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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

Sydney-based craft rum producer, Sydney Distilling Co Pty Ltd, trading as Brix Distillers, has entered voluntary administration, with Ben Carson and Richard Stone from RSM Australia Partners appointed as Joint and Several Voluntary Administrators on 21 January 2026.

Pure Wine Co has been appointed as the exclusive national mainland distributor for Tasmanian winery, Pipers Brook Vineyard. Effective from 1 March, Pure Wine Co will manage national mainland distribution and trade sales for Pipers Brook and its Kreglinger Sparkling, Pipers Tasmania and Ninth Island labels.

The fourth round of the federal government’s Traceability Grants Program is now open for applications, with funding from $50,000 to $500,000 available for projects modernising and enhancing agricultural traceability systems.