innovation

Australian science and technology will be front and centre in the ASEAN region as Australia’s national science agency, CSIRO, formally launches its presence in Singapore today. The announcement coincided with Singapore-headquartered investment company, Temasek, becoming the third largest investor in the $232 million CSIRO Innovation Fund, managed by Main Sequence Ventures. The CSIRO Innovation Fund … Continue reading CSIRO launches ASEAN presence with Singapore node →

The federal government has signed two contracts to further develop the Australian Defence Force’s unmanned aerial system (UAS) capabilities. Defence minister Christopher Pyne said the Defence Innovation Hub contracts, signed with UAV vision and Textron Systems Australia, would enable Australia to remain at the forefront of surveillance, intelligence and force protection capabilities. “The $2.1 million … Continue reading Two contracts signed for military drone development →

The CSIRO has created two new leadership roles, placing a focus on establishing further collaboration between science and industry. Ilona Charles has been appointed to the role of Executive Director, People, while Nigel Warren is the new Executive Director, Growth. The new appointments follow that from that of Dr Cathy Foley to CSIRO’s Chief Scientist … Continue reading CSIRO appoints two industry figures to leadership positions →

The South Australian government has appointed Nova Systems chairman Jim Whalley as the state’s first Chief Entrepreneur, as part of its effort to build a new “support model” for entrepreneurs and start-ups. The appointment is soon to be followed by the establishment of an Entrepreneurship Advisory Board, which is to have oversight for the Innovation, Incubation, … Continue reading SA appoints Chief Entrepreneur →

The NSW government has developed a first-of-its-kind report to measure the state’s innovation and productivity performance and compare NSW to other states and similar international economies. The new NSW Innovation and Productivity Scorecard showed the State was a leader on economic growth in 2015-16, ranking second out of 10 locations on GDP growth, beating Victoria … Continue reading New scorecard measures NSW performance →

The Western Australian government has announced 23 local businesses as the winners of the 2018 Innovation Vouchers Program. The program, an initiative of the state government’s New Industries Fund, enables small to medium enterprises (SMEs) to improve their capability and commercialise their innovations through the support of the state government. The successful applicants, who were chosen … Continue reading WA provides innovation grants to local SMEs →

Victoria has a new home for innovation with the official launch of the refurbished Goods Shed North, which brings together leading startups across a range of sectors including medtech, agtech, fintech and cyber security. The state minister for innovation and the digital economy, Philip Dalidakis, launched the Victorian Innovation Hub at the historic 111-year-old building … Continue reading Victorian Innovation Hub launches in Melbourne →

The Medical Technology, Biotechnology, and Pharmaceutical (MTP) Industry Growth Centre (MTPConnect) in conjunction with the Western Australian Government and The University of Western Australia (UWA), has announced the establishment of the Western Australian Node (the WA Node) of MTPConnect in Perth, to support the state’s burgeoning life sciences sector. The WA Node of MTPConnect was launched … Continue reading MTPConnect launches Western Australian Node →

Minister for Jobs and Innovation, Michaelia Cash, is visiting Singapore from 3 to 6 June to promote Australia’s industry, innovation and science sectors, exchange ideas on how to best support job creation in a digital economy, and advance Australia’s economic interests in the region. Singapore is Australia’s largest trading partner in ASEAN, the eighth-largest trading partner overall … Continue reading Strengthening ties with Singapore on trade and innovation →

According to a press release by the Victorian state government, the latest ANZ Stateometer report released today shows Victoria’s economic activity is gathering pace due to strong public and private investment and a booming jobs market, with more than 320,000 new jobs since the Andrews Labor Government was elected. The report stated that construction work … Continue reading Victorian economy growing, engineering a key driver →

When 15-year-old Angelina Arora started investigating bioplastics almost two years ago, she never imagined her investigations would earn her world-wide attention. Now, Angelina and her shrimp bioplastic will be representing Australia at the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania alongside over 1,800 high school students from 75 countries, regions, and territories. … Continue reading Aussie student’s shrimp bioplastic a big splash in USA →

The Queensland state government will reinvigorate the policy agenda to support manufacturing in Queensland as part of the government’s response to a Queensland Productivity Commission report into the manufacturing sector. Minister for State Development, Manufacturing, Infrastructure and Planning Cameron Dick said the  Queensland government had accepted 16 of the Commission’s 17 recommendations in full, in … Continue reading QLD gov to boost manufacturing support →

Austal USA announced this week that it has acquired privately held ElectraWatch, Inc. in an all cash stock purchase. The transaction is expected to be immediately accretive to earnings and the business will remain a standalone business, part of the Austal USA portfolio. Austal USA’s parent company, Austal, is an Australian-based global ship building company and defence … Continue reading Austal acquires metal tech company ElectraWatch →

The Victoria government has officially launched a new industrial innovation and accelerator hub, titled ManuFutures, at Deakin University’s Waurn Ponds campus in Geelong, to focus on advanced manufacturing research and development. According to a media release by the Victoria government, ManuFutures will support up to 15 commercial enterprises and 150 people working in advanced manufacturing industries ranging … Continue reading Vic gov launches new industrial innovation hub →

MTPConnect – the Australian Government’s Medical Technology, Biotechnology, and Pharmaceutical (MTP) Industry Growth Centre – and BioPacific Partners – an organisation helping global companies connect to Australian innovations – are jointly launching an exciting new initiative to assist Australian medical technology and pharmaceutical companies to better prepare and position themselves to engage successfully with multinational … Continue reading MTPConnect and BioPacific Partners announce new initiative →

Sydney based company Zipline Cloud will launch its innovative email and messaging platform in London this month in partnership with Salesforce and Accenture after achieving rapid growth in the Australian market. NSW deputy premier and minister for small business John Barilaro said Zipline Cloud has received a $100,000 Building Partnerships grant from the NSW government-backed … Continue reading NSW company Zipline Cloud to launch in London →

The UK’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and the Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC) have signed a new agreement to extend their existing cooperation on fintech innovation. As per the new agreement, FCA and ASIC have agreed to explore ways to quicken the licensing process in terms of the authorisation of innovative businesses that are already … Continue reading British, Australian regulators strengthen cooperation on fintech →

Innovative projects from 14 Australian businesses have been granted government funding, adding to $7.4 million, to assist them through the commercialisation process. Intelligent virtual technologies to improve workplace safety, smart city solar lighting system and satellite-enabled weather forecasting technology are among the innovations. The grants are part of the Accelerating Commercialisation element of the Australian … Continue reading Gov commercialisation grant for innovative businesses →

The NSW government has announced that NSW businesses can now apply for NSW Government grants of up to $250,000 under the NSW-Israel Research and Development (R&D) Tech Innovation Program. The program which is jointly run by the NSW Government and State of Israel was established to support innovation and strengthen ties between NSW and Israel.  Minister for Trade & Industry, Niall Blair opened … Continue reading NSW-Israel R&D Tech Innovation Program grants for NSW businesses →

Dassault Systèmes has announced its Global Entrepreneur Program to “accelerate” the development of breakthrough innovations by startups, entrepreneurs and makers. The program, which leverages the company’s 3DEXPERIENCE platform, applications, expertise, and community of mentors and services, delivers a full portfolio of tailored solutions and different types of engagement to accompany innovators at every step of their … Continue reading Global Entrepreneur Program to aid start-up manufacturers →