• Hon. Lily D’Ambrosio, Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change, is second from the left.
    Hon. Lily D’Ambrosio, Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change, is second from the left.
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PacPrint 2017 was opened this morning by Hon. Lily D’Ambrosio, Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change.

The minister reinforced the state government’s support for the development of new printing technologies at the opening.

Among the technology on display at the Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre this week is the first public demonstration of new ‘printable’ solar energy panels developed by the University of Newcastle (UON).

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Located on the lawn area between the MCEC and the Yarra River, the custom-built 100m2 pop-up site will allow the public to touch the material and walk through and under it, as well as introduce its potential to the 12,000 print industry professionals attending the show this week.

Minister D’Ambrosio said the project was an example of the innovative new energy technologies that can be developed in Victoria with the right support.

"It’s good for local manufacturing, and it’s good for jobs,” she said.

“Because of the manufacturing process used, these low-cost, light-weight cells have the potential to revolutionise the production of solar panels and solar energy, as well as helping to deliver a new ‘functional printing’ revenue stream for the printing industry.”

Print is the second-largest manufacturing industry in Australia, generating $8 billion per annum. 

PacPrint 2017 will run from today till 26 May.

Food & Drink Business

The Victorian government has invested $160,000 to support the sustainability and profitability of the state’s wine industry, matched by $240,000 from Wine Australia. The funds will help Wine Victoria to provide the wine industry with the knowledge, tools and resources needed to improve practices and outcomes.

Australian spirits producers had an outstanding showing at the 2025 International Wine and Spirits Competition (IWSC) in London, with top scoring producers including 30 Knots Spirits, Australian Distilling Co., Ester Distilling, Mt. Uncle Distillery, Nine Circles Distillery, and Turner Stillhouse.

The recent innovation forum hosted by the Australian Marketing Institute and research company, T Garage, examined the reality for the rapidly evolving landscape of consumer goods that innovation is now table stakes. Experts from three of Australia's Top 100 food and drink companies shared their experiences and confirmed innovation is not just a corporate strategy, but a mindset permeating personal and professional life.