Briefcase: Business news from around South Australia
In this week’s bumper briefcase of business news, a public transport app earns big investment, a space launch pad gets approval, SouthStart announces its dates, plus much more.
- Major acquisition for listed comms company
- Public transport accessibility app set for trial_
- SOUTHSTART festival dates announced for 2024
- The science of new wines
- Treasury Wine’s shining achievement
- Infrastructure SA chief, Adelaide Airport CEO join SA freight strategy committee
- Fruit fly battle continues in Riverland hotspots
- Local tech firm launches new trademark platform
- Planning consent granted for permanent Koonibba space launch facility
- Adelaide Uni launches ThincHer, an entrepreneurial leadership program for women
Local technology firm launches new trademark platform
Verimus has launched an online automated trademark registration service called Trademarkability.
This new digital platform is now available in Australia and is designed to help protect the company logos, symbols and tag-lines.
Trademarkability aims to help Australians and global businesses to properly protect their brands and consequently avoid costly legal battles.
Verimus General Manager Kate Lawson is concerned about brand protection for many Australian businesses, which are often inadequately protected.
“In an increasingly competitive global marketplace where brand value has never been so important, brand protection oversight is exposing businesses to significant financial and reputational risk,” Lawson said.
According to Verimus, there are five common issues when it comes to trademarks and these are protection procrastination, protecting the wrong things, missing deadlines, scammers and infringing registered trademarks.
The platform is a streamlined service that simplifies the process, so users are able to register, monitor, renew and protect trademarks.
Trademarkability is integrated with IP Australia’s application programming interfaces (APIs), enabling the platform to directly submit trademark queries and receive feedback.
–Lauren Mills
Major acquisition for listed comms company
Adelaide communications and metal detector company Codan has acquired a UK-based command and control solutions business for $22 million, beefing up the firm’s capabilities in the public safety market segment.
Codan will take control of Eagle NewCo Limited – a subsidiary of NEC Software Solution’s UK business – through the deal.
Eagle is a leading supplier to the emergency services, public safety and control room markets, and provides critical control room communication and workforce management solutions to more than 100 emergency services and transport customers across the UK, Europe and the Middle East.
The acquired firm’s solutions are currently used by more than two thirds of police forces in the UK, and transportation hubs and airports including the Dubai International Airport and the London Underground.
Codan said the acquisition was consistent with its growth strategies, with Eagle to be integrated into the company’s Zetron business.
Zetron president and executive general manager Scott French said the deal was an “opportunity to bring together two companies with extraordinarily similar values and market pedigrees”.
“The acquired technologies immediately widen our core capabilities and also provide new international growth opportunities across public safety and transportation,” French said.
In addition to the $22 million acquisition price – funded by Codan’s existing debt facility – the company will spend a further $3 million on set up and integration costs.
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-David Simmons
Cassie Hames has developed the “See Me” app to help visually impaired people use public transport. Photo: supplied
Public transport accessibility app set for trial
A locally developed app designed to support vision-impaired public transport commuters will trial across the country following a $500,000 investment from the iMOVE Cooperative Research Centre.
“See Me” allows users to alert bus drivers of their presence at a stop and, once onboard, the app notifies users of upcoming stops, limiting the stress and guesswork of independent transit.
The idea was conceived by Adelaide software programmer at SAGE Automation, Cassie Hames, based on her experiences as a legally blind passenger.
“Going out into the community shouldn’t be less of an experience from one person to the next, regardless of ability,” Hames previously told InDaily.
“I wanted to develop a solution that increases accessibility for all people so that everyone can feel comfortable, confident, and safe catching the bus.”
iMOVE CRC managing director Ian Christensen called the innovation “a beacon of hope”.
“We’re proud to back Cassie and SAGE with an initiative that doesn’t just move people, but moves the entire transport industry towards a more inclusive future,” Christensen said.
Limited trials of the app are scheduled for South Australia, Queensland and New South Wales commencing in later in 2023.
Hames was last year awarded the Holman Prize and a $US25,000 grant from LightHouse for the Blind for “See Me”.
_SOUTHSTART festival dates announced for 2024
The annual festival designed for “founders, funders and operators” will be held between 5-8 March 2024 in Adelaide.
The startup festival explores themes of technology and innovation with the objective of creating “a better future for our planet and its people”.
“What binds us is a collective passion for solving deep problems and forging a future for good,”, the organisers said.
The organisers are also inviting expressions of interest for partnerships, session hosts, nominations of speakers, and an opportunity for individuals to pitch their startup.
To keep up to date on the ticket launch for this event, join _SOUTHSTART’s waitlist.
– Grace Atta
The science of new wines
This year’s National Science Week will include a tasting of no-and low-alcohol (NOLO) wines at the University of Adelaide’s Waite campus on Friday 11 August as part of its “Food Down to a Science” program.
University of Adelaide Professor of Oenology Kerry Wilkinson will lead the tasting while Armando Corsi, an Associate Professor in Wine Business, will talk through issues associated with this emerging beverage category.
“There is no doubt there are consumers who are actively seeking wines of lower alcohol content for various reasons, including health benefits,” Wilkinson said.
“NOLO wines provide options for those consumers, but ongoing research will help us better understand who NOLO wine consumers are and what they are looking for – as well as new market opportunities.”
Tickets for “Food Down to a Science” are from $5-$10.
–William Barker
Photo: Treasury Wines
Treasury Wine’s shining achievement
Vintner Treasury Wines recently unveiled its new solar installation – the largest of its kind for a winery in Australia.
The switch-on means its brands Penfolds, Wynns, Squealing Pig and Pepperjack are on track to meet their target of being produced by 100 per cent renewable electricity by the end of 2024.
Featuring almost 6,000 solar panels, the systems are expected to generate more than 5,500 megawatt-hours of electricity per year; the equivalent of powering 900 homes.
Designed to maximise the capacity of the Barossa’s renewable electricity structure, the investment complements other systems across TWE’s Australian sites including Coldstream Hills in Victoria’s Yarra Valley, Penfolds in Magill and Wynns in Coonawarra.
“Installing solar panels is the most significant contribution we can make to move closer to our ambition of net zero direct emissions,” TWE chief supply and sustainability officer Kerrin Petty said.
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“Unveiling the solar system here in the Barossa complements the other systems that are already operational, or scheduled to be completed in the coming year, at our sites in Australia, New Zealand, France, Italy, and the US.
“Our Napa Valley, California installation of 13,000 solar panels will make it the largest winery solar system in the US, generating half the electricity needs for each of our US wineries. It’s all part of TWE’s broader goal to make wine sustainably.”
–David Simmons
Infrastructure SA chief, Adelaide Airport CEO join SA freight strategy committee
Heavyweights in SA’s freight and transport sector have joined a committee established to provide specialist input and advice on a supply chain strategy for the state.
With 18 members, the panel will work to develop a new strategy that provides a strategic roadmap for freight investment and opportunities.
It is chaired by the Infrastructure SA chief executive Jeremy Conway who led the development of the state’s first 20-year infrastructure strategy and is responsible for providing independent advice to the government on infrastructure projects and prioritisation.
Other members include the managing director of Adelaide Airport Brenton Cox, the Department for Infrastructure and Transport’s Road and Marine Services executive director Emma Kokar, SA Freight Council CEO Jonathan Wilson, Primary Producers SA convener Robert Brokenshire and Forestry Industry Advisory Council chair Wendy Fennell.
Transport and Infrastructure Minister Tom Koutsantonis congratulated the newly appointed members.
“South Australia’s supply chains are the key to economic success, strengthening the connections between our regions and urban centres and supporting interstate and international trade,” Koutsantonis said.
“The delivery of a new freight and supply chain strategy – a key election commitment – will guide our decision making and priorities to ensure they are in the best interest of South Australia and ensure the success of the industry into the future.
“I congratulate all of the newly appointment members of the committee who will lead this very important work. Their breadth of experience and knowledge of the industry will be invaluable in the development of the strategy and will ensure it addresses the key issues of the freight and supply chain industries.”
See below for the full list of members who will first meet on 3 August and will deliver a draft strategy by June 2024.
–David Simmons
Fruit fly battle continues in Riverland hotspots
No new Queensland fruit fly outbreaks or boundary extensions were declared in the Riverland from July 18 to July 31 as the region continues to battle the pest.
Restrictions are still in place at existing outbreak and suspension areas as Primary Industries and Regions Department (PIRSA) staff continue to visit properties to inspect yards, apply organic bait and provide residents with information about necessary actions.
PIRSA General Manager Fruit Fly Emergency Response Program Paul Dowsett said teams continued critical work applying controls across the Riverland and the release of sterile flies to combat fruit fly recommenced last week.
“During winter the fruit fly lifecycle slows down significantly, and this presents us with an opportunity to make progress in our eradication program,” Dowsett said.
“Our field teams continue to work in outbreak areas, regularly baiting and removing fallen fruit from resident’s properties.
“Bait is an effective means of killing fruit fly and is not just applied to fruit trees but all types of suitable foliage within your property because, the flies use these plants as shelter and sometimes a food source.”
An artist’s impression of the finished Koonibba Test Range
Planning consent granted for permanent Koonibba space launch facility
Koonibba will become the site of Australia’s first permanent commercial sub-orbital space launch facility, with Southern Launch and the Koonibba Community Aboriginal Corporation receiving planning consent.
The 10,000 square kilometre Koonibba Test Range, located 40km northwest of Ceduna, is one of the largest commercial rocket testing developments in the world, with Southern Launch CEO Lloyd Damp saying a “long list of global customers” are ready to use the range.
“Traditionally Australia has relied on other countries to help us launch our incredible technology to space,” Damp said.
“The Koonibba Test Range will provide the opportunity for local companies and universities to test and validate their technology to the edge of space without having to go overseas.”
The Koonibba Community Aboriginal Corporation will also begin planning a space observatory, combining “rich stargazing history as First Nations people with the ground-breaking space exploration happening from our lands,” chief executive Corey McLennan said.
Once operational the permanent facilities are expected to contribute over $500,000 per annum to the Koonibba community.
–Sarah Herrmann
Adelaide Uni launches ThincHer, an entrepreneurial leadership program for women
The program is designed by women, for women, and began delivering the program to their first cohort of over 900 students last week.
Zrinka Tokic, manager of ThincLab, said the program incorporates mentorship, workshops, experiential learning and networking opportunities as well as offering a free professional headshot for attendees.
Throughout the program, attendees will hear successful women from various industries sharing their journeys and providing insight and advice based on their experience.
“The aim of the ThincHer program is to kickstart women students into realising their potential and amplifying their ambitions… We want to empower women by providing the necessary skills, knowledge, and mindset to excel as entrepreneurs and leaders in their respective fields,” Tokic said.
–Lauren Mills
