A new grant from the Australian Critical Minerals Research and Development Hub will support a CSIRO research program to advance critical minerals technology and enhance international collaboration in the field.
In particular, the $2.5 million grant will support an international R&D collaboration scan, strategic R&D projects focusing on critical minerals technologies, international science delegations, scholarship networks, and a vital minerals research summer school for both domestic and international researchers.
Federal Minister for Resources and Northern Australia Madeleine King emphasised the importance of the grant in fortifying international partnerships and establishing more resilient supply chains for critical minerals, especially as the world increasingly depends on renewable technologies.
“Critical minerals research and development is crucial to developing low-emissions technologies such as electric vehicles, storage batteries, and solar panels that will help our international partners lower emissions and achieve their climate commitments,” Minister King stated.
She further highlighted that the initiatives spearheaded by the R&D Hub would contribute to the government’s Future Made in Australia ambition, ensuring that Australia collaborates with international partners on environmental and social governance standards, commercialisation of research, and intellectual property rights related to critical minerals.
“The road to net zero by 2050 runs through Australia’s resources sector,” Minister King added.
The Australian Critical Minerals Research and Development Hub, unveiled in the October 2022 Budget, aims to unlock Australia’s critical minerals potential.
The R&D Hub is a government-funded partnership that includes CSIRO, Geoscience Australia, and the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO).