A new CSIRO research program will supercharge critical minerals technology and strengthen international collaboration on critical minerals science, under a new grant financed through the Australian Critical Minerals Research and Development Hub (R&D Hub).

The $2.5 million grant 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 for domestic and international researchers.

Federal Minister for Resources and Northern Australia Madeleine King said the grant will help strengthen our international partnerships as well as build stronger and more resilient supply chains for critical minerals, as the world becomes more reliant 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 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 Australian Critical Minerals Research and Development Hub was announced in the October 2022 Budget as an initiative to help unlock Australia’s critical minerals potential. The R&D Hub is a government-funded partnership between CSIRO, Geoscience Australia and the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO).