Australia will open its first commercial semiconductor packaging facility in western Sydney in 2027, creating a strategic toe-hold in a high-value part of the global silicon supply chain.
In this weekly episode of News Wrap, InnovationAus.com editor Justin Hendry talks through his interview with NSW Planning minister Paul Scully on why this facility is so important.
Mr Scully says the high-end semiconductor packaging facility will be one of only a dozen or so in the world with the sophistication to be able to support highly complex packaging for for semiconductors.
Its promise is that it will help catalyse new industries and will help to support the silicon-based quantum computer industry already underway in NSW and around Australia.
“Packaging is the next evolution of the technology … Moore’s Law will only allow us to do so much on a single plane… Stacking them is going to be where it goes next, and we want to be at the start of that,” Mr Scully said.
There was plenty else happening through the week, not least Opposition leader naming a fresh-faced front bench. Tasmanian Senator Claire Chandler (elected 2019) has been given huge responsibility as shadow minister for Finance, Government Services and the Public Service.
And Aaron Violi (elected 2022) has been given shadow minister for Digital Economy, shadow minister for Cyber Security, and shadow minister for Science, Technology and Innovation. He’s already the chief whip – and that’s a big portfolio of new responsibilities.
Western Australian MP Andrew Hastie – elected to the parliament at a 2015 by-election – is the new shadow minister for Industry and Sovereign Capability.
Also covered this week is the appointment of Kate Cornick as Tech Council CEO, a review of Defence’s new billion-dollar innovation fund targeting dual-use tech, and Queensland Premier David Crisafulli on the delays to construction of PsiQuantum’s new facility at Brisbane airport.
Other stories worth a look:
Queensland Premier cranks heat on PsiQuantum delays – InnovationAus
$1bn defence fund to target local dual-use tech companies – InnovationAus
Andrew Hastie gets industry portfolio in fresh shadow ministry – InnovationAus
Tech Council taps LaunchVic’s Kate Cornick as CEO – InnovationAus
Australia cracks top two in global digital government race – InnovationAus
Western Sydney to house nation’s first chip packaging plant – InnovationAus
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