Funding aligns with critical minerals priorities

The Federal Government’s critical minerals money is going where its mouth is. The rising star minerals genre is being backed with research and commericalisation capabilities to bring minerals to market. North Queensland is one of the more prospective critical minerals regions and Townsville’s James Cook University will receive a share of more than $242 to turn world-leading research into breakthrough ideas, products and businesses. Related: Townsville to be critical minerals central The Resources Technology and Critical Minerals Trailblazer program will match $50 million of government funding to more than equivalent support from the university and industry partners for a total value of the initiative of over $200 million. JCU will partner with Curtin University (project lead) and The University of Queensland, as well as 33 company and commercial partners across Australia involved in the technology metals, critical minerals and metals value chains. The announcement was made by the Prime Minister announcement this morning in Perth. JCU was excited to partner in the Resources Technology and Critical Minerals Trailblazer said JCU Vice Chancellor Professor Simon Biggs. “This Trailblazer will supercharge the development of our regions’ technology metals and critical minerals industry and boost the economic growth of northern Australia,” Professor Biggs said. “It will further support, encourage and accelerate the opportunity for JCU to focus on research that delivers industry-aligned commercial outcomes. “The projects and activities planned under the Resources Technology and Critical Minerals Trailblazer have significant potential to deliver economic growth for regional and remote communities in Northern Australia. “Supporting the regional resources and critical minerals industry is a priority for JCU and the opportunity presented by this initiative aligns with JCU’s strategic direction to increase industry-aligned research that leads to commercial outcomes. “Importantly, for the economic growth of our region, the Trailblazer activities will directly engage regional Small-to-Medium-Enterprise (SME) businesses across the resources and critical mineral sector, as they make up a large proportion of the employment in regional Northern Australia.” The Trailblazer Universities Program provides crucial funding to JCU to boost prioritised research and development and drive commercial outcomes for and with industry partners said JCU Trailblazer Lead Daniel Christie. “Trailblazer will change the way commercialisation and the University’s interaction with industry will work. “There is a huge global demand for ‘technology minerals’ - the minerals that are essential for smart phones, electric vehicles, renewable energy and energy transitions. The Trailblazer program will allow JCU to work closely with the resources sector to exploit this global surge in demand.”

Funding aligns with critical minerals priorities

Industry Queensland

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