Governments around the world have embraced more interventionist industrial policies, including in Australia. In this episode of the Commercial Disco podcast, the CEO of the state-owned fund Breakthrough Victoria Grant Dooley talks about the role of government in helping to build capability – and wealth – for the state. This episode of The Commercial Disco is proudly brought to you by CSIRO, Australia’s national science agency and innovation catalyst.

Imagine a world where waste doesn't exist — where every product is designed with its subsequent life in mind. Piers Grove, Co-founder of both Boomerang, EnergyLabs and Former Publisher of Betoota Advocate is a visionary challenging Australia's recycling norms. From revolutionising packaging practices to redefining recycling, his initiatives are not just about treating symptoms but curing the disease of waste. In this episode of the Commercial Disco(very), Piers unpacks how startup disruptors across Australia are reshaping our approaches to sustainability, proving that in the circular economy, end-of-life for products is only just the beginning. This episode of The Commercial Disco is proudly brought to you by CSIRO, Australia’s national science agency and innovation catalyst.

Australia emerges as a key player in global technology standards under the strategic guidance of Professor Johanna Weaver. In this episode of the Commercial Disco(very), the Professor shares her insights around Australia's potential to shape tech policy, and how her vision positions Australia at the forefront of technological governance and global influence by fostering international collaborations and innovative frameworks. This episode of The Commercial Disco is proudly brought to you by CSIRO, Australia’s national science agency and innovation catalyst.

Drawing on 18 years with the Australian Federal Government and her pivotal role in the MH17 investigation, Dr Miah Hammond-Errey has become a leading voice in understanding the intersection of technology, intelligence, and security. In this episode of the Commercial Disco(very) she unveils the evolving power dynamics between state intelligence and global tech giants, influenced by her extensive research and interviews with nearly 50 intelligence leaders and offers a profound look into a digital future shaped by big data and emerging technologies. This episode of The Commercial Disco is proudly brought to you by CSIRO, Australia’s national science agency and innovation catalyst.

Discover the groundbreaking work of Professor Peter Middendorf as he reveals the inner workings of ARENA2036, a revolutionary industry-on-campus initiative reshaping the landscape of collaboration between academia and industry. Learn the intricate mechanisms driving innovation at this cutting-edge hub and contemplate its potential impact on the future of Australian industry. This episode of The Commercial Disco is proudly brought to you by CSIRO, Australia’s national science agency and innovation catalyst.

Professor Nicholas Opie is a pioneer in the field of brain-computer interface (BCI) technology. He is a founding director at Synchron, and head of the Vascular Bionics Laboratory at the University of Melbourne. In this episode of the Commercial Disco podcast, Professor Opie talks about the challenges of building a global deep tech startup from Australia. This episode of The Commercial Disco is proudly brought to you by CSIRO, Australia’s national science agency and innovation catalyst.

In this episode of the Commercial Disco podcast, ClimaTech Group chair Peter O'Connell talks about how innovation in energy efficiency can dramatically reduce costs while improving competitiveness in the mining and resources sector, data centres, and commercial buildings. This episode of The Commercial Disco is proudly brought to you by CSIRO, Australia’s national science agency and innovation catalyst.

In this episode of the Commercial Disco, former Olympian Dean Capobianco discusses his current role as CEO of Geoscape Australia, the government-owned foundational layer of curated geolocation data in this country. This is a great conversation. This episode of The Commercial Disco is proudly brought to you by CSIRO, Australia’s national science agency and innovation catalyst.

Energy price uncertainty and shortages of skilled workers top the list of concerns of Australian industry, according to deputy Liberal leader and shadow Industry minister Sussan Ley. In this edition of the Commercial Disco, she discusses the impact of funding delays to the NRF and Industry Growth Program. This episode of The Commercial Disco is proudly brought to you by CSIRO, Australia’s national science agency and innovation catalyst.

In this episode of the Commercial Disco(very), Rob Sutton, Managing Director of Mirragin Consulting addresses Australia's defense strategy amidst the changing landscape of drone manufacturing, inspired by Ukraine's innovation in drone production. We discuss everything from the importance of prioritising a resilient drone manufacturing base and embracing agile, cost-effective solutions, to the critical need for an updated defense strategy and the impacts on startups and SMEs in the defense industry ecosystem. This episode of The Commercial Disco is proudly brought to you by CSIRO, Australia’s national science agency and innovation catalyst.