July 11, 2023
Tonsley Innovation District has surged into its second decade of operation, continuing its laser-focused commitment to driving innovation and energising South Australia’s economy. This industry district is located 12km south of Adelaide and has made dramatic strides since opening in 2012. From its initial remit to re-ignite a stalling manufacturing sector in Adelaide’s southern suburbs following the closure of the Mitsubishi plant in 2008, to now solving some of the world’s most complex problems through creative innovation. As a hub for cutting-edge research and development, Tonsley has driven Adelaide’s transition from traditional to high-value manufacturing and with it, built out the state’s sovereign capability. Around 2,000 people across 140 companies are now employed at Tonsley – more than double that when Mitsubishi closed. 8,500 students study alongside this highly skilled and specialised workforce each year at anchor academic institution Flinders University, and TAFE SA. And more than 500 residents call Tonsley home as part of its growing community. These statistics reflect the substantial increase in scale, productivity, output, and economic impact of Tonsley in its first ten years. What was once a 61-hectare industrial wasteland has…
July 10, 2023
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has confirmed that Australia will export 100 Boxer armoured fighting vehicles to Germany, according to reports. The value to the economy is more than $1bn, making it one of the largest defence export deals in history. The vehicles, to be manufactured by Rheinmetall Defence Australia at its Military Vehicle Centre of Excellence in Brisbane, are eight-by-eight-wheeled, all-terrain, Combat Reconnaissance Vehicles (CRV). The Minister for Defence Industry, Pat Conroy and his German counterpart, the Parliamentary State Secretary to the Federal Minister of Defence Thomas Hitschler signed a Letter of Cooperation in March this year and began formal negotiations to manufacture and export the vehicles. Delivery is scheduled to begin in 2025. The sale was confirmed as Albanese landed in Europe enroute to the NATO summit as reported by AP. “This will increase our defence capability and boost our economy, this is a great outcome,” Albanese is quoted when asked during a brief doorstop. “And it’s the first outcome of quite a few that we have ready to announce tomorrow with our friends here in Germany.” The “schwerer Waffenträger Infanterie” (sWaTrInf, for…
July 4, 2023
AMT: Professor Bronwyn Fox. What is Quantum Technology? Prof. Bronwyn Fox: Quantum technology uses the building blocks of nature (subatomic particles) to improve our lives. Quantum Technologies will revolutionise the way we use sensing, computing and communications systems. These technologies will cut across a number of industry sectors including energy, secure communications, computer simulations and manufacturing. It was evident from the conference that Australia has a vibrant research and start-up ecosystem, the result of over two decades of concentrated effort. It was wonderful to see Australian science being translated to create new companies, that are attracting investment and working with customers to solve complex problems. Australia’s Chief Scientist, Dr. Cathy Foley, has been working on Quantum Technology for many years. When Cathy was at CSIRO, she was leading a team that developed Superconducting Quantum Interference Devices (SQUIDs) which are used to measure minute changes in magnetic fields. Cathy commercialised that technology over a decade ago and it’s been used to discover more than $6bn in mineral deposits. Quantum technologies are being used in industry now.…
