News

New visa rules to prevent critical tech espionage

Foreign nationals who present an “unreasonable risk of unwanted critical technology knowledge transfer” in areas like artificial intelligence and quantum computing could have their visas cancelled from April under...

NEC and D-Wave expand quantum presence in Australia

Japanese conglomerate NEC and D-Wave, a Canadian quantum firm backed by Amazon’s Jeff Bezos and In-Q-Tel, are expanding their presence in Australia, launching two new quantum services to compete...

Calling all tech SMEs: Govt procurement survey 2024

Two signature election commitments that the Albanese government took to the 2022 election were its Buy Australian Plan and the creation of a Future Made in Australia Office. The...

Govt sets challenges for $7.5m BRII round

The latest round of the federal government’s innovation challenge program for startups and small to medium business launched on Monday, offering up to $7.5 million through a staged process...

Gilmour Space secures extra $55m ahead of first launch

Queensland-based rocket maker Gilmour Space Technologies has raised an additional $55 million in capital to support ongoing development work as its first launch draws closer. Gilmour plans to use...

Industry associations invited to ‘observe’ AI Expert Group

The federal government has invited at least three industry associations to participate as ‘observers’ in the work on AI regulation being done by a newly-created Artificial Intelligence Expert Group....

Industry dept opens up on ‘secret’ quantum EoI

Almost two dozen local and international quantum firms were approached by the federal government last year as part of a private expression of interest process designed to gauge the...

Gig Guide: New innovation lead at ANU

The Australian National University’s new deputy vice-chancellor (research and innovation) is Professor Lachlan Blackhall, who is the current head of its battery storage and grid integration program. Professor Blackhall...

PM: ‘We can go toe-to-toe’ with Inflation Reduction Act

The Albanese government’s response to global industrial competition like the US Inflation Reduction Act looks set to include a new multi-billion-dollar package of subsidies and co-investment for renewables an...

$14m battery growth centre to be run by CRC

The Powering Australia Industry Growth Centre will be run by a cooperative research centre, with the Albanese government awarding $14 million to the WA-based Future Battery Industries Cooperative Research...

David Elliot takes on AIIA Domestic Capabilities role

The Australian Information Industry Association’s crucial Domestic Capabilities policy advisory network (PAN) has a new chair, with the election of David Elliot, the chief executive of Canberra-based tech delivery...

‘Modest’ govt R&D uptick amid calls for new plan

Federal government spending on R&D programs is expected to rise by almost $330 million this financial year, according to the latest Industry department figures, but science groups say there...