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Innovation

May

We need to help Australia’s white-collar workers navigate the oncoming disruption as companies shed jobs that AI can replace. This has already begun: Microsoft cut 6000 workers globally, including 100 Australian workers.

If the super tax kills Aussie aspiration, our aspiration is too small

The horror claims aren’t just hyperbole – they’re cynical scaremongering and a waste of energy when there are real issues needing urgent responses.

Gilmour Space’s rocket stands on its launchpad.

Australia’s homegrown rocket needs more than money and family wealth

If we want more Australian-built rockets, space technology, and sovereign capability, we need more than funding rounds and family wealth.

eye-scrolling capability is being tested as part of visionOS 3, an upcoming version of the Vision Pro’s operating system.

Apple will soon let users scroll with their eyes

The Vision Pro headset’s existing eye-tracking software and hardware is going to level up.

Anthony Albanese has removed Ed Husic from the Science and Industry portfolio in a Cabinet reshuffle to be announced on Monday.

Tech champion but with a dark side: Axed Husic speaks

Dumped Science and Industry Minister Ed Husic has said he will continue to advocate for Australia’s technology sector from the back benches, ahead of other cabinet changes.

Tetratherix claims its biomaterial (pictured) can help tissue regeneration without major side effects.

Barrenjoey, Morgans test IPO appetite for $100m-plus Tetratherix

In the lead-up to the IPO, Tetratherix has tapped Emma Cleary – a former CFO of Navis Capital’s $1.5 billion Device Technologies – to chair its board.

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March

QuintessenceLabs chief executive Vikram Sharma shows Industry and Science Minister Ed Husic around his Canberra facility.

Labor bets $15m on using quantum technology to fight cyberattacks

The government’s National Reconstruction Fund is the lead investor in a funding round for Canberra-based QuintessenceLabs, which is also backed by Westpac.

Anoulack Chanthivong in Sydney.

NSW plans investment funds to boost innovation and productivity

Strategic investment and emerging technology commercialisation funds will be considered for June budget, innovation minister Anoulack Chanthivong reveals

PsiQuantum founders Jeremy O’Brien (left) and Terry Rudolph.

PsiQuantum targets $9.5b valuation, handing Labor a potential windfall

The Silicon Valley-headquartered quantum computing start-up is heavily backed by the federal and Queensland governments, and is raising about $1.2 billion.

Labor MP Andrew Charlton has been advocating for policy addressing digital assets.

Labor reveals its plan to regulate crypto

Crypto exchanges will have to meet the same basic governance requirements as banks under a long-delayed policy to regulate the local sector.

Airwallex CEO Jack Zhang.

Bank innovations a slow and steady process

The big four know they must respond to the rapid changes introduced by start-ups, but modernising respected financial institutions is a tall order.

Square Peg’s Paul Bassatt, OneVentures’ Michelle Deaker, Airtree’s Craig Blair,  Andrea Gardiner of Jelix Ventures, and Blackbird’s Rick Baker are among the investors who responded to the AFR survey.

14 venture capitalists unpack the year ahead

More than a dozen of the country’s biggest tech investors say floats will return, there’s no AI bubble, and Donald Trump may be good news for local firms.

Katherine Bennell-Pegg.

One in 80m: Australia’s first astronaut awaits her moonshot

Katherine Bennell-Pegg has always dreamt of going into space. And now after intense training, she’s flight ready and waiting for the call.

Scott Farquhar says he wants to help a new generation of Australian tech start-ups become the country’s biggest companies.

Scott Farquhar to succeed Robyn Denholm as Tech Council chair

The Atlassian co-founder is taking his first major role since stepping down from his company and will become Australia’s top tech lobbyist.

Bill Ferris (R) with AdvanCell founder Andrew Adamovich. Ferris believes biotech can be one of the country’s growth areas.

‘CEOs can get away with it’: Why Australia’s R&D is in 13-year slide

Australia’s booming start-up ecosystem has funnelled billions into software makers. But investment in R&D is in decline.

February

Bankers will soon be using AI “agents” to help them service customers.

Westpac works with Accenture to deploy AI agents

The bank has already used agentic AI to assist its engineers move code to new cloud-based systems. Triaging mortgage applications could follow.

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Gordon: “Resilience and positivity really help ... I learnt when I lost my family.”

Aussie entrepreneur beats huge odds to launch VC-backed AI firm

Jamila Gordon escaped poverty thanks to the kindness of an Aussie backpacker. Studying here transformed her life – and now she’s changing the food industry.

Industry and Science Minister Ed Husic.

Labor is throwing money at quantum but drowning AI in regulation

The unanswered question is how can any country effectively regulate a fast-changing emergent technology and expect to be competitive in the global digital economy.

Sanjeev Gupta.

Bigger story behind Sanjeev Gupta’s faltering empire

Readers’ letters on the need for a new model of capitalism; improving students’ literacy; culture wars hurting innovation; CBA’s share price; and robot dogs.

Forever Projects founder Mark Dombkins.

Tech heavyweights back ‘tenacious’ unlikely social entrepreneur

Airtree Ventures, Canva and OIF are among supporters of Forever Projects, a charity started by Wollongong maths teacher Mark Dombkins that is running like a start-up.

Robyn Denholm, chair of the review of Australia’s R&D system, says over the past 25 years Australia has “slid steeply backwards”.

Australia’s critical slide in R&D is now a national emergency

In a world reshaping through emerging technologies, the nation needs to put innovation at the centre of its competitive DNA to set up its fortunes for decades.

Original URL: https://www.afr.com/topic/innovation-5yn