The Australian Sovereign Capability Alliance (ASCA) is calling for overseas-owned Defence and Space Industry primes, the university sector, and the Federal Government to partner before the federal budget to fund the $100m needed to send Australian astronaut Dr Katherine Bennell-Peg into space. “Overseas-owned industry primes who have placed the word ‘Australia’ after their local company…
The Case for Supporting Katherine Bennell-Pegg’s ESA Mission 22,500 ~100 1.8× ESA applicants for astronaut selection Active government astronauts worldwide ISS participation value multiplier (ESA, 2016) A Rare and Closing Window Australia has a globally qualified astronaut in Katherine Bennell-Pegg — one of a handful selected through the European Space Agency (ESA) from more…
A new report has found Australia has the lowest level of manufacturing self-sufficiency of any OECD country, prompting calls for the Morrison government to appoint a minister for Australian sovereign capability. Read the full article on The New Daily: https://thenewdaily.com.au/finance/finance-news/2021/09/13/australia-manufacturing-report/
A report by industrial manufacturing experts has concluded Australia needs an urgent 100-day review of its supply chains to identify gaps in sovereign manufacturing capabilities because economic opportunities are going begging in areas that include battery mineral value-adding. See the full article on the Australian Financial Review: https://www.afr.com/companies/manufacturing/local-battery-industry-a-no-brainer-urgent-review-needed-20210910-p58qn0
A new report carried out by Flinders University researchers for the Australian Sovereign Capability Alliance has said the nation lacks a proper national strategy around capability, and recommends a 100-day review of supply chains. See the full article on the AUManufacturing website here: https://www.aumanufacturing.com.au/report-manufacturing-self-sufficiency-levels-leave-us-precariously-dependent
A few years ago, an American friend of mine cocked an eye at me sceptically when I raised the issue of Australia’s air force buying F-22 Raptors from the United States. ‘It won’t happen,’ he said flatly. ‘The F-22 incorporates a lot of US-only technology. Re-engineering it so that we could export the aircraft would…
The last month or so has seen unprecedented levels of focus and interest in Australia’s approach to cyber security and the trust we place in data, digital infrastructures and interconnected value and supply chains. Sustaining that is critical to national security, explain Michelle Price, CEO of AustCyber, and Alex Scandurra, CEO of Stone & Chalk. Click here to read this…
The NSW government has named a 23-person ICT/Digital Sovereign Procurement Taskforce charged with making it easier for innovative local tech companies to get access to government contracts, using procurement dollars to build sovereign capability. Click here to read this article on InnovationAus – NSW sovereign capability taskforce named
Australia has seen a static pattern of export growth, with the largest contribution to export growth coming from moderate complexity products, particularly Travel and tourism and Mineral fuels, oils and waxes products. See The Atlas of Economic Complexity by the Growth Lab at Harvard University
The future of the economy and work is digital, but in a global ranking of digital competitiveness Australia has fallen one place to 14th in a study of 63 countries. Click here to read this article on ABC News – Communications technology and education push Australia down digital rankings
