The NRFC is investing $28.45 million in leading test and measurement company Liquid Instruments, which has developed proprietary technology that integrates multiple analogue laboratory instruments into a single configurable digital device.
This investment commercialises Nobel Prize‑winning measurement technology carried out at the Australian National University (ANU), grows our sovereign advanced manufacturing capability, and crowds-in private capital.
About Liquid Instruments
Liquid Instruments was founded in 2014 by a team of scientists at ANU and is now led by CEO and Founder Professor Daniel Shaddock and COO and Co-Founder Dr. Danielle Wuchenich. It remains Canberra-based, with manufacturing facilities in Melbourne and a presence in San Diego, California.
Liquid Instruments combines high-performance hardware with intelligent software to bring multiple test and measurement tools into one device that is configurable to a customer’s need. This allows users to switch between multiple instruments such as oscilloscopes, spectrum analysers, and signal generators using just one device.
Its powerful technology plays a critical role in enabling innovation across industries such as semiconductors, aerospace, and communications by reducing valuable time spent on measurement and increasing access to advanced measurement capabilities. Its customers include global technology companies such as Nvidia, Lockheed Martin, Blue Origin, PsiQuantum, BYD, and Intel.
Investment impact
Building Australia’s advanced manufacturing capability
The NRFC's investment in Liquid Instruments builds Australia’s sovereign advanced manufacturing capability while enabling other Australian companies in the semiconductor, communications manufacturing, defence, aerospace manufacturing, and research space to develop and validate their own high-tech products and services.
Commercialising Australian innovation
Liquid Instruments designs, develops, and manufactures its technology entirely in Australia while generating more than 90 percent of its revenue from international markets. The global test and measurement market is estimated at more than $25 billion and the NRFC’s investment will help keep their home-grown IP here in Australia.
Crowding-in private finance
The NRFC’s cornerstone investment will keep Liquid Instruments in Australia and crowd-in significant private capital from overseas.
Creating jobs
Liquid Instruments currently employs 55 people in Australia and with this investment expects to create 20 new highly skilled product engineering roles across their Canberra and Melbourne sites.