InnovationAus Awards finalists: Manufacturing Innovation


Denham Sadler
National Affairs Editor

Manufacturing has been positioned as a core focus in Australia’s recovery from the economic shocks of the Covid pandemic. It was front and centre throughout the recent election campaign, with money thrown at it by both sides of politics.

The new Labor government is now establishing a $15 billion National Reconstruction Fund, and has established the Our Future Made in Australia policy, positioning manufacturing as the driver to diversify and transform Australian industry and the economy.

With priority areas including medical manufacturing, value-adding resources and critical technologies, there have never been more opportunities for innovative companies looking to manufacture in Australia.

The 2022 InnovationAus Award for Excellence in Manufacturing Innovation celebrates some of the leading Australian companies in this field.

The finalists in this category are:

The InnovationAus Awards for Excellence winners, and finalists, will be celebrated at a gala dinner on Thursday, 17 November 2022. You can book your tickets here.

Innovative manufacturing includes the use of technology across the supply chain, including in research and development production, logistics management and the pursuit of cutting-edge technologies such as quantum computing.

Behind the finalists:

Silicon Quantum Computing was launched in 2017 with $83 million in equity funding from the Commonwealth, the University of NSW, Telstra and the NSW Government.

Commercialising IP developed through the Australian Centre of Excellence for Quantum Computation and Communications Technology and led by Professor Michelle Simmons, the company has pioneered the development of quantum computing and has already achieved a series of world-firsts.

Quantum Brilliance is leading the development of diamond quantum accelerators which can operate at room temperature, with the aim to make this cutting-edge technology an everyday tool for all people.

This enables the simplification and extreme miniaturisation of quantum technology and unlocks a new trajectory of quantum applications. The company landed a $22.5 million research project in Germany to develop new techniques for the fabrication and control of diamond-based quantum microprocessors.

Xefco is developing advanced materials for a sustainable future. Initially focusing on the fashion and outdoor apparel markets, bringing together the environmental benefits and improved performance of its materials.

The company pivoted at the onset of the pandemic to launch a joint venture company to make revolutionary face masks which can kill Covid within just seconds. These masks, developed in partnership with Deakin University, use an ultra-thin layer of copper.

The InnovationAus 2022 Awards for Excellence are supported by: Investment NSW, AusIndustry, Australian Computer Society, Technology Council of Australia, Verizon, Mimecast, Microsoft Australia, Digital Health CRC (DHCRC), Agile Digital, METS Ignited, Innovation Manufacturing CRC (IMCRC) CSIRO, and Q-CTRL.

Do you know more? Contact James Riley via Email.

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