Innovate to Grow program: 
Ending plastic waste 

Applications are open for a free 10-week program for small to medium 
enterprises (SMEs) working on plastic or recycling solutions and exploring 
how research and development (R&D) can advance their project or business.

Build your R&D idea 

CSIRO has a goal to reduce 80 per cent of plastic 
waste entering the Australian environment by 2030. 
This mission is intended to support a sustainable plastics 
circular economy to reduce detrimental impacts to the 
environment, while delivering economic benefits.

Small and medium sized businesses (SMEs) play a key role 
in advancing recycling and plastic solutions. But taking an 
R&D idea and turning this into reality can sometimes be a 
daunting prospect.

Our free self-paced 10-week program will build 
your skills to help you refine your innovation idea 
and turn this into a R&D opportunity.

Register today 

Applications close: 14 August 2023 

Program starts: 7 September 2023 

csiro.au/innovateplasticwaste




Key program outcomes 

Personalised support to refine your idea: 
We’ll step you through the process of turning your idea 
into a viable research project. 

Confidential feedback: All submissions through the 
program portal will receive prompt expert feedback. 

Mentor: You will be paired with a researcher from 
CSIRO or a university to help connect you with the 
relevant specialists. 

Build your network: You will build key contacts in your 
sector, including researchers at CSIRO and universities, 
domain experts, funding professionals and other SMEs. 

Key things covered include: 

• Identifying your innovation opportunities. 
• Refining your value proposition. 
• Understanding the R&D viability. 
• Helping you build your business case. 
• Providing guidance on how to prepare a strong 
funding application. 


Who can attend 

Participants working in plastics or recycling sectors. 
This can be in any sub-sector including: 

• Plastic processor or converter 
• Plastic waste collection/sorting 
• Plastic recycling 
• Packaging 
• Agriculture and food 
• Manufacturing 
• Other


Selection criteria (essential): 

• Business classified as small to medium 
(<200 employees).
• A business currently, or in the early stages of, 
exploring R&D opportunities for their business 
and have an idea to work on throughout the course. 
• Currently working in the plastics or recycling sector 
(or have identified a new opportunity relevant to 
these sectors). 
• An Australian registered and operating business 
with an ABN and ACN/ICN.


Other considerations: 

• Any other information provided to support 
your application. 
• Have a clear need to develop your knowledge 
and skills in R&D. 


Commitment and course outline 

Preparing for the program (~2 hours) 

Pre-workshop videos, onboarding, materials 
and questionnaires. 

Week 1 (Official start date, 7 September 2023) 
Workshop (4.5 hours) 

Guest speakers from CSIRO, sector experts and SMEs 
who will provide tips and information on topics such 
as trends and opportunities, innovation experience 
and funding. You will also meet your fellow participants 
and mentor. 

Weeks 2–10 
Self-paced innovation program (2–3 hours per week) 

Participants explore opportunities to grow their 
business through innovation and research. 

Fortnightly virtual webinars for participant networking 
and guest speakers. 

A final questionnaire is required at completion. 

“I think the program was useful in bringing experts and 
SMEs with problems together. We hope to continue the 
conversations we have started and as we continue to 
develop our technology we can engage further.”

Nicholas Foster, IQ Energy Australia

“We made lots of progress and came up with a direction 
for the steps we need to do and the people we need to 
speak to in order to get this project kickstarted.”

Manon Beauchamp-Tardieu, Little Green Panda 

CSIRO awards places to businesses based on the 
strength of the application, and a clear interest and 
capacity to pursue R&D. We also include participants 
from a variety of industry sub‑sectors and regions.

CSIRO Innovate to Grow is delivered using Practera’s online 
ed-tech platform and facilitation services.

This program is co-sponsored by CSIRO and the Ending 
Plastic Waste Mission.



For further information 

csiro.au/innovateplasticwaste

InnovatetoGrow@csiro.au