Technology, Innovation & Science

Perth charity Telethon Adventurers has plans to expand nationally at the end of this year, following the success of recent fundraising and research programs.

Perth IT firm ASG Group has boasted a strong financial year on the back of growth in large-scale contracts and a tightening of its operations.

PHOTO ESSAY and MULTIMEDIA: The industrial application of automated and robotic technologies has been a feature of manufacturing for many years.

The internet of things has provided a West Perth print business with a new lease of life.

A wheat variety developed by researchers based at Murdoch University could increase profitability for Australia's $6 billion wheat industry.

Cooperation between the startup community and government is welcomed, but what form it takes is yet to become clear.

Instatruck connects businesses and consumers with trucks on demand.

Optus will focus on its content strategy, underpinned by its English Premier League coverage, to drive earnings growth after an 11.9 per cent first quarter profit fall amid tough price competition.

Telstra will spend an extra $3 billion on its networks and has confirmed it will return $1.5 billion to shareholders in a buyback after its annual profit jumped 36.6 per cent to $5.78 billion.

A recently opened research and innovation centre at Curtin University is rapidly building interaction between big corporates, small businesses, academia and government.

The number of Western Australian listings for accommodation site Airbnb has more than doubled in 12 months, but that growth hadn't come at the expense of the hotel sector, Sam McDonagh told a Success & Leadership Breakfast today.

SPECIAL REPORT: Former mining boss Charlie Bass and surgeon Peter Santa Maria are among the growing number of people in Western Australia looking to make innovation a commercial reality.

Half of the top twelve trending companies in Techboard's ranking this fortnight are health-techs, with Perth continuing to assert its credentials in the space.

Local innovators and resources industry professionals, including Karara Mining, Barminco and Fortescue Metals Group, were recognised at two separate awards ceremonies held this week.

Monadelphous Group has restructured its interest in struggling waste technology company AnaeCo, with a debt for equity swap and loan sale that will see the Perth engineering firm emerge with a 30 per cent stake and a Chinese enterprise with a 55 per cent interest.

Israeli technology company Weebit-Nano failed to excite investors on its ASX debut, with its shares lower at the close of trade.

The aquatic mystery of the Kimberley has been brought to the surface in the online interactive documentary Beneath the Waves.

Gaming giant Tabcorp is set to significantly expand its gaming machine monitoring business through the $128 million acquisition of ASX-listed Intecq.

Biotech firm Admedus has tapped investors for $18.3 million to fund ongoing development of its medical technologies.

Major health insurers HBF and Bupa have announced they will invest in the development of fellow insurer nib's online health service platform, Whitecoat, which promotes itself as a TripAdvisor-like model offering consumers search, booking, survey, and pay functions for healthcare treatment.

Investor interest has swung strongly towards the resources sector this year, but opportunities remain for tech companies aiming to list on the ASX.

At yesterday's WA Innovation Summit, put together for new Innovation Minister Bill Marmion, 250 invited guests came up with plans on how best to spend the newly allocated $20 million of innovation funds.

Tempo Australia has expanded its service offering with the acquisition of local electrical, telecom and data communications contractor Cablelogic for an undisclosed sum.

Quufind enables business owners to offer coupons/vouchers that customers can collect and later redeem.

Telstra will be challenged to replace all earnings lost to the National Broadband Network when the rollout of the NBN is completed, says credit ratings agency Moody's.

Digital entertainment system business Swift Networks has won a contract to provide its services to Rio Tinto's Jerriwah Village near Tom Price, for an undisclosed sum.

WAIITA Incite startup of the year Family Zone is Techboard's top trending startup for this fortnight, after launching a $4.5 million IPO and capturing significant mindshare as a result.

A subsidiary of TFS Corporation and a joint venture between a Melbourne oils producer and a local indigenous business have been shortlisted for wild sandalwood oil processing contracts with the state government.

The process for creating a social enterprise or a startup is the same – the only real difference is the criteria for success.

Three local tech companies have tapped investors to raise a combined $20.1 million, with the funds to be put towards shoring up their balance sheets and further developing their products.

Australia's retail broadband market, which is dominated by Telstra, Optus and TPG Telecom, needs to lift its game and give consumers better information on broadband speed, the competition regulator says.

Telecommunications company Norwood Systems says it still has enough funds to meet its development objectives for the coming financial year, despite failing to raise a minimum $1 million in a priority offer which it had previously said would be needed to fund those goals.