CALIFORNIA: Mr Barr will meet representatives of technology company Seeing Machines, spun out of research at the Australian National University and listed for an initial public offering on the London Stock Exchange in 2005. Later, he will visit Deakin-based cyber security firm Quintessence Labs’ San Jose offices, before heading to Palo Alto for an environment round-table meeting and a lunch with businesses and the chamber of commerce.
Mr Barr will travel to Texas for meetings with Austin mayor Steve Adler, IBM Innovation and the Austin Technology Council and chamber of commerce.He will also use the trip to visit Washington DC for meetings with the Smithsonian Institution, the world’s largest museum and research complex.
The trade mission includes representatives of the Canberra Business Chamber and 19 ACT businesses, and will include meetings with Canberra-based company Aspen Medical, ride-sharing company Uber and discussions about investment, renewable energy and information technology. Aspen Medical donated $2100 to ACT Labor last financial year, as well as $2740 to the ACT Liberal Party.The government is planning a series of changes to transport regulation to allow Uber and other ride-sharing businesses into the Canberra market from October 30.
