$127M funding for research centres tackling plastic waste, emissions

The Federal Government has unveiled a $127 million investment in research centres to eliminate plastic waste and cut emissions in the agriculture sector.

The funding is from Round 24 of the Cooperative Research Centres (CRC) Program, an initiative established in 1990 to fund industry-led collaborations between industry, researchers and end users.

The latest funding, announced by Ed Husic, Minister for Industry and Science, will support two new large-scale Cooperative Research Centres: The Solving Plastic Waste CRC and the CRC for Zero Net Emissions from Agriculture.

“The message from the latest Climate Statement is clear, we’re close but we need to pull out all the stops to get over the line on our 2030 climate commitments,” Husic said.

“We need to mobilise Australian industry to play its role in the transition to net zero now. But we also need to think about the next big steps, which is why it is important to get Australian science and industry working together on this.

“There are very few challenges more crucial than achieving net zero emissions and tackling plastic pollution.”

The Solving Plastic Waste CRC received $40 million to transform the way plastics are designed, manufactured, used and recycled, and to develop a solution to remove microplastic pollution in soil.

The CRC for Zero Net Emissions from Agriculture received $87 million to further develop and scale up technologies to reduce methane emissions from grazing cattle and sheep, and to improve crop quality and production.

The two CRCs unlock a total investment of $350 million in innovation over 10 years and will involve more than 118 project partners working across Australia, including 50 small to medium enterprises, as well as 21 university partners from 17 universities, and 14 government agencies including Australia’s national science agency, CSIRO.

Chief Executive Officer of Cooperative Research Australia, Jane O’Dwyer, said that industry-led co-operative research enabled through the Cooperative Research Centres Program is an Australian success story, translating research into action and unlocking private sector investment in research and development.

“CRCs make a difference, provide value for money and play an outsize role in growing our economy. Expanding the program is in Australia’s national interest as it would make a significant – and well understood – difference to the level of R&D investment in Australia across all sectors,” O’Dwyer said.

“Our newest CRCs give Australia a boost in tackling some of the most crucial transitions to a low carbon and healthy future. They represent the absolute best of research and industry working together.”

Husic has also announced that Round 25 of the CRC Program is now open and will close on 5 March 2024.

For more information, visit: www.minister.industry.gov.au