Sydney startup Baraja has taken out the advanced manufacturing award at the InnovationAus 2021 Awards for Excellence for its technology that’s revolutionising autonomous vehicles.
The InnovationAus 2021 Awards for Excellence were presented at a gala black-tie dinner held on Wednesday night at the Overseas Passenger Terminal in Sydney.
The advanced manufacturing award was sponsored by the Innovative Manufacturing CRC, and highlighted how the sector is driving the building of innovative products and processes across Australian industry verticals.
Quick growing Sydney startup Baraja was awarded the advanced manufacturing gong in recognition of its world-class LiDAR (light detection and ranging) sensor.
LiDAR technology helps self-driving cars and other computer-controlled vehicles to “see” objects and to know very accurate distances to these objects.
Baraja’s patented Spectrum-Scan technology uses different wavelengths of light to steer the beam, meaning there are fewer moving parts and it is immune to interference.
Tasmanian advanced manufacturing Marinova, which is developing and producing high purity seaweed extracts, and Victorian supplier of metal-based additive manufacturing tech SPEE3D were both highly commended in the category.
The other finalists in the advanced manufacturing category were battery and electric vehicle systems tech company 3ME Technology and additive manufacturing strartup Bodd, which is focusing on waste in the fashion industry.
Innovative Manufacturing CRC chief executive officer David Chuter said advanced manufacturing is crucial to Australia’s economic development.
“Innovation in manufacturing plays a critical role in today’s economy, as well as accelerating Australia’s post-COVID recovery,” Mr Chuter said.
“By investing in innovation, new technologies and unique business models, Australian manufacturers can scale up their operations, transform their businesses and access new global markets.”
It’s an important time for Australian advanced manufacturing, which is shaping up to be a core part of the country’s economic recovery from COVID-19.
The $1.5 billion manufacturing strategy has been launched by the federal government, including a $1.3 billion fund focusing on six key areas: space, medical products, resources tech and critical minerals processing, food and beverage, defence and recycling and clean energy.
It’s also set to be a major election issue early next year, with both major parties focusing heavily on it.
The Opposition has announced its own $15 billion National Reconstruction Fund it will launch if it wins office at the upcoming federal election.
A Senate committee is also set to table its report on Australia’s domestic advanced manufacturing capability in the coming weeks.
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