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The South Australian Government has pledged to invest $7.5 million in a new manufacturing and engineering research institute.

The Future Industries Institute (FII) also has the backing of The University of South Australia, which makes an annual investment of over $14 million for research in advanced manufacturing; minerals and resource engineering; environmental science; and engineering and biomaterials engineering and nanomedicine.

UniSA deputy vice chancellor Professor Tanya Monro says the government's investment will be a game-changer for research and development in South Australia.

“Effective collaboration between universities and business is essential to drive economic growth, and this investment will intensify and accelerate that collaboration,” she said.

The three initiatives the government has funded will give local businesses and industries access to state-of-the-art equipment at the FII; fund two-way industry/academic placements to support project specific collaborations both ‘in the lab’ and ‘on the floor’; and distribute 12-month, $100,000 project vouchers for industry to work with UniSA to solve specific industry problems.

 

Food & Drink Business

Advanced biomanufacturer, Cauldron Ferm, has raised $13.25 million in a Series A2 priced round led by Main Sequence Ventures, with participation from Horizons Ventures, SOSV, and NGS Super.

Global consumer goods business, Unilever, has confirmed it is in discussions with McCormick & Co on the sale of its Food business. Both companies have released statements saying while negotiations are ongoing there is no certainty of a deal.

Australian organisations could gain access to the world’s largest pooled research fund by early 2027, as the federal government begins treaty negotiations on association to Horizon Europe, the European Union’s $155 billion flagship research and innovation funding program.