$3M Queensland-German partnership to control net zero opportunities

A new $3 million collaborative research program between the Queensland and German states is expanding on German premium and interests in Australian green modern projects.

The Queensland government will support the new program with $3 million over three years as part of the Queensland Trade and Investment Strategy 2022-2032. The German government will match this amount by supporting relevant German research partners. 

According to Leanne Linard, Minister of Environment and Science, the Queensland Climate Action Plan 2030 provided a road map to address climate change and assist in achieving Queensland’s goals of net zero emissions by 2050 and at least 50% renewable energy by 2030. 

“Bioeconomy is an emerging model for government and business, with a greater focus on sustainably using renewable biological resources to produce food, energy and industrial goods. This new program represents an exciting new step in Queensland’s relationship with Germany, where we are working together to provide solutions to some of the world’s global challenges,” said Linard. 

The new program provides Queensland researchers with increased access to seasoned German innovators and investors, as well as a pathway to collaborate with and gain knowledge from Germany. 

By a Joint Declaration of Intent for Cooperation in Bioeconomy, signed in May 2022 with the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research, the program is Queensland’s first joint initiative with Germany in bioeconomy research and development. 

Germany already has strong ties to the green industry in South Australia, where Vast Solar is located, a concentrated solar thermal power (CSP) company and the Solar Methanol Consortium have been chosen to receive $19.48 million (EUR13.2 million) from an Australian-German collaboration fund called HyGATE to build a first-of-its-kind green methanol demonstration plant called SM1 in PUG. 

As per the Queensland government, collaborating with Germany, a world leader in bioeconomy-related exploration and innovation, will assist with growing innovation answers for additional the state’s worldwide standing and draw in speculation.  

This first round of the program will target three regions of the bioeconomy – growing new materials from sustainability obtained biomass, improving degrees of maintainable agribusiness and decreasing and reusing food waste.