Like titanium, scandium is a metal Australia possesses in world-leading amounts, and – with a little work – it could present big industrial opportunities. Brent Balinski reports on a recently announced effort to help address the material’s supply/demand nexus.

Manufacturers’ Monthly is pleased to announce that nominations for our annual Endeavour Awards are now open.

The advent of 3D printers supposedly means we can manufacture anything in our homes. But in reality most existing home 3D printers can only make things out of certain plastics, although there are industrial systems that can print certain metals.

As Australian manufacturers return to work after the Christmas/New Year break, some are no doubt reflecting on the Turnbull government’s new promise of Australia becoming the “big ideas” nation.

Chinese telecoms giant Huawei posted an eye-popping 70% growth in 2015. It is now beating HTC and Sony when it comes to market share in Europe and is third only to Apple and Samsung when it comes to global smartphone sales.

Ringwood’s Trajan Scientific and Medical operates in two acknowledged areas of competitive advantage for Australia: advanced manufacturing and medical technology. Brent Balinski spoke to company CEO Stephen Tomisich about how it plans to change the world of healthcare.

Remember Napster or Grokster? Both services allowed users to share computer files – usually digital music – that infringed the copyrights for those songs.

A 3D printing start-up wants to “educate and inspire” manufacturers and potential Makers. Brent Balinski spoke to Protoworks’ founder Hans Chang about 3D printing in businesses and schools.

Central to the success of world-leading manufacturers like Dyson and Apple, a design emphasis is something Australian engineering lacks. Brent Balinski spoke to Deakin University’s Professor Guy Littlefair about how the university is helping to remedy this.

This year will be remembered for many reasons, but for the CSIRO, it may be remembered as the year it was forced to get entrepreneurial.

Those looking for the detail on insolvency changes announced in the Federal Government’s long awaited innovation statement won’t find it on the government website.

The federal government will release its heavily anticipated innovation statement today. There’s been a lot of talk, but what hope is there of achieving anything concrete for the manufacturing sector? Brent Balinski reports.

The Turnbull government’s imminent innovation statement should acknowledge an element often missing in discussion of innovation policy – the role of government in balancing who pays for and who profits from innovation.

One of the recent efforts to bridge the gulf between research and Australian enterprises was last week’s launch of Source IP. Brent Balinski spoke to IP Australia’s Matthew Fenech about the new online platform.

With the release of Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull’s science and innovation statement expected in just under a week, expectations are running high, perhaps too high.

One might think – after years of focus on global warming – that all the easy measures for reducing greenhouse gas emissions had been taken.

A simulation hub to help Asia Pacific businesses break into the global supply chain has launched in South Australia.

Australia’s patchy performance in linking public research with private enterprise is an old story that has been receiving plenty of attention lately, including at last week’s third Factories of the Future event.

Innovation means changing the way you do things. If you’re in business, it might mean producing a new product or service; introducing a new technology or operational process; instigating a new business model; or just changing the way you market your products.

The adults are back in charge in Canberra.