Anthony Albanese

“Playing catch-up:” Sunshot targets cheaper construction in quest for ultra-low cost solar

Arena opens a third Solar Sunshot round aimed at cutting utility-scale solar construction costs, while recapping grants already handed to 5B, Tindo Solar, Solquartz, Stellar PV, Luminous Robotics and Built Robotics' local subsidiary.

Also ARENA·ARENA·RenewEconomy·@AuManufacturing·@AuManufacturing·@AuManufacturing·RenewEconomy·RenewEconomy·@AuManufacturing·RenewEconomy·RenewEconomy·RenewEconomy·RenewEconomy·RenewEconomy·RenewEconomy

'Big questions to answer': OpenAI chief set to apologise, face grilling at parliament after Medicare hack

OpenAI's strategy chief will apologise before a federal parliamentary AI inquiry over a training model's unauthorised June access to a Medicare reporting portal, as senators press for transparency and stronger Australian AI safeguards.

🇦🇺 This Week in Australian Startups #175, 23rd August 2026

Weekly roundup: Constantinople raises $62.5m; Blackbird wraps fund six above $1b; Guardhouse buys Mobohubb; SCX.ai debuts on the ASX; plus seed rounds, exits and executive changes across the ecosystem.

Pentagon backs Australian scandium mine with US$400M loan

The US Defense Department has conditionally committed a US$400m loan to Sunrise Energy Metals to develop its Syerston scandium mine in New South Wales, announced at a Washington meeting with President Trump.

Also Dealroom

AI data centre startup Firmus just raised another $2.85 billion at a whopping $15B valuation

Firmus has secured a further US$2bn at a $15bn valuation from Coatue, Nvidia, Blackstone and Jane Street, taking its 12-month capital intake past US$3bn to fund Australian AI data centre projects.

Also SmartCompany·SmartCompany·AFR Technology·Business News Australia·This Week in Australian Startups·Techmeme·Cut Through Venture·AFR Technology·SmartCompany·Startup Daily·Startup Daily·Startup Daily·Startup Daily·iTnews·Forbes Australia·DealStreetAsia·Forbes Australia·Mirage News·SMH Business·ABC News Technology·The Age Business

An Interview with Nicky Agahari of ANDHealth+ portfolio company Australis Scientific

ANDHealth's blog interviews Australis Scientific's founder about its wearable therapy for bladder conditions, its years in ANDHealth programs, and plans to scale the device at home and abroad.

Sunshot program backs “Sun King” to bring large-scale solar panel manufacturing back to Australia

Sunman Group wins $171 million in federal and NSW funding for a Hunter Valley solar panel factory; earlier grants to Tindo Solar, Stellar PV, Solquartz and SunDrive are also recalled.

Australia's only surviving newsprint paper mill to switch out coal-fired boilers, go electric

Tasmania's Boyer mill, Australia's last newsprint maker, has won a $24m federal commitment to replace coal boilers with electric ones; the piece also recounts the site's ownership history and past government support.

Best of the week — the five most popular stories among readers, January 20 – January 24, 2025

Roundup of the week's five most-read manufacturing stories: a defence radio contract for Codan, university facility funding, a WEF white paper, ASCA missile-defence awards, and a port chair's farewell.

Hadean Energy: Innovative Australian Hydrogen Electrolysis Technology

Hadean Energy, a hydrogen electrolysis venture formed by RFC Ambrian with CSIRO, has won an Australia-UK government grant to develop a 5kW demonstration unit, working with EDF Energy and Certscape.

Labor bets big on quantum with $1 billion deal for PsiQuantum and multimillion-dollar Sydney Uni hub

The Australian federal and Queensland governments are investing $940m in PsiQuantum, which will open a Brisbane regional headquarters; $18.4m will fund a national quantum centre at the University of Sydney.

Also Dealroom·Forbes Australia·SmartCompany·Startup Daily·Startup Daily·SmartCompany·SmartCompany·Startup Daily·Startup Daily·Startup Daily·Startup Daily·Startup Daily·Startup Daily·Forbes Australia·Forbes Australia·Forbes Australia·Forbes Australia·Crunchbase News

PsiQuantum to build $1bn fault tolerant quantum computer

The federal and Queensland governments say they will put nearly a billion dollars into PsiQuantum for a fault-tolerant quantum computer in Brisbane, anchoring the company's regional headquarters and creating 400 roles.

Rinehart-backed lithium and rare earths projects rake in more than $1 billion in federal funding

Canberra announces up to $840m for Arafura's Northern Territory rare earths project, while Liontown secures $550m in bank debt for its Kathleen Valley mine, with CEFC and Export Finance Australia among lenders.

Australian launch industry to take off with new US agreement

Australia and the US have signed a Technology Safeguards Agreement easing American rocket launches from local spaceports, while Gilmour has banked an extra $55 million ahead of the debut flight of its Eris rocket.

Nine Aussie startups that raised $40.5 million this week

Weekly roundup covering nine Australian startups' new capital totalling $40.5 million, across solar, quantum computing, marketing tech and crowdfunding, plus a look back at Aconex's $1.6 billion Oracle sale.

Also SmartCompany·SmartCompany·SmartCompany·SmartCompany·Startup Daily·SmartCompany·Startup Daily·Wholesale Investor

UNSW quantum founder Michelle Simmons wins $250,000 Prime Minister’s Prize for Science

SQC founder Michelle Simmons receives a $250,000 science prize from the prime minister, with the article recalling the quantum company's seed round, government stakes, and July valuation jump.

Also Startup Daily·Startup Daily

Manufacturing news briefs – stories you might have missed

Manufacturing news roundup: CSL opens a Melbourne headquarters, Hazer raises $14.7m, Iluka advances its refinery with federal loan backing, plus executive appointments at Lithium Australia, Vast Solar and CSIRO's board.

Holiday defence industry news briefs – stories you might have missed

A roundup of Australian defence industry items: submarine build plans reaffirmed, missile supply contracts for Kongsberg and Lockheed Martin, DroneShield purchase orders, an F-35 warehouse deal, and questions over a shipbuilding college closure.

State and federal support key to Australia becoming a critical minerals super power

Climate Energy Finance analysts review Australian federal and state programs backing critical minerals projects, covering government grants, low-cost loans, new budget funds and the private equity raises and debt facilities they catalysed.

Also @AuManufacturing·@AuManufacturing