A large chunk of data was released this week, with more to come next week. And while nothing was either shocking or terrible, there is mounting evidence the world’s economic growth problem is even more entrenched.

Following the progress of MakerBot, it is easy to be despondent about the whole desktop 3D printing industry. For a short time back in 2010, MakerBot was 3D printing. Anyone who wanted a desktop 3D printer could buy a MakerBot kit or build a RepRap.

Innovation might be a word some are sick of, but it remains essential for success. Melbourne-based manufacturer Trajan Scientific and Medical shared a few insights into what it involves for them. Brent Balinski writes.

Like Henry Ford before him, Tesla founder and CEO Elon Musk is taking a new approach to car making. Where Ford focused on manufacturing a car that the mass market could afford, Musk is keen to build a vehicle that the environment can bear.

The future is promising for manufacturing exports, with economic conditions offering excellent opportunities for manufacturers. A number of recent developments have created these favourable conditions.

Universities today are under more pressure than ever to collaborate with industry.
In the words of Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull:
Increasing collaboration between businesses, universities and the research sector is absolutely critical for our businesses to remain competitive.

Over 550 manufacturing professionals gathered in Barcelona at the World Manufacturing Forum in May this year to consider Industry 4.0 strategies. Bruce Grey shares some observations.

Malcolm Turnbull’s innovation agenda failed to resonate with the Australian electorate, but it is too important to be abandoned. The agenda can be recast in several ways.

The tone of commentary about the appropriateness and effectiveness of innovation as a centrepiece of Australian government policy has turned from one of enthusiasm, particularly among the start-up community, to pessimism and even rejection.

A new plant based oil is being developed to replace petrochemicals in industrial products ranging from fuels and lubricants to specialty chemicals and plastics, writes Hartley Henderson.

The business founded by young engineer, STEM evangelist and entrepreneur Marita Cheng has just begun shipping its new product, Teleport. Brent Balinski spoke to Cheng about getting robots into our homes.

The importance of the food industry to Australia’s economic future is being recognised in the grant space, with a number of grant opportunities at both the Federal and State level on offer.

Fears that the Chinese Australian Free Trade Agreement (ChAFTA) will lead to a flood of Chinese workers in Australia are unfounded.

Tested in demanding NASCAR and Touring Car racing environments, an Australian brake rotor innovation is ready for the market, according to the company behind it. Brent Balinski spoke to OzBrakes’ Colin Lagoon about the road ahead.

Recent figures show that more Australian businesses are exporting, assisted by the lower dollar. However, there’s a lot to consider before considering any new market, as Christelle Damiens, founder of Exportia, told Brent Balinski.

There have been myriad promises made by the major political parties over the years focused on funding programs aimed at increasing the number of women pursuing careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).

Surveying democratic election results around the world, it’s clear the high water mark for globalisation has been met. Free trade, always questionable economics, is no longer good politics and in many ways has jumped the shark.

Studies have shown a preponderance of engineers among terrorist ranks, especially when we look at the relatively recent scourge of Islamist terror the world is currently grappling with. Branko Miletic writes.

“Make an appointment for 4pm today with Gary,” I say to my assistant as I hang up from a promising phone call with a potential client. There was a time when you had to be high up in an organisation to have an assistant.

So here we are, after one of the longest election campaigns in Australia’s history and the result is a non-result. Or should I say a non-conclusive result.