Few Australian companies even perform R&D – R&D scorecard

The Australian government used to publish a Business R&D Investment Scorecard, providing insight into how companies are investing in their future. Here John H Howard, Victor Pantano and Cameron Begley produce their own scorecard – which suggests fewer Australian companies are bothering with R&D. R&D scorecards are vital tools for policymakers. They provide essential data…

Home-grown AI innovation for manufacturing excellence

Sponsored Australia has a rich history of industry and manufacturing thanks to an abundance of natural resources, economic prosperity, high levels of education and geographic isolation which necessitated local production of goods. But the recent decades have shone the spotlight on the challenges to the industry from reliance on global supply chains. Net zero targets…

Manufacturing news briefs — stories you might have missed

Applied EV selects Cissoid’s inverter control module Melbourne-based vehicle control system specialist Applied EV announced on Wednesday that it has selected Cissoid’s new CXT-ICM3SA series of Silicon Carbide Inverter Control Modules (ICMs) for their latest generation of autonomous vehicle e-motors. According to Cissoid, their software-powered ICMs are “augmented with onboard programmable hardware, accelerating the response…

Manufacturing news briefs — stories you might have missed

Incat in talks to build electric fast ferry Shipbuilder Incat Tasmania has announced a new partnership with European shipping company BrittanyFerries and technology company Wärtsilä to explore design and technical requirements for a 137-metre zero emission ferry. According to a statement on social media: “Incat has a long-standing and successful relationship with both companies. This…

Future Made in Australia will boost sustainable growth and create jobs as far as it goes, but it doesn’t go far enough

By Sanjoy Paul, University of Technology Sydney and Priyabrata Chowdhury, RMIT University The shift towards net zero emissions and greater international competition have created new opportunities for clean energy industries – poised to shape the global economy in the coming decades. To harness these opportunities, the government has developed a long-term strategic initiative called the…

Submarine dispute sinks further – workers call for CEO resignation

By Peter Roberts Relations between workers and management at submarine builder ASC have sunk even lower with members of the trade unions on the site unanimously issuing a vote of no confidence in the CEO’s leadership. Australian Manufacturing Workers’ Union (AMWU) SA Assistant State Secretary Stuart Gordon said around 300 members across the AMWU, AWU…