By Peter Roberts The news this week that Origin Energy is seeking approval to shut Australia’s largest coal-fired power plant seven years early, is just the beginning of what should be a rapid phase out of coal power in Australia. The Eraring station in the NSW Hunter region and the largest of 16 remaining coal-fired…
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Farm robot company changes course University of Sydney spinout company Agerris has announced that it is pursuing “alternative pathways” for its agricultural robot technology. Agerris officially launched in April 2019, following a $6.5 million seed round, to commercialise research at the Australian Centre for Field Robotics. It counted 14 of its robot carts in deployment…
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Start up businesses making anything from non-milk cheese to fake meats have been busy raising cash from investors this week. In just one week: Fenn Foods raised $3 million to expand into exports of its vEEF brand plant-based ‘meats’ All G Foods won backing from Woolworths venture capital arm to expand its Love Buds alternative…
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A Victorian small business has been awarded a $3.2 million contract with the US Navy to deliver 22 specialised work stands that give technicians safe access to the navy’s P-8A Poseidon Maritime Patrol aircraft. The Ferntree Gully company will also manufacture eight work stands for the Royal Australian Air Force P-8A Poseidons. The work stands…
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The Western Australian government is inviting grant applications from SMEs and business associations for grants worth $25,000 to assist them in accessing Asian markets.
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By Denham Sadler The long-running Export Market Development Grant scheme is in crisis, with reforms quietly introduced two days before Christmas ‘blindsiding’ local businesses and leading to the value of grants being cut by as much as 80 per cent, according to expert advisors. On 23 December last year, a press release from trade minister…
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Six grants totalling $4 million have been awarded for projects investing novel feeds to reduce methane emissions from livestock, based on seaweeds, tropical legumes and the chemical 3-NOP.
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CSL profit dips on Covid disruptions Disruptions to the collection of blood plasma have impacted biotechnology giant CSL in the first half FY22, with EBITDA operating profits down eight per cent to $3.4 billion on sales up three per cent to $8.05 billion. CEO Paul Perreault said the company had responded with multiple initiatives in…
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The shadow of COVID and the associated policy failures of the federal government hang heavy over the coming election, with the campaign certain to be chaotic and full of distractions. Here Lance Worrall looks at the biggest policy idea launched to date – Labor’s National Reconstruction Fund. Many voters were shocked to discover early in…
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Engineers Australia has reported that job vacancies were up 50 per cent for 2021 compared to the year before, with demand for engineers at a ten-year high.
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