Round 10 of the Federal Government’s Cooperative Research Centres Projects (CRC-P) grants program is open, with $10 million available for projects that provide innovative solutions for the recycling and reuse of plastics, paper, glass and tyres.
Industry, Science and Technology Minister Karen Andrews said the funding builds on the $20 million invested in Round 8 to find smart solutions to managing Australia’s waste crisis.
“Recycling our waste is more than an environmental imperative, it presents an opportunity for us to grow the economy and create new jobs,” she said.
“By bringing industry together with researchers, we can develop solutions to environmental problems, while creating products and processes that can be used here at home and potentially be exported to the world.”
Eligible projects must be short term, industry-identified and led collaborative research projects designed to develop a product, service or process that addresses gaps in Australia’s waste and recycling capability
CRC-Ps can run for up to three years, with grants capped at $3 million. They must have at least two Australian industry partners, including one small or medium sized business (SEM).
Projects must also have at least $200,000 in total eligible project value, benefit SEMs and increase their capacity to grow and adapt in changing markets and and include education and training activities.
According to Environment Minister Sussan Ley, the research grants will play a key role in the $1 billion transformation of the waste industry, one that will contribute to a cleaner environment and “thousands of new jobs.”
“Ideas that open up new processes and new markets for recycled products are going to be critical as we change the way we recycle materials for infrastructure, packaging and consumer products,” she said.
“Whether it is waste glass replacing virgin sand in concrete sound walls or waste plastic replacing virgin polymers in asphalt, we are already seeing new technologies emerge, and with support such as this Australia can play a lead role in reducing the pressure on the earth’s resources.”
The funding is part of the Federal Government’s commitment to establish a timetable with the states and territories to ban the export of plastics, paper, glass and tyres.
Projects that involve other problem materials, such as building waste, will also be eligible for funding in Round 10.
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