Matt Birney

ASX listed Sky and Space Global has unveiled the design for its nano-satellites to be used in the company’s potentially revolutionary telecommunications network based on the miniature orbital devices. Known as “The Pearls”, the sun powered next gen nano-satellites, which are small enough to sit in the palm of your hand, will commence roll out from 2018.

Shark Mitigation Systems’ cutting edge “Clever Buoy” shark detecting device will be trialled at a major beach in Southern California ahead of a possible $10 million rollout of the technology across the US state. Clever Buoy is one of the Perth-based company’s two innovative anti-shark solutions and is capable of detecting a shark and relaying its position back to lifeguards on the beach.

The goal of any new tech company is to get to breakeven quickly and then on to profitability. Internet of things upstart Connected IO may be only months away from positive cash flow after posting a record quarter. The company has been rapidly expanding its customer base with its disruptive, machine-to-machine communications and cellular connectivity devices as it blazes a trail in the multi trillion dollar sector

ASX listed biotech Company PharmAust has made significant progress in reformulating its promising anti-cancer drug Monepantel to improve its taste and deliver increased dosages of the substance in each pill. Monepantel has already shown pleasing results in initial clinical trials as a cancer treatment in humans and canines, with further tests of the drug planned for 2018.

Calidus Resources have wrapped up control of the highly prospective greenstone belt at their flagship Warrawoona project under an innovative joint venture with neighbouring explorer Novo Resources. The deal will see Calidus earn up to 70% of the rights to any gold discovered in the basement rocks on Novo's tenements and provides a consolidation opportunity for Calidus that has eluded previous operators.

There aren’t many exploration projects where you can count on thick intercepts of mineralised sulphides, but Auroch Minerals probably can as it begins drilling for Cobalt, Gold and Copper and the historic Tisova Mine in the Czech Republic. Auroch have kicked off a four-hole diamond drill program at Tisova where waste dump grab samples provided some startling Cobalt and Copper assay grades.

Newly listed Calima Energy has boosted its acreage in the liquids-rich Montney oil and gas basin in Canada by 27% or 13,700 acres, establishing it is a significant new player in one of Canada’s hottest oil and gas regions. The additional acreage is immediately adjacent to Calima’s existing ground and was the result of some fortuitous bidding at a recent Government auction.

ASX-listed biotech PharmAust has been granted a core patent in Europe relating to the use of “aminoacetonitrile derivatives” as potent kinase inhibitors for the treatment of cancer. The patent is another positive step for Perth-based company in shoring up its global IP protections. It follows the granting of similar patents in key markets including the US, Australia and China.

Fresh from success at the giant Mt Marion Lithium project, Neometals have turned their attention to their other sleeping giant, the world-class Barrambie Titanium-Vanadium project near Cue in W.A. With the Titanium price jumping by 50% recently, Chinese Titanium producers are screaming for feedstock, creating a potential opportunity for Neometals to cash in via a direct shipping operation.