CSIRO has opened applications for its free Innovate to Grow: Critical Minerals program, offering small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) the chance to accelerate their innovations.
The eight-week online program supports SMEs in exploring new research and development (R&D) opportunities, refining their concepts, and better positioning themselves for investment and growth.
Dr Chris Vernon, CSIRO critical minerals lead and chair of the Australian Critical Minerals R&D Hub Operations Group, said the program will help businesses connect with the expertise they need to thrive.
“We’re at a unique moment where global supply chains are being rewritten and Australia is well placed to capitalise on this opportunity,” Vernon said.
“The country has both the resource endowment and research capability to be a major player in downstream processing, but businesses need the right R&D partnerships to compete effectively.
“Innovate to Grow helps SMEs advance their critical mineral innovations toward investment-ready propositions by giving them the tools and connections to learn how to scale their solutions and capture real market value.”
Since its inception, more than 700 SMEs across Australia have taken part in Innovate to Grow.
Related stories:
- CSIRO releases software tool to discover minerals in Australia
- CSIRO’s graphite R&D grants supercharging SME battery innovation
- CSIRO successfully trials hydrogen production technology in NSW
One of those was Iondrive, whose representative Ebbe Dommisse praised the program’s impact after participating in 2024.
“CSIRO was outstanding in understanding the research field and requirements for development and commercialisation activities and immediately made connections within CSIRO and other participants to assist with progressing the technology. The specialist advice from topic experts was fantastic,” Dommisse said.
The program is open to SMEs in areas including discovery, hard rock mining, processing, sensing and sorting, characterisation, sustainable mining technologies, and battery technology. Applications close on 21 September 2025.