Swinburne University of Technology has joined a new Cooperative Research Centre aimed at strengthening Australia’s critical minerals processing capabilities, following a $53 million Federal Government investment.
The Critical Metals for Critical Industries CRC (CMCI CRC) brings together 62 partners across industry, government and research institutions to develop and commercialise technologies for refining high-value minerals.
“At Swinburne, we are dedicated to addressing real-world challenges by working closely with industry and government partners,” deputy vice-chancellor research professor Karen Hapgood said.
“Our involvement in the CMCI CRC will advance research and technology in critical minerals processing, strengthen Australia’s global position and help future-proof key industries.”
The initiative is part of broader efforts to expand Australia’s downstream processing capacity for minerals such as lithium, vanadium and rare earth elements, which are essential for clean energy, defence and advanced manufacturing applications.
Swinburne’s role will focus on generating technical knowledge and supporting the scale-up of processing pathways, particularly in areas such as high-temperature processing, electrolysis and recycling.
The CRC will also examine alternative processing routes, including hydrogen-based and low-carbon technologies, as part of efforts to reduce emissions in minerals refining.
Lead researcher Professor Akbar Rhamdhani said Australia has an opportunity to capture more value from its resource base through onshore processing.
“Australia has strong potential to become a global powerhouse in critical minerals, particularly lithium and rare earth elements,” he said.
“There is significant opportunity to further process these lithium minerals onshore, creating higher-value products and expanding Australia’s value-added exports.”
The CMCI CRC will also contribute to supply chain development, energy storage integration and manufacturing design, reflecting a broader systems approach to minerals processing.
Federal funding for the CRC is expected to leverage additional industry contributions, with partners collectively committing further investment to support research and commercialisation activities.
“Swinburne’s research direction focuses on fundamentally on rethinking how metals are produced and recycled, which includes replacing traditional carbon-based reactions with alternative pathways,” Rhamdhani said.
“These efforts will generate the fundamental knowledge and technical know-how needed to develop and scale up key processes for critical minerals processing. This work will also help support and de-risk various potential processing pathways, while shaping the future of critical minerals research and industry in Australia.”
Hapgood said Swinburne will continue its path to decarbonisation.
“The depth and breadth of Swinburne’s involvement in the CMCI CRC allows us to contribute significantly to this national initiative, ensuring that Australia remains at the forefront of the global shift towards a sustainable, value-added critical minerals sector,” she said.
