Briefcase: Business Snippets from around South Australia
In this week’s Briefcase, a breakthrough in quantum clock development and Prohibition Liquor Co wins a major award. Plus, the latest business events.
- Quantum clocks developed at the University of Adelaide
- Hydrogen project secures grant
- Minda takes part in national psychotropic initiative
- Prohibition Liquor Co named ‘Champion Australian Distiller’
- AGL acquires renewable energy storage project
- Sweat co-founder invests in PixelForce
- Grants program returns to support regional communities
- University of Adelaide partners with Qubigen
- Disadvantaged women finding careers in Australian manufacturing
- HWL Ebsworth acquires leading Adelaide law firm
Quantum clocks developed at the University of Adelaide
A team at the University of Adelaide, in partnership with the Defence Science and Technology Group, has developed quantum clocks that are significantly more precise than the current international standard.
Led by Professor Andre Luiten, chief innovator and chair of experimental physics at the Institute of Photonics and Advanced Sensing (IPAS), the team was able to develop the clocks which out-perform GPS navigation systems by many orders of magnitude and will be invaluable to the Australian Defence Force.
“The clocks are between 20 and 200 times more precise over a second of measurement time than the present international standard,” said Dr Ashby Hilton, research physicist from the IPAS team.
Previous versions of the clocks were extremely sensitive to motion and temperature fluctuation. However, using sealed cells which contain low-pressure gas of atoms, the laser wavelength to the atom is adjusted, dramatically improving their stability.
The clocks were tested for endurance during naval exercises in Hawaii and were found to be strong enough to withstand being rocked by waves on ships.
Hydrogen project secures grant
ASX-listed 1414 Degrees has been awarded a $492,526 grant for catalyst development of its proprietary hydrogen reactor technology by the Universities of Adelaide and Queensland.
The SiPHyR development has already received $2.5 million from the Cooperative Research Centres Program.
The latest grant was awarded under the Australia’s Economic Accelerator (AEA) Ignite program.
1414 Degrees executive chairman Dr Kevin Moriarty said the grant highlighted “the Government’s recognition of our SiPHyR technology’s potential to deliver a commercially viable, low-emissions hydrogen solution for Australian industry”.
Minda takes part in national psychotropic initiative
South Australian disability support service Minda has joined a national initiative to improve the use of psychotropic medications for people with disabilities.
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The University of Canberra has obtained $1.87 million in federal funding for the project to rethink how these medications, which are commonly prescribed to influence mood and behaviour, are used in disability care.
The initiative has been developed in cooperation with people who have lived experience of disability, reinforcing Minda’s commitment to ensuring people with disabilities are central to decisions about their treatment.
“As the largest and most experienced not-for-profit intellectual disability service provider in South Australia, Minda is deeply invested in making sure the people we support receive the safest, most effective care,” Chief Executive Dr David Panter said.
Prohibition Liquor Co named ‘Champion Australian Distiller’
South Australia’s Prohibition Liquor Co has been crowned Champion Australian Distiller at the 2025 Melbourne Royal Australian International Spirits Awards, Australia’s largest and most prestigious spirits competition.
The international judging panel also awarded the distillery the Champion Australian Gin trophy for its Juniperus Gin. In total out of 803 entries, 103 were awarded gold, 372 silver, and 281 bronze.
“Winning a Melbourne Royal trophy or medal is wonderful recognition and reward for the expertise, passion and commitment devoted to distilling excellence,” Melbourne Royal Food and Beverage Awards Senior Manager Kirrily Waldhorn said.
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The 19th Australian Wine Industry Technical Conference: AWITC is heading to Adelaide from July 20 to 23, 2025. Held every three years since 1970, this event is a key technical forum for the Australian wine industry. Wine Tech Meetup: The French-Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FACCI), alongside SA AgriTech Meetup, is bringing the Wine Tech Meetup to Adelaide on July 22, 2025. Digital Adelaide 2025: Digital Adelaide is returning to the Adelaide Oval for a two-day event, running from July 30 to July 31. Australia-ASEAN Business Forum 2025: Adelaide is set to host the Australia-ASEAN Business Forum on August 26 and 27, 2025, welcoming over 750 senior delegates, including diplomatic officials, investors, and commercial leaders from the Southeast Asian region. EuroMix 2025: The French-Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, in collaboration with nine other European Chambers, is bringing together key European players in Australia for this unique event on 28 August. Gala Dinner – South Australian Premier’s Business and Export Awards: The South Australian Business Chamber and the Government of South Australia are hosting the gala dinner for the South Australian Premier’s Business and Export Awards at the Adelaide Convention Centre on Friday, August 29. |
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AGL acquires renewable energy storage project
AGL has attained the Yadnerie solar and long duration energy storage project from Photon Energy. The project, which will be based on RayGen’s PV Ultra and Thermal Hydro technology, is located on the Eyre Peninsula in South Australia.
The RayGen system utilises mirrors to reflect and concentrate sunlight onto solar modules, not only producing electricity, but also capturing heat which is then stored in water reservoirs.
The project builds on RayGen’s relationship with AGL, who aim to add 12 GW of new renewables by 2035.
“This project incorporates RayGen’s innovative solar-and-storage system technology as one potential solution to the need for long duration energy storage,” AGL GM Power Developer Travis Hughes said.
Sweat co-founder invests in PixelForce
Formalising the long-standing partnership between the two companies, Tobi Pearce has taken an equity stake in PixelForce, an Australia software agency focussed on backing Australian tech talent and scaling high-growth digital products.
Pearce’s experience in building digital platforms makes him a valuable strategic partner for PixelForce, said Hinney Lo, PixelForce’s Founder and CEO.
“We are thrilled to officially welcome Tobi as part of the PixelForce team. His journey scaling Sweat from Adelaide to a global brand is inspiring. Tobi’s insight and experience will be invaluable to both us, and the businesses we support as we enter our next growth phase,” he said.
“Together, we’re backing the next wave of Australian tech talent and helping founders turn bold ideas into world-class digital products.”
A new joint initiative championing Australia’s next wave of tech-enabled businesses is expected to be announced by PixelForce and Pearce in the coming months.
Grants program returns to support regional communities
The Nutrien Ag Solutions’ Community grants program is now accepting applications from non-for-profit organisations for their $5000 grant to support local community projects in regional South Australia.
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Since its launch in 2021, the grants program has provided over $1 million in funding to eligible organisations.
“This program is about supporting the heart of our regional communities – the local projects and initiatives that make these towns great places to live and work,” Jacqueline Webb, community investment manager at Nutrien Ag Solutions, said.
“Over the past four years, we’ve backed more than 200 community-led projects, helping to upgrade facilities, deliver services and create opportunities that directly benefit rural and regional Australians”.
Applications close on the 7th of August 2025 and successful recipients will be announced in October.
For more information visit: www.nutrienagsolutions.com.au/nutrien-ag-solutions-community-grants-program
University of Adelaide partners with Qubigen
The University of Adelaide and Qubigen have signed a Master Data Access Agreement, allowing the University to explore AI driven approaches to drug design.
Qubigen’s AI system will allow the university to draw insights from scientific data without moving or seeing the data, with the goal to produce therapeutic drugs for specific target proteins.
Two projects are already planned, one with the Adelaide Drug Discovery Incubator, and another with the South Australian immunoGENomics Cancer Institute.
The partnership marks a significant step forward in merging AI and medical research and provides new capabilities for confidentiality in treatment.
Disadvantaged women finding careers in Australian manufacturing
Women on welfare payments are increasingly finding secure employment in Australia’s manufacturing industry, according to new data from WorkSkil Australia.
Their latest Work Watch report revealed that there was a 16.2 per cent rise in the hire of female job seekers into manufacturing roles on welfare payments over March.
WorkSkil Australia CEO Nicole Dwyer highlighted the growing willingness of employers in traditionally male-dominated industries to give women a chance.
“More employers across industry are willing to take on female job seekers, including women who have struggled to find work over long periods of time and/or come from difficult backgrounds,” Dwyer said.
“These women are dedicated, reliable, capable and very valuable additions to the workforce.”
HWL Ebsworth acquires leading Adelaide law firm
HWL Ebsworth has announced the acquisition of Adelaide law firm Botten Levinson Lawyers, effective 1 August 2025.
The move will strengthen HWL Ebsworth’s environmental and planning capability in South Australia and bring more specialist capabilities to Australia, said Chief Executive Partner Russell Mailler.
“We are delighted to welcome such a well-regarded team which will add to our existing pre-eminent environmental and planning capability across Australia,” he said.
Four of Botten Levinson Lawyer’s six Principals will join HWL, with two making the personal decision not to transition with the team.
“We were hopeful all six principals would join us in transitioning to HWL Ebsworth,” said HWL Principal James Levinson.
“While two have chosen a different path for their own personal reasons, we wish them success for the future”.
Chair of Partners Jamie Restas said the integration will ensure continuity for clients and further position the firm as a leading legal service provider in South Australia.
“This move brings together the market-leading expertise of Botten Levinson Lawyers with our existing full-service capability,” he said.
