News

Tech Policy Design Centre proves its worth to ANU

The Tech Policy Design Centre has been made a permanent fixture at the Australian National University and will be supported by a new advisory group featuring current and former Australian...

It’s Defence procurement, but not as we know it

The first major test of the acquisition powers of the Defence department’s new Advanced Strategic Capabilities Accelerator (ASCA) will pass a major milestone next month with a competitive “fly-off”...

Defence scientists red team robotic vehicles in AUKUS trial

Australian defence scientists have carried out a series of trial electronic attacks against robotic vehicles operated by the United States and the United Kingdom as part of the latest...

ARC overhaul a step closer with committee backing

A Senate committee has given the green light to landmark changes to the Australian Research Council, including scrapping ministers’ veto power, but the latest debate has again exposed “abysmally low”...

Q-CTRL lands UK funding to solve transport bottlenecks

Australian quantum startup Q-CTRL has won close to $2 million in funding from the UK government to help its public transport agencies optimise routes and timetables using quantum algorithms,...

Govt to scope health and medical research workforce

The Health department has ordered an independent audit of Australia’s health and medical research workforce to inform the development of national policy amid a “paucity of recent data”. The...

Defence manufacturer grants tighten industry focus

Australian manufacturers of anti-drone technology, guided munition components and hypersonic vehicles have shared in $3.4 million in federal defence industry grants announced on Tuesday by Defence Industry minister Pat...

Medicare payments system upgrade on the rocks

A long-running upgrade of the legacy payments systems underpinning Medicare has spent the last year on life support, with the latest phase of the critical overhaul stamped a project...

Industry department won’t look into procurement ‘bias’

The Industry department has never checked the books of a supplier it awarded a $31 million commercialisation services contract to, despite an independent audit finding “bias” in the decision...

Countdown: Cyclone Kirrily a near miss for Gilmour

Gilmour Space Technologies says its Bowen Orbital Spaceport facility has largely escaped any damage from tropical cyclone Kirrily, which is wreaking havoc in parts of Queensland, and would not...

Govt offers industry groups $11m for IGP advice

Industry groups have just under two weeks to apply for a share of $10.8 million in grant funding to deliver advisory services to innovative small to medium-sized enterprises under...

AMSL Aero lands first sale of electric aircraft

Sydney-based AMSL Aero has secured its first civil customer for its fully electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft, referred to as Vertiia. The aircraft manufacturer on Monday announced it...

Interim ASCA head Emily Hilder made permanent

Professor Emily Hilder has been appointed the permanent head of the Advanced Strategic Capabilities Accelerator, the Defence accelerator charged with supercharging defence innovation in Australia. Professor Hilder, who has...

Treasury to move on big tech gatekeepers

Treasury will soon open a consultation process on the government’s plan to crack down on anti-competitive conduct by digital platforms with what is expected to be an ex ante...