James Riley

Sydney, Ultimo

Editorial Director at InnovationAus, providing news and commentary on public policy in the tech and innovation sectors. Cycles for sanity :)

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Articles

Industry says Albanese has been given a mandate for bold ambition

1 week ago | innovationaus.com | James Riley

The sheer scale of Labor’s historic 2025 election victory delivers Anthony Albanese a mandate to “double-down” on his government’s industrial ambition and the opportunity to reshape the nation’s research and innovation systems.
Set the clock: Gilmour to open launch window May 15

1 week ago | innovationaus.com | James Riley

Gilmour Space Technologies has been given Civil Aviation Safety Authority approval for the maiden launch of its Eris orbital rocket, and pending final sign-off from the Australian Space Agency will open its launch window on May 15. The company was given its CASA sign-off late last week, but wanted to wait until after the excitement of the federal election was out of the way before making its launch announcement on Sunday.
Set the clock: Gilmour to open May 15 launch window

1 week ago | innovationaus.com | James Riley

Gilmour Space Technologies has been given Civil Aviation Safety Authority approval for the maiden launch of its Eris orbital rocket, and pending final sign-off from the Australian Space Agency will open its launch window on May 15. The company was given its CASA sign-off late last week, but wanted to wait until after the excitement of the federal election was out of the way before making its launch announcement on Sunday.
Trump space budget would cancel NASA rocket, lunar station

1 week ago | innovationaus.com | James Riley

US President Donald Trump’s budget proposal seeks to axe key parts of NASA’s moon program with a US$6 billion (A$9.3 billion) cut for the space agency’s 2026 budget, but provides a boost to the Mars-focused agenda pushed by billionaire SpaceX chief executive Elon Musk.
Pentagon's AI metals program goes private to boost Western supply

1 week ago | innovationaus.com | James Riley

A US government-created artificial intelligence program that aims to predict the supply and price of critical minerals has been transferred to the control of a non-profit organization that is helping miners and manufacturers strike supply deals. Launched in late 2023 by the US Department of Defense, the Open Price Exploration for National Security AI metals program is an attempt to counter China’s sweeping control of the critical minerals sector.
Mixed fortunes: AI powers cloud, tariffs hit consumer devices

1 week ago | innovationaus.com | James Riley

The fortunes of Big Tech are diverging in a rapidly changing business landscape, as demand for artificial intelligence fuels growth in cloud and digital ads while consumer electronics take a battering from Donald Trump’s global trade war. AI came to the rescue of earnings at Microsoft and Google-parent Alphabet in their March quarter, offering investors hope that their billion-dollar bets on the technology would help them ride out the fallout from sweeping US tariffs.
Mission before money: AI talent heads to EU defence startups

2 weeks ago | innovationaus.com | James Riley

Some European tech workers who might once have headed to the United States are looking at defence startups closer to home. Others are rushing back to Europe from jobs abroad. A sense of patriotism stirred by the war in Ukraine and US President Donald Trump’s upending of security alliances is a motivation for many, as well as the opportunity to make money as European governments boost military spending.
Workforce boost needed to back locally made medical products

2 weeks ago | innovationaus.com | James Riley

We are inside the last few days of a five-week federal election campaign and there’s been nary a mention of one of the country’s highest priority sectors – medical science. Yes, health, Medicare and the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme have featured prominently, but not the sector that creates, develops and commercialises the medical products that improve our health and wellbeing.
Microsoft president Brad Smith walks line between Europe and US

2 weeks ago | innovationaus.com | James Riley

Microsoft respects European laws including landmark legislation seeking to rein in the power of Big Tech, its President Brad Smith said on Wednesday, putting the company at odds with the White House, which has criticised sanctions related to EU rules.
Government VC and the catalysing of private investment

2 weeks ago | innovationaus.com | James Riley

A recently released NSW Innovation Blueprint presents the NSW government’s strategic vision for the state’s innovation ecosystem. The Blueprint includes a proposal to investigate the development of a government venture capital (VC) fund, the ‘NSW Government Strategic Investment Fund’. The stated purpose of the proposed fund would be to catalyse private sector investment in target areas such as advanced manufacturing and deep tech.