Australia’s national science agency, CSIRO, has launched a new research and development (R&D) grant opportunity to accelerate the growth of the domestic battery industry and open up export opportunities, especially in the United States of America.

Under the grant opportunity, successful mining and manufacturing small-to-medium enterprises (SMEs) will be offered up to $50,000 per project and gain access to CSIRO’s research facilities and expertise to undertake collaborative graphite R&D projects.

The $400,000-initiative aims to help companies improve the quality, efficiency, and sustainability of graphite for Australia’s growing battery industry.

While Australia currently has limited export markets for the specialized type of graphite used in batteries, we are ideally positioned to become a key supplier to the US and other global markets given our significant natural endowment of this critical mineral.

—CSIRO Principal Research Scientist, Dr Adam Best

Projects eligible for funding could include spheronization, purification, and electrochemical testing of natural graphite, identifying new sources for synthetic graphite production, finding better ways to recover and reuse graphite at the end of battery life, exploring techniques to enhance the quality and performance of graphite in battery applications, and other innovations that enhance production efficiency and sustainability.

Successful companies may also access CSIRO’s characterization facilities to analyze the quality and potential of specific natural graphite resources.

Companies must propose a project that aligns with the program’s objectives, including pursuing opportunities in the United States.

This graphite R&D grant opportunity is part of the Federal Government’s Batteries Research and Development Program, which supports the Australian Government’s National Battery Strategy, Critical Minerals Strategy, and the Future Made in Australia agenda.