DISR Archives - InnovationAus.com

National Quantum Strategy ‘not authored’ by chief scientist

Justin Hendry — Wed, 31 Jul 2024 12:18:09 +0000

Australia’s chief scientist Dr Cathy Foley did not author the first-ever National Quantum Strategy, the Industry department has claimed, in an effort to keep the contents of an earlier draft of the strategy under wraps. The refusal to release the draft strategy in full comes as questions continue to be asked over when the federal...

The post National Quantum Strategy ‘not authored’ by chief scientist appeared first on InnovationAus.com.

Auditor to probe $3.53m cost of legal advice on PsiQuantum

Justin Hendry — Fri, 28 Jun 2024 05:04:03 +0000

The national audit office will probe the rapid increase in the cost of the federal government’s main due diligence contract for its controversial investment in Californian quantum startup PsiQuantum. Auditor-General Rona Mellor will examine the contract with law firm King & Wood Mallesons as part of its annual financial audit program, after it snowballed to $3.53...

The post Auditor to probe $3.53m cost of legal advice on PsiQuantum appeared first on InnovationAus.com.

Treasurer unveils tax credit requirements for renewable hydrogen

Brandon How — Fri, 28 Jun 2024 04:48:40 +0000

Initial requirements for $14 billion worth of production tax credits are more favorable toward renewable hydrogen investments than other jurisdictions, but a list of eligible outputs from critical mineral projects has yet to be determined. Consultation on the design of the two production credits was launched on Friday by Treasurer Jim Chalmers. The hydrogen tax...

The post Treasurer unveils tax credit requirements for renewable hydrogen appeared first on InnovationAus.com.

‘Possibly a sham’: Quantum EoI baited local market

Justin Hendry — Wed, 19 Jun 2024 09:58:59 +0000

The federal government has been accused of running a misleading quantum computing EoI that baited information from local players while commercial discussions with PsiQuantum were already well advanced. Current and former politicians have spoken out about the process that led to the $940 million bet on the Californian-based startup, describing the EoI as “disingenuous” and...

The post ‘Possibly a sham’: Quantum EoI baited local market appeared first on InnovationAus.com.

AI adoption centres finally unveiled

Brandon How — Tue, 28 May 2024 04:49:21 +0000

Four artificial intelligence centres focused on helping small to medium-sized enterprises safely adopt the technology have been announced by Industry and Science minister Ed Husic. Sharing in $16.3 million, the new AI centres are funded through the AI Adopt, which was first funded with a $17 million commitment for up to five centres in the...

The post AI adoption centres finally unveiled appeared first on InnovationAus.com.

$200m Qld battery precinct yet to power up two years on

Brandon How — Wed, 22 May 2024 11:49:23 +0000

Funding for a Queensland battery precinct promised by the Albanese government ahead of the 2022 federal election is yet to materialise more than two years after it was pledged. In May 2022, less than 10 days out from the election, Labor committed a $100 million equity investment for the precinct, initially destined for Gladstone, in partnership...

The post $200m Qld battery precinct yet to power up two years on appeared first on InnovationAus.com.

Industry dept opens up on ‘secret’ quantum EoI

Justin Hendry — Fri, 16 Feb 2024 07:43:28 +0000

Almost two dozen local and international quantum firms were approached by the federal government last year as part of a private expression of interest process designed to gauge the maturity of the market, a Senate Estimates committee has heard. The admission from senior Industry department officials months after details of the expression of interest (EoI)...

The post Industry dept opens up on ‘secret’ quantum EoI appeared first on InnovationAus.com.

Industry department won’t look into procurement ‘bias’

Joseph Brookes — Mon, 05 Feb 2024 08:32:12 +0000

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 and the supplier’s subsequent conflicts of interest not being effectively managed. The concerns came from a damning federal audit of delivery partners for the Entrepreneurs’ Programme,...

The post Industry department won’t look into procurement ‘bias’ appeared first on InnovationAus.com.

Bridging the funding gap between industry and Defence

Mish — Tue, 07 Nov 2023 01:30:37 +0000

The Valley of Death is real. As any Deep Tech or advanced manufacturing entrepreneur knows, there is a chasm between innovation and commercialisation that must be fully funded or risk a quick dagger through the heart and a gentle nudge into the abyss. Australia holds significant potential to leverage its world-leading research and development in...

The post Bridging the funding gap between industry and Defence appeared first on InnovationAus.com.

Popular Chinese EV battery less well suited to Australia

Brandon How — Mon, 03 Jul 2023 20:53:29 +0000

Cheap lithium-iron-phosphate batteries used in most Chinese-manufactured electric vehicles may not be well suited to Australia’s transport needs due to their lower energy density, according to a new report. The Office of Australia’s Chief Economist made the observation in its latest Resources and Energy Quarterly report on Monday, following the rapid growth in the market...