Groundhog Day: The annual Harvard Growth Lab’s Economic Complexity Index (ECI) figures have been released – and Australia’s ranking has dropped, again. By Dr Jens Goennemann. Australia now ranks 105th in the world in the measure of the complexity of the products it produces placing us between Botswana and Côte d’Ivoire. Let me repeat that: Botswana…
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Brain scanning device company EMVision Medical Devices has announced the appointment of Carmel Monaghan as an Independent Non-Executive Director. Announced on and effective on Thursday, Monaghan’s appointment brings “a wealth of experience across clinician engagement, corporate strategy, marketing, procurement and government relations” according to EMVision’s Chairman, John Keep. Monaghan is described in the statement as…
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University of South Australia (UniSA) researchers have demonstrated a new corrosive-resistant material containing sludge from water treatment, which the university has said is over 50 per cent stronger than traditional cement-based pipes “and resistant to acid-induced degradation.” According to a statement from UniSA on Thursday, concrete is common in sewage pipes – due to its…
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Researchers at RMIT University say that a new method to process a clay type into a low-carbon substitute for cement in concrete could prove “economically and environmentally scalable”. According to a statement from the university on Thursday, the team has demonstrated a way to turn cheap and abundant illite clay with low-grade kaolinite clay into…
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More Australian businesses are embracing artificial intelligence to enhance productivity, with 41 per cent of small and medium enterprises now adopting the technology. Industry and Innovation Minister Tim Ayres (pictured) released the latest AI Adoption Tracker data on Tuesday, showing a 5 per cent increase in SME adoption from the previous quarter. The interactive data…
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Defence heralds sustainability measures ahead of World Environment Day The Department of Defence said is recognising its significant role in contributing to the nation’s emissions reduction target of 43 per cent by 2030 and Net Zero by 2050 ahead of World Environment Day. In a statement this week, it mentioned initiatives including heat pump upgrades…
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ClearVue Technologies subsidiary OptiCrop has secured its first commercial project worth approximately $80,000 for ground-source heat exchange technology at a greenhouse installation. The ASX-listed company announced on Wednesday that OptiCrop will provide its proprietary cooling solution for a one-acre greenhouse being built by a global irrigation and greenhouse provider. The cooling coils will optimise nutrient…
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The air conditioning and refrigeration industry has called for government heat pump rebate schemes to be suspended until safety and performance standards are implemented. The Australian Refrigeration Equipment Manufacturers Association warned on Monday that New South Wales and Victorian rebate programs are plagued by safety risks, poor performance and fraud. AREMA managing director Greg Picker…
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The Cook Government has announced $130,000 in funding for two new grant rounds aimed at developing Western Australia’s health and medical life sciences sector. Medical Research Minister Stephen Dawson (pictured) said on Monday the funding would support the Accelerator Program Access Grants and Entrepreneur in Residence scheme, following successful first rounds. The Accelerator Program Access…
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Energy technology company Amber has announced a $45 million funding round, led by UK/European fund ETF Partners, which it says will fund the expansion of its battery and EV automation technology globally. Amber was founded in late-2017 by Chris Thompson and Dan Adams (pictured.) It makes software allowing customers to access wholesale electricity prices and…
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