$US 2.5 million seed round for Sydney sensor maker
University of NSW Sydney spinout robotics business Contactile has announced a $2.5 million seed round, led by Silicon Valley-headquartered True Ventures.
Brent is a co-founder and editor of @AuManufacturing.
Wolves of Waterloo say Australian space success hinges on collaboration
In space, no one can do without a team, according to the members of a new Sydney incubator. By Brent Balinski.
Manufacturing news briefs – stories you might have missed
Vaxxas appoints ex-Ellume exec as new COO Syringe-free vaccine delivery company Vaxxas has announced Dr Scott Fry as its new chief operating officer, leading its engineering and manufacturing activities. Fry was most recently COO at Ellume, also based in Brisbane, which manufactures Covid-19 test kits. Vaxxas said in a statement on Thursday that Fry’s experience…
$50 million funding awarded to four-year defence manufacturing project
Federal funding for the second Trailblazer program was announced on Wednesday, with the University of Adelaide-led Defence Trailblazer for Concept to Sovereign Capability (CSC) gaining $50 million for commercialisation of research focussed on defence applications.
Chipping away in the emerging 5G industry
Last week wireless 5G innovator milliBeam came out of stealth mode, announcing its intention to make new hires and to establish a design centre by the year’s end. Brent Balinski spoke to CEO and founder Dr Venkata Gutta about the company’s origins and how it intends to overcome challenges around a small local ecosystem for…
Why a WA engineering company built an autonomous hybrid vehicle
By Brent Balinski A couple of weeks ago this website shared news of an autonomous hydrogen/electric vehicle launched by East Fremantle engineering company Lycaon Group. There was no information released on the application or customer for the vehicle, labelled AHV-001, apparently entering the field trial phase. It turns out the self-driving car – with its…
Plant-based meat and dairy product consumption up 14 per cent in 2020/21: ABS
Both investment in and consumption of plant-based products are on the up, with Australian Bureau of Statistics figures showing the nation is eating and drinking its way through more and more meat and dairy substitutes every year.
Manufacturing projects lead in $32 million ARC Linkage grant round
Australian Research Council Linkage grants have been announced, totalling $32 million over six years, with 12 of the supported projects categorised as “advanced manufacturing”.
Hydrogen startup anticipates 30 new hires over next 12 months
University of Wollongong-headquartered Hysata recently made headlines with a breakthrough paper in Nature Communications, demonstrating a “giant leap” in water splitting progress and a claim to be on track to $2/kilogram hydrogen by 2025. The UoW spinout business was launched in mid-2021 with $5 million in seed funding from the IP Group and the Clean…
Forging a way into the nuclear power industry
Australia will eventually have eight nuclear submarines, under a partnership with either the US or UK, and a new base for them at one of three short-listed sites on the east coast.