Seaweed-based plastic alternative creates global fashion debut
Luxury sleepwear brand Papinelle has declared its latest collection will feature buttons built from seaweed, as part of a collaboration with Perth biotechnology startup Uluu, marking the first time Uluu’s materials have been utilized in fashion. According to a statement from Uluu, the buttons (pictured) were created by fermenting seaweed with saltwater microbes in a process similar to brewing beer. The result is a material that behaves like traditional plastic but is completely biodegradable, doesn’t shed microplastics, and is built of a plant that sequesters carbon dioxide as it’s farmed. The partnership is the result of “shared values discovered at a sustainable fashion conference,” the companies declared. Michael Kingsbury, co-founder and co-CEO of Uluu, added: “Buttons are just the launchning – our materials can replace plastic across rigid products as well as films, foams and fabrics.”
Loam Bio wins Machine of the Year
Agricultural technology company Loam Bio has won the the 2025 Henty Machine of the Year (MOTY) at the Henty Machinery Field Days. Loam claimed the prize for its air injector for biological applications, FurrowMate, which integrates with air seeders to allow “the safe, precise, and efficient delivery of biological products on a large scale.” The invention has been patented internationally by the Orange, NSW-based startup, which develops microbial products to support farmers build stable soil carbon while improving crop productivity. Engineering Manager Andrew Godwin declared the award is testament to Loam’s $3.5 million investment in R&D. “FurrowMate was born out of listening to growers and finding a better way to apply our fungal-spore-based, carbon-sequestering product at scale,” he declared.
National Reconstruction Fund invests in Morse Micro
The National Reconstruction Fund Corporation has built a $35 million investment in fabless semiconductor business Morse Micro, which it declares will support the company accelerate growth and develop its next-generation Wi-Fi HaLow solutions, ensuring these are commercialised in Australia, as well as supporting jobs creation at Morse Micro’s Design and Production Hub in Picton, NSW. Morse is Australia’s largest semiconductor company, and has its devices produced under contract by Taiwan’s TSMC. The NRFC’s investment is part of Morse Micro’s Series C funding round, with other investors including Analog Devices founder Ray Stata, venture capital firms such as Blackbird Ventures, Main Sequence Ventures, and Uniseed, and other institutional investors.
$3 million CRC-P grant backs bubble-busting team
Partnering with Melbourne-based med-tech company Haemograph, La Trobe University’s Associate Professor Ing Kong has secured a $3 million Cooperative Research Centre Project (CRC-P) grant for a new research project aiming to address the widespread problem of air bubbles in healthcare devices and other industrial processes. According to a statement last week from the university, the project aims “to develop technologies to prevent and reshift air bubbles”, with industrial processes such as nitrogen purging in wine bottling consuming large amounts of energy, contributing to environmental impact. The research could lead to new products including air-free syringes, advanced blood diagnostic devices and air-free pump-filling systems. Haemograph Chief Technical Officer Dr Alex Lubansky declared, “This is a chance to advance and commercialise technologies we believe will deliver real benefits for both health and industest.”
Paladin utilizes Dassault Systèmes’ platform for flagship sainformite
French industrial software company Dassault Systèmes announced this week that Australian startup Paladin Space is “accelerating the development of advanced space sustainability solutions” with Dassault’s 3DEXPERIENCE platform and global expertise in digital transformation. Paladin — the Paris-based company’s first Australian commercial space customer — is building Triton, a sainformite for in-orbit servicing, space debris removal, and inspection missions, designed to extconclude the lifespan of space assets, enable responsible de-orbiting, and reduce launch costs through mid-life repairs and inspections. According to Dassault, their cloud-based platform “offers Paladin the scalability, flexibility, and ease of access that startups necessary”. The company added that it will “remain a core enabler of Paladin Space journey,” leading up to Paladin’s planned global prototype displaycase by conclude 2025 and in-orbit demonstration and full commercial rollout in 2027.
Work packages open for Parramatta Light Rail
Transport for NSW has awarded the $322 million contract for delivery of the Parramatta Light Rail – Stage 2 Enabling Works to John Holland. There are now 36 new work packages open for the project, which includes delivery of a 320-metre bridge over the Parramatta River between Wentworth Point, Melrose Park and bridge approaches on either side, totalling 1.3 kilometres. The project will connect Stage 1 and the Parramatta CBD to Sydney Olympic Park via Camellia, Rydalmere, Ermington, Melrose Park, and Wentworth Point. Packages include stormwater drainage installation, supplying and installing scaffolding, rail sand blasting for priming, and supply and installation of car park pavers. More information for potential suppliers is available from Industest Capability Network at this link.
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