Technology, Innovation & Science

Advanced materials group Matrix Composites and Engineering met its own profit guidance today with a 159 per cent increase in interim profit, but the stock still slipped lower after its stellar run over the past year.

Amcom Telecommunications says it has fast-tracked its entry into the growing cloud computing sector after entering into a strategic partnership with data backup firm BlueFire Corporation.

Perth-based advanced materials group Alexium has announced a six-month extension to its US Air Force research and development agreement, and says it is working on a new multi-year contract to expand applications for its surface treatment technology.

Complaining about the $35.9 billion National Broadband Network has become a pointless exercise. The real question, now that it is being built, is how will we pay for it, and the nasty answer is a compulsory levy.

The federal government has dismissed suggestions wireless technology is a threat to the national broadband network as Telstra plans to boost mobile internet speeds.

Medical devices and technologies group bioMD has announced a friendly takeover bid for Allied Medical, an unlisted public company backed by Andrew Forrest and led by Ian Frazer.

The rising use of wireless technology could pose a risk to the national broadband network, a report commissioned by the Gillard government says.

Enerji says it has reached its most significant milestone to date, with the completion of a power purchase agreement with Horizon Power to install its technology at the Carnarvon Power Station.

Telstra and the company building the national broadband network have reached a deal pivotal to the rollout of the $40 billion project.

Telstra Corporation's push to win back market share has led to a steeper than expected fall in first-half net profit, even though it netted more than one million new customers.

Perth-based software developer ISS Group says it will consider paying an interim dividend, after reporting a significant lift in profit in the December quarter.

Leighton Holdings subsidiary Thiess and joint venture partner Siemens have won a five-year deal with Telstra worth $350 million.

Perth-based advanced materials group Quickstep Holdings will move its manufacturing base to Sydney, after signing a 20-year, $700 million agreement to supply parts for the international F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program.

THE rise of Facebook and the fall of MySpace may be regularly reported on in the traditional news media, but several local sites are quietly making their own news by carving out a niche in the social networking race.

Perth company AnaeCo has announced it will immediately start construction of an expanded waste treatment facility in Shenton Park after infrastructure fund manager, Palisade Investment Partners gave final investment approval for the project.

A SUPERCOMPUTER housed at Murdoch University has joined the ranks of the world’s 100 most powerful computers.

WA has entered the ranks of the top 100 supercomputers on the planet, thanks to iVEC's installation of a Performance Optimised Data Centre (POD) at its Murdoch facility.

Fourteen years after establishing ineedhits.com, and six years after becoming non-executive chairman, Clay Cook has returned as chief executive of the online marketing business.

Balcatta-based Orbital has begun supplying its Liquid Propane Injection system to car manufacturer Holden for its HSV range.

THE first major piece of physical hardware for what will become a world-leading supercomputer has been delivered to Murdoch University.

INNOVATIVE laser technology developer CustomVis plc has gone into administration, just six weeks after UK investors trying to rescue the group bought the assets of its failed Australian subsidiary from liquidators.

Perth company AnaeCo has announced Infrastructure Fund Manager, Palisade Investment Partners, has given in-principle approval to fund construction of an expanded waste treatment facility at Shenton Park.

PERTH company AnaeCo has passed a regulatory milestone for construction of an expanded waste treatment facility at Shenton Park, but getting funding for the $35 million project is proving more challenging.

A new Brisbane-based satellite telco has launched in Australia focusing on remote and regional areas, targeting the mining and resources companies operating in the Pilbara and Kimberley regions.

INTERNET service provider Highway 1 Internet Solutions has bought three more local ISPs in the past three months.

Sirtex Medical has been awarded $2.6 million in its damages claim against former University of WA scientist Bruce Gray.

A Federal Court justice has ruled in favour of Sirtex Medical in its damages claim against former University of WA scientist Bruce Gray, awarding the company approximately $1.9 million.

The federal government has been told the cost of the National Broadband Network could be capped at $26 billion as opposed to the original $43 billion earmarked for the project, and that it should be built without Telstra.

United States-based IT company CSC has exteneded its relationship with Woodside Energy, today signing a $30 million, three-year IT contract with the liquified natural gas company.

IT company ASG Group has acquired local SAP software provider Courtland Business Solutions in a multi-million dollar cash and scrip deal, opening up the SAP market to Oracle-focussed ASG for the first time.

Security technology outfit QRSciences Holdings is set to sell its loss-making Perth subsidiary to US company, Rapiscan Systems Inc, for $US150,000 ($A162,069) cash.

Two Western Australian innovators have been awarded a combined $131,257 in the first round of federal government grants under the Commercialisation Australia scheme.