$2.5m R&D grant to support critical minerals

A new research program from the CSIRO will supercharge critical minerals technology and strengthen international collaboration on critical minerals science.

The $2.5m grant financed through the Australian Critical Minerals Research and Development Hub will fund an international R&D collaboration scan, strategic R&D projects across critical minerals technologies, international science delegations, scholarship networks and a critical minerals research summer school.

Federal Resources and Northern Australia Minister Madeleine King says the grant will help strengthen international partnerships and build stronger and more resilient supply chains for critical minerals.

“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,” she said.

“The valuable work by the R&D Hub will also support the government’s Future Made in Australia ambition, and ensure Australia works with international partners on environmental and social governance standards, commercialisation of research and intellectual property rights on critical minerals.

“The road to net zero by 2050 runs through Australia’s resources sector.”

The critical minerals research and development hub is a government-funded partnership between CSIRO, Geoscience Australia and the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation.