What is Cooperative Research Centres Program (CRC-P)?
The Cooperative Research Centres Program (CRC-P) provides up to $3 million to small and medium-sized enterprises for short-term, industry-led collaborative research projects. These projects aim to solve industry-specific problems and enhance the commercialisation of innovative products, services, or processes.
Background
The Cooperative Research Centres Program (CRC-P) is a strategic initiative by the Australian Government to bolster the nation’s industry through innovation and collaboration. Aimed at enhancing the competitiveness, productivity, and sustainability of Australian industries, the CRC-P facilitates partnerships between industry, researchers, and the community. These partnerships are designed to focus on research and development that is directly linked to commercial outcomes. The program is particularly focused on industries where Australia has competitive strengths and aligns with current government priorities, thereby also supporting the creation of high-skilled jobs and promoting sustainable economic growth.
Objectives
The objectives of the Cooperative Research Centres Program (CRC-P) are to:
- Enhance the competitiveness, productivity, and sustainability of Australian industries, focusing on sectors where Australia holds a competitive edge and aligning with governmental priorities.
- Foster high-quality, industry-driven research by establishing outcome-focused collaborative partnerships between industry entities and research organisations.
- Encourage and facilitate the participation of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in collaborative research, aiming to integrate them into the innovation process.
- Drive the commercialisation of research outcomes, ensuring that the research conducted under the CRC-P leads to tangible products, services, or processes that address specific industry needs and contribute to economic growth.
Who Can Apply?
Applicants must meet the following criteria:
- Hold an Australian Business Number (ABN).
- Be a small or medium enterprise (SME) at the time of application lodgement. If part of a consolidated group for tax purposes, the group must have less than 200 employees in total.
Eligible Activities & Expenditure
CRC-P funding can be used for:
- Conducting new research that contributes directly to commercialisation.
- Proof of concept activities to validate feasibility.
- Pre-commercialisation activities that prepare innovations for market entry.
- Industry-focused training such as internships and secondments.
- Conferences, workshops, and symposia that directly support the research.
- Information-sharing and communication initiatives that improve collaboration and disseminate findings.
Funding
Industries focused on national science and research priorities can apply for grants between $100,000 and $3 million with matched funding on a 1:1 basis.
How to Apply for CRC-P Grants
To maximise your chances of success, applicants should focus on:
- Industry relevance – show how your project addresses a current problem aligned with government
- Collaboration – outline a robust plan between industry and research partners.
- SME engagement – demonstrate how SMEs are meaningfully involved.
- Project impact – detail expected outcomes and long-term industry benefits.
- Competitive advantage – highlight unique innovations or approaches.
- Capability to deliver – provide evidence of expertise and past success.
- Financial viability – include a clear budget and use of resources.
- Risk management – outline risks and mitigation strategies.
- Partner contributions – show financial or in-kind commitments.
- Sustainability – explain how benefits will continue beyond the funding period.
Timing
- Round 17 applications are now closed.
$50.4 million in funding has been awarded across 21 projects. - Round 18 is expected to open later this year.
More Information
CRC-P Recipients
Some of the CRC-P recipients include:
- CRC-P Nutromics – $2,150,000 – Diabetes is a global epidemic and the biggest challenge confronting Australia’s health system. Current care models focus on treatment of the disease, however greatly improved outcomes and increased efficiency are driven from preventative measures. The project will bring together a multi-disciplinary team to develop a digitally enabled wearable device and a deep learning behaviour change engine to elicit the positive lifestyle behaviour changes required to reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes.
- CRC-P Coviu – $1,187,534 – “Telerehabilitation,” or rehabilitation service via video, has demonstrated both equivalent outcomes to face-to-face rehabilitation and reduced costs. However, mainstream uptake has been limited by a lack of objective patient progress metrics. This project aims to further reduce cost and improve efficiency by developing AI-based solutions to automatically recognise joint range of motion, allowing clinicians to monitor and measure remotely via a video interface the progress of patient’s recovery.
Round 17 Recipients
| Title | Partners* | Description | Start/End Date | Total Grant Amount | Total Project Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Novel precision medicine for FacioScapuloHumoral Muscular Dystrophy (FSHD) | Facio Biotherapies Pty Ltd FSHD Global Research Foundation Limited The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health | There is no regulatory approved medicine for FacioScapuloHumoral Dystrophy (FSHD) due to challenges with targeting the genetic driver of disease, a toxic nuclear protein. This project aims to apply advances in RNA and peptide chemistry to a new generation of precision medicines with potential to modify disease in FSHD. This innovation addresses the barriers to systemic delivery, muscle and cell uptake, stability and safety. The project will generate proof of concept for muscle targeting of precision therapeutics in relevant models of FSHD. | 1 Jul 2025 – 30 Jun 2027 | $850,000 | $1,810,990 |
| From Panels to Products: Aluminium-Silicon Alloys from PV Waste | Second Life Solar Pty Ltd Pan Pacific Recycling Pty Ltd The Trustee for JWR Group Trust Abbottics Pty Ltd Rio Tinto Limited Hassell Family Trust Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology Sircel Recycling Pty Limited | Solar power is essential for Australia to meet its net-zero targets. End-of-life PV waste is rapidly increasing, with government-identified critical and strategic minerals, including silicon, going to landfill. Current recycling and resource recovery operations struggle to secure high-value end markets for recovered materials, limiting their economic viability. This project will develop and scale silicon recovery and alloying techniques, enabling Second Life Solar to convert recovered silicon into Al-Si alloys. These alloys will reduce reliance on virgin materials, create new revenue streams for Second Life Solar, improve the economic viability of PV panel recyclers, and enhance Australia’s circular economy and manufacturing resilience. | 1 Jul 2025 – 30 Jun 2028 | $3,000,000 | $7,617,420 |
| Perio-Detect: AI-Powered Support Tool for Periodontal Screening | Eyes Of AI Pty Ltd Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation The University of Sydney 3Shape Australia Pty Ltd | This project aims to develop the world’s first AI-driven periodontal screening tool for enhanced early and accurate detection of periodontal disease. Perio-Detect will transform traditional periodontal examination by providing a non-invasive, contactless assessment within seconds, replacing the current time-consuming method involving painful manual probing. The tool will automate critical diagnostic tasks by integrating patient data, 3D cone beam computed tomography (CBCT), and intraoral 3D scans. The project will validate diagnostic accuracy, secure regulatory approvals and integrate AI into clinical practices. The project will enable Eyes of AI to strengthen its position in Australia and establish a clear path toward international expansion. | 1 Jul 2025 – 30 Apr 2028 | $2,200,000 | $6,715,000 |
| Preventing air bubbles to solve pervasive health and industrial challenges | Haemograph Pty Ltd Numedico Technologies Pty Ltd La Trobe University Solentropy Pty Ltd Deakin University Vitalis Clinical Research Pty ltd Design & Industry Pty Ltd University of Melbourne Monash University | Air contamination and unwanted bubbles cause billions in losses annually across industries, leading to inefficiencies, increased costs, and safety risks. From drug delivery failures in healthcare causing air embolisms and neonatal complications to energy-intensive nitrogen purging in wine bottling, the need for a scalable, cost-effective solution is clear. This project aims to advance transformative technologies that remove air and prevent bubbles to commercially ready solutions, enabling new products like an air-free syringe preventing tap-and-squirt, a novel blood diagnosis device and air-free pump filling device. These technologies will solve bubble problems across Australian industry by cutting waste, emissions and enhancing safety. | 1 Jul 2025 – 30 Jun 2028 | $3,000,000 | $9,017,631 |
| Developing a Scalable Green Plasma-Based Perchlorate Manufacturing Process | DefendTex Research Labs Pty Ltd Department of Defence The University of Sydney PlasmaLeap Technologies Pty Ltd | Ammonium perchlorate is required for manufacture of energetic materials for defence, a national priority area, as well as for space access, mining and battery manufacturing. The concept of producing perchlorates using a plasma-based process is highly innovative and is a technological step change. Plasma synthesis of perchlorates is an alternative to traditional electro-chemical methods, with benefits in increased purity, output and energy efficiency. This project aims to develop a cost effective, modular system that is scalable and will produce perchlorates using this environment-friendly, waste-free production technology. This will provide the feedstock required to manufacture ammonium perchlorate for DefendTex’s solid rocket motors. | 1 Jul 2025 – 31 Dec 2026 | $2,796,600 | $9,849,225 |
| Building a scalable Indigenous-led biomaterials supply chain | Bulugudu Limited The University of Queensland Trioda Wilingi Pty Ltd | This project will establish quality-controlled manufacturing for spinifex cellulose nanofibres (SCNF) for medical applications. Led by Indigenous company Bulugudu Ltd, the project will develop quality control and assurance processes for medical-grade SCNF meeting global industry requirements. This accelerates both Trioda Wilingi’s pre-clinical dermatology technology and a new injectable medical gel application for the more than $10 billion hyaluronic acid market, offering a potentially longer-lasting, easier to inject, and safer treatments. Funding will propel this innovation from TRL5 to TRL7, facilitating research translation, and supporting Indigenous jobs. This represents Indigenous-led innovation where the community is the primary beneficiary of commercialisation outcomes. | 1 Jul 2025 – 30 Jun 2027 | $556,314 | $1,845,152 |
| Integrated platform for removing forever chemicals from water and solids | Virid IFC Pty Ltd The University of Queensland Australian Laboratory Services Pty Ltd GlobalSync Nugrow Western Downs Pty Ltd Shimadzu Scientific Instruments (Oceania) Pty Limited | Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are increasingly detected in Australia’s wastewater treatment plants, contaminating effluent, accumulating in biosolids, and posing long-term environmental and health risks. Existing remediation methods often struggle with complete PFAS removal from both water and solids and often require substantial capital investment for plant upgrades. This project aims to integrate and operate the patented magnetic sorbent at pilot and full-scale within the existing plants, efficiently removing PFAS to undetectable levels without altering current operations. The treated water and biosolids can be safely discharged and reused, protecting Australia’s environment and communities, including regional populations. | 1 Jul 2025 – 30 Jun 2027 | $2,000,000 | $6,969,609 |
| Transforming Nickel Ore Processing with Low-Cost Low-Emission Molten Sulfur | Oxleigh Recycling Technologies Pty Ltd Nico Resources Limited Curtin University Scimita Operations Pty Ltd Kemplant Pty Limited Ahurei Pty Ltd Turner & Townsend Pty Ltd | This project aims to develop a low-cost and low-emission alternative to High-Pressure Acid Leaching (HPAL) for nickel laterites. Laterites hold >65% of global nickel resources yet only ~15% of Australia’s nickel production comes from them due HPAL’s high costs, environmental harm, and sulfuric acid reliance. Oxleigh Recycling Technologies and partners are leading a $7.8 million effort to adapt, scale, and validate a molten sulfur technology originally developed for battery recycling for nickel laterite processing. A pilot plant will demonstrate more than 50% cost, 85% water, and 90% emission reductions, defining commercial adoption pathways. The project could reverse Australia’s nickel mine closures, declining refined output, and falling export earnings. | 1 Sep 2025 – 27 Sep 2027 | $3,000,000 | $7,807,121 |
| In orbit demonstration of an AI-enabled LiDAR multisensor system | Spiral Blue Pty Ltd Macquarie University Space Machines Company Pty Ltd LatConnect 60 Limited SatRevolution Pty Ltd Negentropic | Forests cover 31% of the Earth’s land surface and make huge contributions in economic value and ecosystem services. Despite this, there is no way to achieve affordable and accurate situational awareness in forests. This project aims to develop a world-first LiDAR Earth observation capability, to penetrate tree canopies to measure biomass, carbon, risk of bushfires, and detect underlying structures. The research project will deliver multiple test flights in the upper atmosphere and in low earth orbit leveraging a novel AI-enabled power modulation technique, alongside development of new techniques for processing and analysing LiDAR data. | 1 Jul 2025 – 30 Jun 2028 | $3,000,000 | $10,015,141 |
| Automated One Health Diagnostic solutions: Advancing Australian Biotech | Abraham Scientific Pty Ltd Tecan Australia Pty Ltd Murdoch University Statens Serum Institute University of South Australia The University of Sydney | Combining Australian biotech expertise and robotic engineering, this project aims to develop a unique multipurpose platform to improve medical and veterinary health. The project will take trusted commercially available assays and develop streamlined workflows on a modulated automated platform enhancing accuracy and throughput while reducing costs by eliminating error-prone manual tasks. The multifunctional nature of the platform will deliver a wider range of routine and specialist medical tests at an affordable price. | 1 Jul 2025 – 30 Jun 2028 | $2,979,000 | $8,757,256 |
| Advanced Energy-Assisted Pectin Production for Onshoring & Competitiveness | Pectin 360 Pty Ltd Doehler Australia Pty Ltd Ahurei Pty Ltd Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology Harvey Fresh Juice Pty Ltd Frunutta Asia Pacific Pty Ltd Scimita Operations Pty Ltd | This project aims to advance onshoring pectin production through advanced, energy-assisted manufacturing, reducing environmental waste, and generating circular economy benefits. Pectin, found in fruits (especially citrus and apple), is used as a gelling, thickening and stabilising agent in food products like jams and yogurts. It is valued for its natural, plant-based and flavour enhancing properties. In many applications there is no substitute available making pectin an essential ingredient. Converting fruit waste into pectin and fibre is a zero-waste operation. Feedback from pectin users has confirmed strong support for an all Australian made, reliable, high-quality pectin. | 14 Jul 2025 – 9 Jul 2027 | $2,100,000 | $4,905,054 |
| Methanol fuel production from urban resource recovery | Birra Technologies Operations Pty Ltd The University of Queensland Central SEQ Distributor-Retailer Authority BP Australia Pty Ltd | The maritime industry faces significant challenges to achieving uptake of low emission technologies. Birra Technologies has developed breakthrough solar technology to convert carbon-neutral biogas to green methanol fuel, on par with fossil-fuel prices. Because the process feedstock is generated from waste managed near port facilities, this project represents a unique opportunity to connect multiple stakeholder decarbonisation challenges into one circular economy value chain. This project will advance the technology from a laboratory prototype to a small pilot-scale facility, ultimately connecting a biogas feedstock with customer fuel tests. | 1 Jul 2025 – 30 Jun 2028 | $1,402,240 | $2,837,400 |
| Shark Scales: Scale Manufacture of Shark Skin for Clean Aviation | MicroTau Pty Ltd University of New South Wales Rotary Engineering Pty Ltd | MicroTau’s ‘shark skin’ drag-reduction product reduces fuel burn and emissions of commercial and defence aircraft. The Australian commercial aviation sector burns $7.5 billion in fuel and produces 22 megatonnes of carbon every year. Utilising the project consortium’s expertise in roll-to-roll lithography, this project will overcome key manufacturing and product engineering barriers by engineering compatible feedstocks and developing a low-cost, reliable stamp-making process. Global annual total addressable market for this product is $7.6 billion. Expected project benefits include a decarbonised pathway for Australia’s aviation sector to achieve net zero goals, a ‘green discount’ for customers, export opportunities, and job creation from new advanced manufacturing capacity. | 1 Jul 2025 – 30 Jun 2028 | $3,000,000 | $7,314,626 |
| Halion Loop Pilot – Copper Made Green | Loop Hydrometallurgy Pty Ltd Macquarie University Brisbane Met Labs. Unit Trust No. 1 | The Halion Loop is cheaper, cleaner and significantly more versatile than existing technology for the production of copper and other critical metals. An Australian invention, it is designed to create strategic and value-added domestic supply chains. This project will advance the most novel aspects of the technology from TRL 4 to 6. Multidisciplinary science and engineering teams, operating at the Macquarie University Deep Tech Incubator, will conduct bench and pilot stage research. The successful competition of the project will enable Loop Hydrometallurgy to secure mining industry partnerships to take the final steps of commercialisation directly at Australian mine sites, and unlock major export opportunities. | 1 Aug 2025 – 31 Jul 2027 | $1,300,000 | $2,620,798 |
| Liquid Hydrogen Powered Aircraft for Regional and Remote Australia | AMSL Aero Pty Ltd Fabrum Solutions (Australia) Pty Limited Deakin University Monash University | Vertiia is an Australian designed and built electric Vertical Take off and Landing (eVTOL) aircraft that is in development for casualty evacuation, cargo, and passenger applications. The current prototype is remotely piloted with zero emissions. This project will focus on the development of operational procedures for hydrogen liquefaction, integration of liquid hydrogen powertrain, and demonstration of liquid hydrogen refuelling. The outcome will be a prototype liquid hydrogen autonomous aircraft capable of providing zero emissions and long-range flight. | 1 Jul 2025 – 27 Dec 2027 | $3,000,000 | $7,557,797 |
| Next generation WiFi networks for decarbonised critical minerals operations | Roobuck Pty Ltd Tarago Operations Pty Ltd The University of Sydney Vertex Minerals Limited | This project is focused on the next generation of low-cost WiFi networks for underground critical mineral operations enabling effective, safe and decarbonised extraction of minerals. The project will foster the development of a University-METS-mining collaboration pipeline, enhancing workforce capability, support future innovation, and establish Australia as a leader in next-generation wireless communications for mining applications. | 1 Sep 2025 – 31 Aug 2028 | $2,650,000 | $7,411,320 |
| Regenerable Carbon for Eliminating Forever Chemicals in Water | Bygen Pty Ltd Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation Fluid System Technologies (ES) Pty Limited Victorian Water Industry Association Inc Water Industry Operations Association of Australia Ltd Net Zero Stack Pty Ltd | This project will focus on the removal of per- and poly-fluroalkyl substance (PFAS) in water treatment that relies on carbon-based adsorbers. These absorbers have limited surface functionality that reduces efficiency, especially for short-chain PFASs. End-of-life sorbents are also classified as hazardous waste, posing disposal risks due to potential leaching. The project aims to develop functionalised ceramified carbon-based adsorbers with high PFAS adsorption properties, adaptable to various pressures and flow rates and capable of multiple reuse cycles. Thermal regeneration of the materials will convert the adsorbed PFAS into benign chemicals. Thus, this project will support sustainable water treatment, enhance sovereign capability, and deliver environmental/social benefits for Australia. | 1 Jul 2025 – 30 Jun 2028 | $3,000,000 | $7,244,710 |
| Commercial scaling of microplastic removal from industrial wastewater | Pegras Asia Pacific Pty Ltd Simba Textile Mills Pty Ltd Scimita Operations Pty Ltd Commonwealth Scientific And Industrial Research Organisation | This project aims to build on the successful NSW Small Business Innovation & Research 2021 Water Purification Challenge prototype by scaling and validating a microplastics wastewater purification technology in a real-world setting. It will enhance commercial readiness for market launch. No viable solution currently exists for removing microplastics in the 1–100 µm range. The patented technology will remove microplastics and fine suspended solids from industrial laundry wastewater using chemical coagulation and ultra-high-speed centrifugation. The solution features real-time sensors and AI-driven digital twin optimisation for precise control. Modular, scalable, and cost-effective, improving compliance, efficiency, and sustainability while enhancing industry competitiveness. | 1 Jun 2025 – 31 May 2027 | $1,575,371 | $3,557,824 |
| Improving early stroke diagnosis in regional hospitals. | EMVision Medical Devices Ltd Titan Preshospital Innovation Pty Ltd Australian Stroke Alliance Limited Barossa Hills Fleurieu Local Health Network Incorporated | Stroke care related inequalities are most evident in Australia’s regional, rural and indigenous communities. These communities often suffer from limited advanced medical imaging capabilities, alongside constraints in availability of specialist staff, including radiographer, neurology, and radiology services required to deliver timely stroke care. The project will undertake a clinical study in South Australian regional hospitals with EMVision’s portable brain scanner, to demonstrate an ability to provide more timely and precise stroke diagnosis, and greatly improving outcomes for this patient population. | 30 Sep 2025 – 30 Sep 2027 | $3,000,000 | $9,638,433 |
| Advancing RhinoMAP, a precision medicine platform for respiratory disorders | Diag-Nose Medical Pty Ltd Mater Medical Research Institute Limited Monash University Human Operations Pty Ltd Invetech Pty Ltd Manse Medical Ballarat Pty Ltd The Trustee for the Giddings Service Trust | Chronic respiratory diseases like asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease affect 1 in 5 Australians, causing hospitalisations, disability, and thousands of preventable deaths each year. Yet, clinicians are forced to rely on trial-and-error treatment plans as there are no tools to help them personalise care. This leads to misdiagnosis, ineffective care, and worsening patient outcomes. This project will advance RhinoMAP; an AI-enabled biological profiling tool that provides actionable and data driven insights for respiratory health. The project will take RhinoMAP to commercialisation, delivering a breakthrough in precision respiratory care and strengthening Australia’s sovereign manufacturing capacity. | 4 Aug 2025 – 3 Aug 2028 | $3,000,000 | $8,421,370 |
| Scaling Algae to Meet Global Demand for Sustainable Health Products | SeaO2 Algae Pty Ltd Southern Cross University Venus Shell Systems Pty Ltd Airthena Technology Development Company Pty Ltd | SeaO2 Algae and Venus Shell Systems in partnership with Airthena and Southern Cross University, will scale advanced technology to produce and refine algae biomass into finished products that can replace animal derived products in established $10 billion global markets. Key activities include scaling production with advances in cultivation, harvesting, CO2 re-use, drying, extraction and purification of high value ingredients. This will accelerate realisation of novel sustainable ingredients and market ready products. This project will scale foundational technology, supporting the growth of Australia’s emerging algae industry for high-value, sustainable ingredients which are in global demand today. | 1 Jul 2025 – 30 Jun 2028 | $3,000,000 | $10,992,442 |
Round 16 Recipients
| Title | Partners* | Description | Start/End Date | Total Grant Amount | Total Project Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Upcycling Biosolids to Functionalised Biochar for Cleaner Environments | Aqua Metro Pty Ltd Roundhill Engineering Pty Ltd Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology Victorian Water Industry Association Inc. South East Water Corporation Iota Services Pty Ltd Southern Farming Systems Ltd | Australia produces 1.5m wet tonnes of biosolids annually from treating wastewater, with over 70% used on agricultural land. These biosolids contain 4.4-910 ng/kg of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), also known as ‘forever chemicals.’ PFAS has severe negative health impacts including liver and kidney disease, adverse reproductive and developmental outcomes, and cancer. The recently introduced National Environment Management Action Plan 3.0 calls for stringent regulation of PFAS levels. This project will tackle this issue by building and operating a demonstration-scale pyrolysis plant utilising patented PYROCO technology, which destroys 99.99% of PFAS while converting biosolids into functionalised biochar for safe use in agriculture. | 1 Jan 2025 – 31 Dec 2027 | $3,000,000 | $10,904,000 |
| Life-saver in your wallet: AdraCard delivers portable emergency healthcare | AdraCard Pty Ltd Sebstainable Pty Ltd Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology Monash University Robert Bosch (Australia) Proprietary Limited Mobius Medical Pty Ltd Device Technologies Australia Pty Ltd | AdraCard will collaborate with university and industry partners to develop a patented prototype of their credit-card shaped, nasal drug delivery platform. Fitting easily into a wallet or phone case, this device will improve outcomes in emergency scenarios by addressing barriers to use of incumbent auto-injection devices like the EpiPen. The platform will be designed as adaptable for various pharmaceuticals thus applicable across clinical settings, as well as with a low carbon footprint. The validated device will emerge ready for in-human trials and commercialisation and with opportunity for global mass market adoption, thus advancing Australia’s healthcare landscape and MedTech manufacturing capacity, benefiting both patients and industry. | 1 Jan 2024 – 31 Dec 2027 | $3,000,000 | $7,525,040 |
| AI-driven multi-warehouse model for optimised enterprise resource planning | AIBUILD Pty Ltd munchy’s gateway Pty Ltd Ozmore Biotech Pty Ltd 168 Manufacturing Pty Ltd Bo Gwang Pty Ltd University of Melbourne | This project aims to enhance SME adaptability to rapid and unpredictable market and supply chain fluctuations by developing an affordable, AI-driven, multi-warehouse-based Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system. Warehousing is crucial for Australian economy due to import reliance, but current solutions are too costly for SMEs and limited to single warehouse. The project will develop AIBUILD’s current ERP system to incorporate AI-driven features for real-time demand forecasting and integrate multi-warehouse management model to optimise inventory distribution and cost efficiency. This will not only increase SME competitiveness and supply chain resilience but also stimulate broader industrial growth and economic advancement. | 1 Dec 2024 – 30 Nov 2027 | $2,330,000 | $5,209,454 |
| Novel research, development for vanilla propagation, production and product | Australian Vanilla Plantations Pty Ltd Julie Sosso University of Melbourne BioExtracts Pty Ltd The University of Queensland Northern Territory of Australia Plant Biotech Pty Ltd | Australian Vanilla Plantations and its research partners intend to establish new superior growth, production, end-product protocols and methodologies for vanilla. The research will assure, protect and expand current national and international supply via a three-branched project of new and novel components:
| 1 Jan 2025 – 31 Dec 2027 | $3,000,000 | $9,489,319 |
| Nanorobotics for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma diagnosis and treatment | NanoCube Health Pty Ltd Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology Pancare Foundation BNNT Technology Limited University of Melbourne Ouroborus Pty Ltd Monash University | Pancreatic cancer is set to be the 2nd leading cause of cancer deaths by 2030, with most cases diagnosed in advanced stages which significantly lowers treatment success, survival rates and quality of life. NanoCube Health is collaborating with leading research institutions and manufacturers to drive development of our award-winning Duobots™ technology for early detection and treatment of pancreatic cancer. Via cellular level cancer detection and real time analysis of treatment efficacy, Duobots’ design is tailored for minimally invasive, biopsy-free tissue analysis. By leveraging AI-powered platforms and latest developments in boron nitride nanotubes, Duobots will enhance Australia’s SMEs competitiveness and onshore Medtech manufacturing. | 1 Jan 2025 – 31 Dec 2027 | $3,000,000 | $7,285,441 |
| Next generation technology enabling drug discovery for mental health | Tessara Therapeutics Pty Ltd The University of Sydney Psylo Pty Ltd | This project will address the key barrier facing the development of new and effective therapeutics for mental health; expensive, time-consuming, and ineffective preclinical models. By leveraging partner’s cutting-edge technology and expertise, this project will overcome this industry issue and develop a new, high throughput, low cost, highly predictive human cell-based research platform and drug discovery technology for substance abuse disorders to be used by universities, biotech and pharmaceutical companies both nationally and internationally. This novel capability will be validated via a case study that identifies a lead drug candidate for methamphetamine addiction, addressing a significant socioeconomic burden and unmet medical need. | 1 Jan 2025 – 31 Dec 2027 | $3,000,000 | $6,198,400 |
| Securing and differentiating markets for Australian tea tree oil | ATTIA Ltd Cassegrain Tea Tree Oil Pty Ltd Southern Cross University NXT Bioscience Pty Ltd The Trustee for Cousins Family Trust Kilkie Pty Ltd Australis Botanicals Pty Ltd L Rose & R.A Rose T9he Trustee for the Buhlambar Trust | Pure Australian tea tree oil (PATTO) commands consumer recognition globally. Recently, Africa/ China initiated tea tree production, selling to consumers naive of its often-inferior quality and origin. This threatens PATTO’s brand reputation for safety and efficacy, and Australian farmers financially. Consumer safety hazard regulation of Carcinogenic, Mutagenic, and Reproductive (CMR) toxins, identified traces of methyl eugenol (ME), a known CMR, in TTO, limiting its use in personal care products. This project delivers selectively bred tea trees with reduced ME exclusively to the Australian industry. The project enables a “low-ME PATTO” branding and go-to-market strategy for Australian farmers for market differentiation and a price premium. | 1 Jan 2025 – 31 Dec 2027 | $343,422 | $1,493,074 |
| AI-enabled fibre-optic sensor to measure meat quality for the beef industry | Miniprobes Pty Ltd Meat & Livestock Australia Limited The University of Adelaide | Annual turnover of Australian red meat processing is $20 billion, but Australian production costs are 1.25x – 2x higher than competing countries. However, customers will pay 2x for premium quality beef. This project will allow Australia to dominate the premium beef market worldwide. It leverages 5-years of R&D to deliver an AI-enabled optical scanner to rapidly assess beef quality. Importantly, our device operates at the start of the beef production process, where efficiency gains are greatest. It is estimated this could drive $47mil in efficiency savings and increase exports by $293mil. This project will complete translation of the technology; deliver a product to industry; and accelerate industry adoption through our early-adoption program. | 1 Jan 2025 – 31 Dec 2027 | $1,500,000 | $4,820,000 |
| Sustainable High Purity Alumina Production | CPC Engineering Pty Ltd Impact Minerals Limited Edith Cowan University | Impact Minerals has developed a High Purity Alumina (HPA) production process which addresses both the environmental and operational cost challenges of standard methods. Leveraging expertise from Edith Cowan University, the project integrates Membrane Selective Technologies to the process to increase the purity of HPA to <50ppm contaminants and recycle wastewater and acid by removing impurities, enabling a ‘Zero Liquid Discharge’ closed loop process. CPC Engineering will design and construct a Pilot Plant for process demonstration and optimisation. By demonstrating the use of membrane technologies for separating iron, aluminium and other metals, the project is potentially transformational across Australia’s critical minerals industry. | 6 Jan 2025 – 31 Dec 2027 | $2,871,234 | $6,380,519 |
| Design and manufacture of absorbable polymer brachytherapy patches at scale | Margin-Clear Pty Ltd The University of Wollongong Forme Technologies Pty Ltd Cyclotek (Aust) Pty Ltd | This project seeks to solve the biggest problem affecting cancer patients having surgery; the risk of cancer cells being left behind after an attempted curative operation. It comprises partners in manufacturing automation, biopolymers, radiotherapeutics and medical device concept design and prototyping, along with clinicians and surgeons. The unique collaboration will develop and manufacture biopolymers and hydrogels, introduce radiotherapeutics and design high precision manufacturing automation systems to produce absorbable polymer brachytherapy patches at scale. Improved patient outcomes are at the heart of the project, with the intention to negate the need for patients to return to hospital for external beam radio therapy treatment. | 1 Jan 2025 – 31 Dec 2027 | $3,000,000 | $10,195,555 |
| Mines to Medicines – Sovereign Nuclear Medicine Supply Chains from Waste | entX Limited University of South Australia Tellus Holdings Ltd IPhase Technologies Pty Ltd Advancell Isotopes Pty Limited | This project is embarking on a groundbreaking initiative to establish a sovereign supply chain for lead-212 (Pb-212), a critical medical isotope used in Targeted Alpha Therapy (TAT) for the treatment of advanced metastatic cancers (prostate cancer and Neuroendocrine tumours). Leveraging expertise in the resource, nuclear, and medical sectors, entX aim to extract Pb-212’s parent isotope, thorium-228 (Th-228), from industrial waste streams using novel process technologies and deliver it for clinical use. At the pilot scale, entX will diversify TAT isotope production, reduce reliance on specialised nuclear reactors, and drive market change toward more sustainably sourced isotopes, critical for patient access and therapeutic innovation. | 1 April 2025 – 31 Mar 2028 | $2,915,000 | $6,816,413 |
| A wearable AI-enabled device for better access to pregnancy monitoring | Kali Healthcare Pty Ltd Neo-Bionica Pty Ltd University of Melbourne | Annually, more than 2,000 families in Australia, and 2 million worldwide experience the heartbreak of stillbirth. This project will develop a novel wearable device integrated with an internet-based portal for clinicians to remotely monitor the foetal heart rate (FHR) within hospitals, clinics and homes. The technology will be designed for clinicians to safely, accurately and cost-effectively identify complications in late-stage pregnancy and labour to prevent stillbirth. This industry-research collaboration will complete the device development, progress clinical trials, finalise submissions for TGA/FDA clearance, and demonstrate novel predictive capabilities for pregnancy complications to significantly advance and de-risk the technology. | 1 Jan 2025 – 30 Jun 2027 | $2,650,000 | $5,619,674 |
| Rapid point-of-care molecular diagnostic for scabies and co-infections | ZiP Diagnostics Pty Ltd Axxin Pty Ltd Menzies School of Health Research | Scabies affects >200 million people worldwide each year. This parasitic skin infection disproportionately affects First Nations communities and low-middle income countries (LMICs) and is a neglected disease causing substantial morbidity/mortality and severe bacterial infections. Early diagnosis and treatment can prevent years of chronic infection and community outbreaks. Current tests are <50% accurate, highlighting the urgent need for a rapid, accurate test suitable for deployment in remote communities. This project will improve health outcomes by developing a rapid, low-cost test to diagnose scabies and associated bacterial co-infections. It will also build manufacturing capability of high-quality point-of-care diagnostics in Australia. | 6 Jan 2025 – 30 Jun 2026 | $1,842,931 | $3,864,481 |
| CT VQ: A better pulmonary perfusion test | 4DMedical Limited I-MED Radiology network Limited Macquarie University | This project will validate a new functional lung scan (CT VQ) for measurement of pulmonary perfusion (PP) as an indirect marker for pulmonary embolism. The new CT VQ will avoid the need for the patient to be injected with a toxic CT contrast agent or injection with or inhalation of a radioisotope. This project will improve patient safety, make the test more accessible for a greater number of patients, reduce costs for the measurement of PP, and more importantly, provide a new methodology to detect life-threatening pulmonary embolism. The project will compare 4DM’s functional lung scan against existing CT contrast agent scans and nuclear medicine scans in partnership I-MED, while Macquarie University will perform health economic assessments. | 1 Sept 2024 – 30 Jun 2027 | $1,923,188 | $7,099,726 |
| Integrated Mining Digitalisation and Automation Platform | Emesent Pty Ltd Aeris Resources Limited BHP Group Limited CSIRO | This project will pioneer an innovative Mining Digitalisation and Automation platform, poised to transform the management of complex mining assets and operations, by enhancing efficiency by 10% and improving safety. By leveraging the partners unique technologies in Simultaneous Localisation And Mapping (SLAM), autonomous systems and analytics, the platform collects and merges data from field robots and sensors, creating a live 4D digital twin. The platform features unique 3D navigation maps, AI -driven insights, and an API for seamless third-party integration. It addresses core mining challenges like safe data collection and advanced automation, marking a significant leap towards autonomous mines of the future | 18 Nov 2024 – 30 April 2027 | $2,415,000 | $5,748,325 |
| Delivering a Nanobody-Based Nuclear Medicine Platform to Australia | Cyclotek (Aust) Pty Ltd University of Melbourne Precision Molecular Imaging & Theranostics Pty Ltd Revela Bio Inc iPhase Technologies Pty Ltd Preflight Pty Ltd | This project will validate a novel nuclear medicine platform for imaging and therapy of disease, with high clinical and commercial potential. Key activities include optimising synthetic chemistry, developing GMP compliant manufacturing and quality control methods, undertaking pre-clinical experiments, and conducting first-in-human trials for preliminary evaluation of safety and efficacy data prior to further development and ultimate use for late-stage cancer patients. This CRC-P will build our organisation’s capacity to manufacture, supply and export multiple novel nuclear medicine products to GMP standards. Nationally, our project will improve Australia’s sovereign capability in nuclear medicine development and advanced manufacturing. | 1 Jan 2025 – 30 June 2027 | $1,071,105 | $4,301,093 |
| Active Syphilis Rapid Test | Atomo Diagnostics Pty Ltd The Macfarlane Burnet Institute for Medical Research and Public Health Ltd Atomo Diagnostics Pty Ltd I D & E Pty Ltd | Atomo Diagnostics, I D & E, and Burnet Institute are developing a rapid lateral flow test for active syphilis diagnosis at home and point-of-care using a finger prick blood sample. Burnet has identified a unique syphilis antibody biomarker that distinguishes active infection from past-treated cases, a first for the Australian market. The project involves research and development of lateral flow devices, user acceptance surveys and clinical evaluations to validate performance. Benefits include Australia’s first at-home syphilis test that differentiates active from past-treated infections, reducing overtreatment. It meets the World Health Organisation’s criteria for syphilis rapid tests and aligns with both Australian and international syphilis elimination strategies. | 6 Jan 2025 – 30 Jun 2027 | $2,440,229 | $5,031,904 |
| Green nanoporous materials manufacturing for bulk hydrogen storage & export | Rux Energy Pty Limited The University of Sydney Vireo Energy Pty Ltd W T G Pty Ltd ANL Container Line Pty Ltd South Australian Hydrogen Hubs Incorporated | This project will develop Rux’s patented advanced nanoporous materials with the University of Sydney, to enable hydrogen storage at conditions specific to bulk static & export, not previously achieved, demonstrating breakthroughs in efficiency, safety and cost, using advanced green manufacturing syntheses, building on learnings and joint-Rux-USYD investments in research infrastructure. The project includes pilot manufacturing and industrial validation trials. The project will place Australia at the forefront of the global race for the development of Australian hydrogen export markets, addressing key government priorities, and providing key funding for Rux to progress its technology commercialisation to achieve global export market traction. | 1 Jan 2025 – 31 Dec 2027 | $3,000,000 | $8,784,269 |
| Holistic Economical Offshore Wind Turbine Solution for Australia | Next Harbour Pty Ltd University of Melbourne Next Harbour Pty Ltd Gippsland Climate Change Network Incorporated Dof Subsea Australia Pty Ltd NGI Geotechnical Testing Laboratory Xodus Group Pty Ltd | Offshore wind is globally recognised for its potential to provide clean, affordable energy while also contributing to economic growth, but Australia lags in implementing it due to technological complexities, regulatory frameworks, and ecological impacts. Typically, installing wind turbine offshore involves steps using heavy machinery, leading to extended assembly time and increased costs compared to onshore installation. This project is pioneering a fully integrated process for the pre-fabrication, transportation, installation and decommissioning of a wind turbine with suction bucket foundation system eliminating the need for heavy-lift vessels. The system will be developed and tested for Australian waters and offshore geology specifically. | 1 Jan 2025 – 31 Dec 2027 | $3,000,000 | $6,921,653 |
| Hart Bioenergy BioMax APBR – Algae Photobioreactor System | Hart Bioenergy Pty Ltd Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology Protex Water Pty Ltd Heron Holdings Pty Ltd | This project seeks to pioneer an innovative technology that converts organic waste into high purity biomethane, organic fertiliser, and clean water, with zero waste. The Hart Bioenergy BioMax APBR is a photobioreactor, combining biogas scrubber (BECCUS) and nutrient uptake system for Biogas systems (AD) that promises an environmentally friendly and cost-effective solution to waste conversion at SME scale, propelling AD technology into the next generation. This solution opens the door for Australian businesses to invest in and benefit from the sustainable circular economy and reduces the burden of the 57 million tonnes of organic waste produced annually in Australia. | 1 Oct 2024 – 30 Sept 2027 | $928,250 | $1,859,732 |
| Manufacturing Novel FR Materials for the Future – Australian for the World | Colan Products Pty Limited CSIRO Metis Technologies Pty Ltd LoomTex Pty Ltd Colan Products Pty Limited | Australian SME Metis Technologies in collaboration with CSIRO have developed & patented a greener chemical process yielding fibres with a unique combination of performance properties: anti-microbial, anti-fungal, non-toxic & minimal smoke emissions, absorbent, safe next to skin, flame-retardant, does not melt or drip – for use in Health, Defence & Fire & Emergency Services. There is no commercially viable inherent technology that can impart the same performance capability into one fibre other than the patented technology. The process has been proven at lab scale and now requires scale up towards commercialisation. Metis has agreed with Australian SMEs LoomTex and Colan to undertake the scale up in Geelong, Victoria. | 8 Jan 2025 – 24 Dec 2027 | $3,000,000 | $6,991,426 |
| Urban Copilot – AI accelerating where we build Australia’s future | Archistar Pty Ltd University of NSW Mapai Pty Ltd Property Exchange Australia Limited | Economic activity has a connection to land, transport, water, power and fibre. Australia’s future economy needs enabling technologies that streamline land use allocation decision making. AI solutions offer great promise and efficiency gains, but the potential for inaccuracies limits its uses and implementation in land use planning and property development. This project will develop an interactive AI product suite, Urban Copilot, to assist industry to interpret regulations and create development applications that will meet government requirements. It will be supported by a trustworthiness framework to enable adoption in a regulatory and commercial environment. This project will leverage the expertise of project partners Archistar, MapAI, PEXA and UNSW. | 1 Oct 2024 – 30 Sept 2027 | $2,690,000 | $6,455,000 |
| Novel shared anchor to scale up offshore renewables – demonstration project | Roc Technologies Pty Ltd Norwegian Geotechnical Institute Pty Ltd University of Western Australia | This project will design, manufacture, deploy and assess performance of shared helical anchors for offshore renewable energy. Research shows shared, helical anchors could reduce costs, environmental impacts and risks, however their performance hasn’t been demonstrated. The project will test a shared anchoring system over 12 months in a full-scale field trial at the Marine Energy Research Australia facilities and offshore near Albany. The project will also demonstrate WaveX technology and build capabilities in local SMEs and supply chain to scale-up commercial deployment. This project will contribute directly to Australia’s economic and net zero strategies and meeting global demand for offshore renewable energy. | 1 Jan 2025 – 31 Dec 2027 | $2,400,000 | $6,127,707 |
*First organisation is the lead partner.
Round 15 Recipients
| Title | Partners* | Description | Start/End Date | Total Grant Amount | Total Project Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A digital manufacturing platform for high-performance composite structures | New Frontier Technologies Pty Ltd Geodrones Australia Pty Ltd Australian National University | This project will deliver a digital manufacturing platform for carbon composite structures based on innovative design, automated and additive manufacturing, 3D data visualisation and analysis, and high-fidelity performance simulation. A feature of the project will be the use of automated composite manufacturing technology for scalable production of highly-tailored structures with capability for 3D digital twinning that will enable digital certification of safety-critical structures. Demonstrators will include rotor blades for heavy-lift helicopter drones for defence and civil applications, and structures for precision instrumentation that remain dimensionally stable in extreme temperature environments. | 1 Jan 2024 – 31 Dec 2025 | $1,239,431 | $3,119,131 |
| Airborne quantum sensors for resources and environmental monitoring | Q-CTRL Pty Ltd CMG Operations Pty Ltd Australian National University | This project brings together two leading Australian SMEs and a top-tier research institute to address critical industry-identified challenges in geophysical surveying. We focus on building novel technology for airborne gravity surveys that leverages recent advances in quantum sensors and signal processing. Our approach will be validated through the first Australian airborne trials of these next generation quantum devices. This will provide new sovereign capabilities in quantum sensing while delivering major value to Australia’s mineral exploration and water monitoring sectors, aligning with the National Reconstruction Fund “Value-Add in Resources” priority and Science & Research priorities in “Resources” and “Soil & Water”. | 1 Feb 2024 – 31 Jan 2026 | $2,005,463 | $4,311,854 |
| A scalable conversion system to upcycle hard-to-recycle wastes to graphene | E.Q. Plastics Pty Ltd Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology Rapid Auto Workshop Pty Ltd | EQ Plastics, partnered with RMIT and Rapid Auto, pioneers a ground-breaking initiative aimed at developing a semi-automated conversion system to convert kg-scaled hard-to-recycle plastics and tyre waste into graphene in minutes. Through developing an upscaled rapid arc-discharge pyrolysis system, the project promises a swift and environmentally friendly approach to waste conversion. This venture not only reduces the burden on landfills but also yields high-value graphene, a material with extensive applications in electronics and renewable energy sectors. The project is a step toward fostering a green ecosystem and offers lucrative new avenues for business, thus promoting technology investment and enabling a sustainable circular economy. | 1 Apr 2024 – 31 Mar 2027 | $3,000,000 | $7,097,444 |
| Edge-AI-enabled gastrointestinal endomicroscope with subcellular resolution | Optiscan Pty Ltd CSIRO Hydrix Pty Ltd Design & Industry Pty Ltd Helios Dr. Horst Schmidt Kliniken Wiesbaden GmbH | This project will develop a miniature digital microscopy probe that can fit biopsy channels of most endoscopes and provide real-time, slide-free images with sub-cellular resolution. The system will be powered by an artificial intelligence (AI) engine to automatically detect and analyse dysplastic cells. It will allow clinicians to conduct real-time GI endomicroscopy examinations and thereby initiate immediate medical intervention if abnormalities are detected, which will significantly increase the chances of successful treatment and improve the prognosis of patients. Such a GI platform will open much larger market segment for Australia’s biomedical industry, as well as a continual revenue stream through digital pathological services. | 1 Feb 2024 – 31 Jan 2027 | $3,000,000 | $9,236,713 |
| World-first compact 3D LiDAV: High Precision Navigation Everywhere | Advanced Navigation Pty Ltd University of Technology Sydney CMG Operations Pty Ltd | Our project will develop a navigation sensor measuring velocity in 3D, creating a revolutionary compact, lightweight and low cost solution delivering precision that is not possible within the same size and weight constraints. Significant R&D of Hardware, Software and Algorithm will transition the tech from laboratory to commercial product. Sensor designs will be tested and validated in a range of real world environments on ground vehicles, drones & light aircraft, and be compliant with defence and commercial industry standards. Addressing a market gap across a range of terrestrial applications, the project will enhance SME project partners’ global competitiveness and help build Australia’s sovereign capability in the high end UAV market. | 1 Jan 2024 – 31 Dec 2025 | $1,064,739 | $3,198,982 |
| SiPHyR: A new technology for affordable net-zero hydrogen production | 1414 Degrees Limited The University of Adelaide Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology Vulcan Steel (Australia) Pty Ltd Woodside Energy Technologies Pty Ltd | This project will demonstrate the feasibility of a breakthrough lower-carbon hydrogen production technology “SiPHyR”, featuring a patent-pending reactor that uses stored renewable heat. It decomposes methane via pyrolysis yielding hydrogen and solid carbon, but no CO2 emissions. SiPHyR is scalable, with strong potential to produce net-zero hydrogen continuously for ~US$1/kg. The project will de-risk and accelerate SiPHyR’s commercialisation with a prototype demonstration and by addressing challenges in methane pyrolysis, to enable Australia’s transition to lower-carbon hydrogen. | 1 Apr 2024 – 31 Mar 2027 | $2,500,000 | $5,224,100 |
| Cost-Effective, Pain-Free Treatment for Vision Loss in the Elderly | Filamon Pty Ltd Macular Disease Foundation Australia University of New South Wales Zeng, Jun | Wet age-related macular degeneration (wet AMD) is the main cause of blindness in the elderly, affecting 1 in 7 Australians >50 years of age, accounting for 50% of community blindness, considerably constraining independent living and becoming an increasingly major cost of aged care. Current treatments (monthly injections into the eyeball) fail to work in 1 in 3 patients, are painful, carry side-effects and lead to a high drop-out rate. UNSW has identified a drug with evidence of being superior to current drugs and with potential for self-administration by eyedropper. Filamon and UNSW are working together on a cost-effective, pain-free, non-invasive treatment that has the capacity to revolutionise the management of this debilitating disease. | 1 Jan 2024 – 31 Dec 2026 | $2,365,662 | $4,877,250 |
| Vertiia eVTOL Autonomous Firefighting Trials | AMSL Aero Pty Ltd The University of Sydney Mission Systems Pty Ltd Pay’s Air Service Holdings Pty Ltd | Vertiia is an Australian designed and built electric Vertical Take off and Landing (eVTOL) Aircraft that is in development for casualty evacuation, cargo and passenger applications. The prototype is remotely piloted and zero emissions. This project will take that prototype and develop it further as an autonomous firefighting drone. This includes developing firefighting operating concepts for eVTOL aircraft, integration of water tanks, continued development of autonomy systems, regulatory approvals and conduct of flight tests. The outcome will be a prototype autonomous firefighting aircraft able to operate form small clearings and is able to deliver about 500L of water onto fires, with CASA approvals that will allow that operation. | 1 Jan 2024 – 30 Jun 2026 | $3,000,000 | $7,044,155 |
| Automated infection diagnostics for safe and healthy communities | Avicena Systems Ltd Biopoint Pty Limited Department of Defence St Vincent’s Care Service Ltd Healius Pathology Pty Ltd University of New South Wales | Swift and precise detection of infection in symptomatic and asymptomatic individuals is critical in higher-risk settings such as aged & health care, maritime industries, and defence scenarios. This initiative aims to amplify Avicena’s automated diagnostic/biosecurity platform. Driven by novel biochemistry from UNSW/Biopoint, the new platform will be faster than conventional gene-based tests, offering a highly (>99%) accurate and scalable substitute for lab-based (PCR) diagnostics, with low running costs. Validated in a commercial aged care setting, the results will accelerate market adoption, and unlock fresh opportunities in a global $10 B p.a. market for two Australian SMEs and their high-value diagnostics tests & platform. | 1 Feb 2024 – 31 Jan 2026 | $3,000,000 | $7,043,684 |
| Round Like A Record: Vinyl & The Circular Economy. | The Trustee for JWR Group Trust Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology CSIRO Vinyl Council of Australia Welvic Australia Pty Ltd Bygen Pty Ltd Ouroboros Pty Ltd | Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) is a versatile and durable material with many applications, from water pipes to wire insulation, and is indispensable to modern life. Australians consume ~500,000 tonnes of PVC annually and produce ~200,000 tonnes of end-of-life (EoL) PVC. Unfortunately, less than 5% of this is recycled. PVC derives its versatility from its many different formulations and additives. However, this means conventional recycling methods are ineffective as EoL PVC is an inherently mixed waste stream. This project will develop an environmentally friendly dissolution technique to separate PVC from other components in the waste matrix to produce near virgin-grade PVC for reuse in new applications. | 1 Jan 2024 – 24 Dec 2026 | $3,000,000 | $7,069,253 |
| StrepSure™: An ultrasensitive biosensor for protecting newborns from GBS | Nexsen Biotech Pty Ltd Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology Atomo Diagnostics Pty Ltd Northern Health | Group B Streptococcus (GBS) bacteria are carried by an estimated one in five expecting mothers. GBS infection can cause serious complications, leading to preterm births, stillbirths, and neonatal deaths. This project will drive the development and clinical validation of StrepSure™, an innovative, low-cost sensor technology for ultrasensitive, accurate and rapid diagnosis of GBS in point-of-care settings. The outcomes will allow NexSen Biotech, a mission-driven entity focussed on improving women’s health to take this cutting-edge diagnostic technology from the labside to the bedside and the market. This will empower clinicians to timely intervene by easily and accurately detecting GBS in expecting mothers, preventing serious complications. | 1 Jan 2024 – 31 Dec 2026 | $2,998,701 | $7,693,864 |
| Commercialisation of an Automated Mobile EOL Solar PV Panel Recovery Plant | KGM Services Pty Ltd Circular Solar Solutions Pty Ltd Deakin University The University of Newcastle C & C Bruin Enterprises Pty Ltd | As photovoltaic (PV) adoption surges both in Australia and worldwide, the end-of-life (EoL) management of these panels is vital, requiring the development of innovative, low-emission technologies. This project aims to commercialise sustainable EoL solutions for PV panels. Using patented methods from our past research, the project will assess the potential for reuse and to separate non-functional panels into uncontaminated components. This provides pathways for repurposing valuable materials, such as reintegrating the critical mineral silicon into new PV panels and batteries and repurposing low-iron float glass for greenhouse applications. Furthermore, this project will enhance education and foster job creation within the circular economy | 15 Jan 2024 – 15 Dec 2026 | $1,200,000 | $2,928,606 |
| Upscaling a Novel Technology for Recycling Lithium-Ion Batteries | Oxleigh Pty Ltd University of New South Wales Scimita Operations Pty Ltd Envirostream Australia Pty Ltd Worley Services Pty Limited | The Project is developing a novel process for recycling lithium-ion batteries. The technology processes the ‘black mass’ from waste batteries into precursor material that can be re-used to manufacture new lithium-ion batteries. Project partners – Oxleigh, the University of NSW, Scimita Operations, Envirostream Australia and Worley – are undertaking an $8.1 million collaborative venture to advance the development and commercialisation of the process. The Project will fully develop and upscale a safe and environmentally sustainable process that can treat up to 5.5 tonnes/year of black mass from NMC-type lithium-ion batteries to recover at least 80% of the lithium, nickel, manganese, and cobalt metals as salts at greater than 90% purity. | 1 Jan 2024 – 30 Jun 2026 | $2,746,355 | $8,097,242 |
| Large-scale manufacturing of complex microbial therapeutics | Cost-Bry Pty Ltd Global Life Sciences Solutions Australia Pty Ltd Monash University | In 2022, BiomeBank achieved world-first approval for a faecal microbiota transplant (FMT) therapy; while life-changing for patients, scalability and consistency are limited. Cultured microbial therapies have the potential to revolutionise treatment of many diseases and represent a USD $1.65B global market by 2028. BiomeBank and Hudson have developed some of the most advanced approaches to microbial therapies but require infrastructure for large-scale biomanufacturing for domestic and global markets. This collaborative project will establish the facilities, processes and techniques for world-first, cost-effective production of complex microbial therapies, strengthening Australia’s leadership position in a rapidly growing field of therapy. | 1 Jan 2024 – 31 Dec 2025 | $2,147,887 | $5,371,031 |
| Ultrasound commercialization to deliver a novel product for cannulation | Veintech Pty Ltd South Metropolitan Health Service Design & Industry Pty Ltd Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology Curtin University | Cannulation (needle insertion into veins) is vital in modern medicine for treatment and diagnosis. Annually, 2 billion intravenous cannulas are sold, but 40% fail initially, harming patients, reducing efficiency, and costing Australian healthcare $640 million. VeinTech’s patented device, VeinWise, enhances vein imaging, addressing market gaps. It integrates imaging performance, human factors, and advanced manufacturing, backed by high quality research. VeinTech is at TRL4, with successful human testing, clinical usability and is moving towards commercialisation. This CRC-P involves an Australian Ultrasound Consortium to deliver a commercially manufacturable device, obtain regulatory clearance, and boost medtech manufacturing in Australia. | 1 Feb 2024 – 31 Dec 2025 | $1,745,362 | $4,213,500 |
| Advanced wireless charging infrastructure to electrify heavy-duty vehicles | Ace Infrastructure Pty Ltd Sea Electric Pty Ltd Fleet Plant Hire Limited Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology Swinburne University of Technology Siemens Ltd ARRB Group Ltd Net Zero Stack Pty Ltd | Despite the reduction in emissions from cars, heavy vehicles (HVs) are predicted to continually increase their emissions to 22MTCO2 by 2030, which highlights the importance of electrifying this fleet. This project aims to implement an embedded dynamic wireless power transfer technology into roads, unlocking the uptake of electric trucks and buses. ACE Infrastructure will collaborate with leading researchers in electrical and materials engineering, and partner with international electrification providers (SIEMENS and SEA Electric) and road authority (ARRB) to build a world-first prototype on regional Australia roads. While contributing to a greener, safer and more efficient transport, electrifying HVs could save Australia $324B by 2050. | 1 Jan 2024 – 31 Dec 2026 | $3,000,000 | $8,235,894 |
| Improving Health Outcomes with a Smart Wearable Drug Delivery System | Remagine Labs Pty Ltd The Trustee for AK Clinical Trust University of Melbourne Monash University | 36% of epilepsy patients have uncontrolled seizures, leading to 3X mortality, increased hospitalizations and reduced quality-of-life, a $12.3B cost to the Australian economy, primarily due to missed medications. Oral epilepsy drugs also cause side effects and adverse drug interactions. Our Smart Wearable Drug Delivery System, the world’s first to electronically deliver epilepsy drugs through the skin, the “Patch”, addresses these issues. We will develop the Patch and perform clinical studies with our clinician partners to prepare for regulatory approval. In parallel, we will explore partnerships with pharma companies and build our clinician support network, while researching ways to improve our platform and extend it to more complex drugs. | 1 Jan 2024 – 31 Dec 2026 | $3,000,000 | $7,569,100 |
| Industrialisation of dowel-laminated timber for building construction | OZ Build Construction Pty Ltd Oranik Pty Ltd University of Technology Sydney ITI (Victoria) Pty Ltd Holmag AG | This project will establish an advance manufacturing facility for production of dowel laminated timber (DLT) for fully sustainable building construction. It will leverage our 6 years of state-of-the-art research on converting low grade and off cut timber to structural grade DLT as a new engineered product. The key activities include machine learning-based timber processing, autonomous panelisation, engineering and certification of DLT building, DLT building information modelling, and training. These will lead to development of novel hardware, software, guides, and domestic capabilities for a unique DLT factory, amplifying sustainability in timber and building industry and promoting the project collaborators for national and global impact. | 29 Apr 2024 – 28 Apr 2027 | $3,000,000 | $7,442,531 |
| DFNDR: Adaptive Cyber Security for Defence & Critical Infrastructure SMEs | Ionize Pty Ltd Cybermerc Pty Ltd University of Canberra | Rising geopolitical tensions and competition are placing increasing strain on Australia’s supply chains. Whilst these effects are economy-wide, they are particularly pronounced for Defence and Critical Infrastructure SMEs, as these represent high-value targets. There is a widespread recognition of the need to invest in cyber security for these SMEs, but existing initiatives such as DISP and SOCI focus on qualitative self-assessment, documentation readiness and policy. This project will develop a solution streamlining cyber threat detection, network defence, response and recovery for Defence and CI SMEs, producing a quantifiable uplift in their cyber security, whilst identifying attacks targeting SME industry verticals. | 1 Feb 2024 – 30 Jun 2025 | $3,000,000 | $6,493,243 |
| Machine Learning Driven Large-Scale Solar Panel Recycling Process | PV Industries Pty Ltd Resource Pty Ltd University of New South Wales Spark Renewables Pty Ltd | Australia has installed over 100 million solar panels, boasting the highest per-capita penetration in the world. However, the surge of solar panel e-waste presents a challenge, as their stated 25-year lifespan can be shortened by various faults and defects that are hard and costly to detect manually. Globally, there is no efficient recycling solution to accommodate the exponential growth in solar panel waste, and lucrative end-markets for materials remain undeveloped. PV Industries, in collaboration with ReSource, UNSW, and Spark Renewables, is pioneering a large-scale, high-volume solar panel testing and recycling process from decommissioning to end-markets, utilising machine learning to optimise both environmental and economic outcomes. | 8 Jan 2024 – 25 Dec 2026 | $3,000,000 | $10,072,187 |
| At home bio-sensing device for the monitoring of fertility hormones | Symex Labs Pty Ltd Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology Monash IVF Pty Ltd The Actuator Operations Ltd | Infertility affects 1 in 6 Australians. Changing demographics and social practices are leading to a rise in the number of women undergoing in vitro fertilisation (IVF). During each IVF cycle, clinicians need access to quantified hormonal data and rely on repeat blood tests which are costly for the provider, burdensome for patients and limiting for clinicians. This project will develop a biosensor-based home-use device to replace blood tests allowing IVF clinics to remotely and accurately receive timely hormone tracking data. This project will enable collaboration between clinical, research and commercialisation experts, taking a technology proven in the lab to a home-use medical device for fertility hormone quantification. | 1 Jan 2024 – 31 Dec 2026 | $1,000,000 | $2,047,274 |
*First organisation is the lead partner.
Case Studies
Australian technology startup Separtis is leading research to solve a range of plastic waste and environmental contamination issues with help from a Cooperative Research Centres Projects Grant.
Separtis received a $1.18 million from the Australian Government to fund a research partnership with the University of Sydney.
Recycling co-mingled plastics, reclaiming metals from e-waste and removing microplastics from water sources are just three of the potential applications for a recycling technology being commercialised by Orange-based start-up Separtis.
The company was founded in 2019 to develop a US-patented biopolymer technology to recycle plastics. Its research has since led to other waste recovery applications.
Separtis CEO Emma Clark says the government support has been vital to the research. “The CRC-P has allowed us to tap into the deep technical expertise at our universities.”
Latest News
The Australian government is dedicating $40 million to Round 15 of Cooperative Research Centres Projects (CRC-P) Grants, aimed at fostering innovation in small and medium-sized businesses. These grants prioritize projects driving a circular economy or aligning with the National Reconstruction Fund’s goals.
Minister Ed Husic highlights their role in advancing recycling and establishing a circular economy. The program has previously supported medical devices, wind turbine recycling, and tackles winemaking challenges. Quantum computing and robotics also fall within its scope. Businesses selected for CRC-P Round 15 could secure funding between $100,000 and $3 million, accessible from January 2024.
Science and Industry Minister Ed Husic announced that the federal government’s industry-led research program would allocate $50 million in funding to 24 projects as part of the Cooperative Research Centres Projects (CRC-P) initiative’s 14th round. These projects, involving 100 partners across the country, will receive additional support of $72 million in cash and in-kind contributions. The CRC-P program primarily focuses on the circular economy and aligns with the priority areas of the government’s upcoming National Reconstruction Fund (NRF), indicating a more targeted approach to research funding.
Minister Husic emphasised that this round of grants aimed to leverage Australian expertise effectively, with many projects aligning with the NRF’s priority areas, thus ensuring a steady pipeline of investment-ready projects for future consideration. The CRC-P program specifically targets small and medium-sized businesses, offering grants of up to $3 million for short-term research collaborations.
The CRC program, established by the Hawke government, has played a significant role in supporting the establishment of 236 Cooperative Research Centres (CRCs) and 232 CRC Projects, with over $5 billion invested to date. A recent evaluation of the program highlighted its success in delivering substantial returns on government investments. However, the report, initially withheld by the Morrison government, was released earlier this year. Although the evaluation could not fully assess the CRC-P component, which was launched in 2015, it recommended a reassessment of the smaller program once more projects were completed.
The full list of CRC-P recipients and prjects are:
- Industrial Property Maintenance – Recycling composite wind turbine blades for circular economy
- Canopus – Growing Australia’s cloud gaming industry with AI-assisted Network Boost
- Advancell Isotopes – A platform for production of targeted alpha therapies for cancer treatment
- Lutyen – 3D printing houses in extreme and remote locations using local materials
- Gilmour Space Technologies – EDGy: Developing high-performing satellite control system Stellar Gyros
- Inovor Technologies – developing sovereign capabilities for satellite operations
- ITECH – Vertically integrated battery anode material development program
- Microtau – When Sharks Fly: Reducing fuel burn and emissions of commercial aircraft
- Diraq – Quantum computing controllers based on cryo-CMOS
- Speedpanel Holdings – A fire rated wall panel system for commercial and residential construction
- Ecopha Biotech – innovative development of biodegradable healthcare packaging products
- Navi Medical Technologies – The Neonav: Collaboration to deliver a novel device for safer newborn care
- VXB Aerospace – AI driven design of custom in-space propulsion to extend satellite ability
- Omnisova – Delivering allergen safe eggs to those suffering severe egg allergies
- Orica – In-Place Recovery: Solution mining of critical minerals
- Greatcell Energy – Roll-to-roll production of ultra-low cost perovskite cells
- Gelomics – Tissue-specific extracellular matrices for 3D cell and organoid culture
- Australian Vintage Ltd – Advancement of Australian lifestyle wines
- Go Resources – Development of biobased biodegradable sustainable industrial lubricants
- Telemedc – AI-based portable digital slit-lamp for anterior segment eye diseases
- Advanced Circular Polymers – AI-driven fused RGB and NIR hyperspectral vision for sorting waste plastics
- Revox Australia – Healing Australian Carbon Wounds Using Hemp Plantation and Construction
- Enviropacific Services – Creating construction materials from thermal treatment facility wastes
- H2Ex – Accelerating exploration and extraction of renewable natural hydrogen
Cooperative Research Australian has called for a $50 million boost to the cooperative research centres program, backing recommendations made in the positive 2021 ACIL Allen review released earlier this month.
The peak body for industry-research collaboration said the federal government should increase funding for the CRC program to 2008 levels. In financial year 2008-9, the CRC program received almost $250 million (in real 2019-20 dollars).
“Peer countries and competitors alike are tackling the global economic crisis by increasing their percentage of GDP spend on R&D. They are clear: the way forward is through innovation,” CRA said in its pre-budget submission.
The 14th round of the Cooperative Research Centres – Projects program was opened by Ed Husic MP last week and closes on 2 March. Despite the name, I think it is really important to note just how different a Cooperative Research Centre is from a CRC-P.
The CRC program commenced in 1991 and almost from the first review it was noted that perhaps there should be a step-up or step-down phase for the CRCs, which are a major undertaking. “Slatyer Centres” were contemplated as ongoing entities for CRCs that had finished their terms for example. It wasn’t until the David Miles Review in 2014-2015 during Hon Ian Macfarlane‘s second stint as Industry Minister that the CRC-Ps were born.
CRCs are about an industry, whereas CRC-Ps are much more specifically about the individual companies involved.
If a company wants help from researchers in a university or research institute, they tend to ignore the requirement that a CRC-P is a wider collaboration. At least two companies have to be involved and bids that fail on their first try often add a second company at the last minute to fulfil the funding requirements. That’s an appendix company. It’s sitting there, with no one understanding what it really does but the potential to turn the whole thing septic.
People that run companies often don’t get the need for good governance arrangements in a CRC-P. There is no need for a company to be set up like in a CRC. But there is a need to make sure all collaborators are actually contributing; that the project is managed properly and finances are in order.
A partnership agreement has been signed between Vaxxas and Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) CEPI will provide up to $US 4.3 million ($6.4 million) for preclinical testing of needle-free, high-density microarray patch (HD-MAP) delivery platform. The platform offered many potential advantages over more traditional ways of administering vaccines, for example the dried form of the vaccine is more stable at higher temperatures than vaccines in liquid formulations.
Vaxxas was also awarded a federal government grant through the Cooperative Research Centres Projects (CRC-P) program.
BioCina recently received a A$3 million grant through the Cooperative Research Centres Projects Grants scheme to address the post-pandemic demand for new mRNA products.
BioCina’s partners are the University of Adelaide and Cytiva. Researchers at the university will address the design and manufacture of lipid nanoparticles. The company will also develop mRNA-based therapies to treat cystic fibrosis, heart disease, rare genetic conditions, and some cancers.
BioCina is a full-service contract development and manufacturing organisation (CDMO). It specialises in process development and GMP manufacture of recombinant biological therapeutic products.
The government decision to limit the latest grants round for research collaboration to only one sector has “shafted” hundreds of companies that have been preparing applications for months, with some “blindsided” firms potentially now looking offshore, according to the chief executive of the CRC Association.
Industry minister Karen Andrews and Environment Minister Sussan Ley officially opened Round 10 of the Cooperative Research Centres Projects (CRC-Ps) grants program. But to the surprise of companies around the country, the round is only open to smart recycling projects, and the money to be provided has been cut by more than half from the previous round.
