shocked” at another manufacturer…
The first of 25 new X’Trapolis 2.0 trains has been built at Ballarat, the state government announced on Tuesday. The first train is part of a $986 million spend on the fleet – which will replace the 1980s-era Comeng trains and travel on the Craigieburn, Upfield and Frankston lines – as well as major upgrades…
The Victorian government has given BrightNight approval to begin development of the $700 million Mortlake Energy Hub, a hybrid solar and battery energy storage project. Victorian energy minister Lily D’Ambrosio said on Thursday that the fast-tracked project is expected to create approximately 300 construction jobs. According to its website, the energy hub is planned as…
The first from an order of 23 new VLocity trains, made in Victoria by Alstom for the state’s regional V/Line services, has begun transporting passengers. According to a statement from public transport minister Gabrielle Williams on Thursday, the train is numbered 119 and the first from the order, worth a total of $601 million and…
Grant Dooley, the CEO of state government-backed venture fund Breakthrough Victoria, has announced he is resigning after almost three years in the role. “The opportunity to serve as Breakthrough Victoria’s inaugural CEO is one that I will forever cherish,” said Dooley in a statement on Friday morning. “In just under three years, BV has been…
The Victorian government has announced a round of 20 grants valued at $50,000 each the companies under the Medtech Market Growth Program. The funding was announced at the office of medtech startup Livac on Monday morning. Livac is developing a medical device (pictured) to help safely retract the liver during surgery. Livac and novel blood pressure…
Industrial technology company Siemens and renewable energy developer Marathon Group have announced a new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), describing it as coming at a time “when Gippsland goes through a once in a lifetime energy transition”. In a statement from Siemens on Tuesday, it described itself as a technology partner in the relationship, which would “help…
Nominations opened on Thursday for the annual Victorian Manufacturing Hall of Fame Awards, now in their 22nd year, with 14 awards to be presented at a gala dinner in October. Industry minister Natalie Hutchins opened nominations for the 2024 awards, calling Victoria the nation’s “home of advanced manufacturing” and stating that the awards provide a…
CRDC Australia has officially opened a new factory in the Melbourne suburb of Tottenham, where it is transforming end-of-life hard and soft plastics into “an Eco-Aggregate that improves concrete.” “Following the US, Costa Rica, and South Africa, we are proud to be the fourth global location hosting this groundbreaking technology,” said Shane Ramsey, Managing Director…
