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September 2025 newsletter

Welcome from Hub Manager, Lucy O'Connor

Hi everyone,

As we roll into the second half of the year, it's an exciting time for the Australian Critical Minerals R&D Hub. Projects across the Hub continue to build momentum, and our collaborative efforts are delivering strong outcomes.

We've seen some significant milestones recently, including the first successful recipients of Hub international scholarships, a science mission to Korea and an international study tour in Western Australia. These activities are delivering on the Hub's international strategy, helping us build valuable global connections, increasing knowledge of Australia's critical minerals capabilities and deepening our understanding of the international landscape for critical minerals.

We continue to deliver on the Hub's mission to coordinate and prioritise R&D and build a forward-looking vision for the sector. On 1 September we co-hosted a Policy Forum with AusIMM in Perth, which built on stakeholder feedback received at the Critical Minerals R&D Symposium we convened in Melbourne earlier in the year.

Our research projects are yielding some great results and our scientists presented on the progress and findings at the recent AusIMM Conference in Perth. We're excited to launch a series of science webinars in the coming months to share insights and updates with the broader community, featuring our research leaders but also inviting universities and industry from Australia and around the world to the table to discuss the impact in their respective sectors.

Looking ahead, the Hub will be actively participating in several upcoming critical minerals events, both domestically and overseas. These events are an excellent opportunity to share our work, engage with stakeholders and continue building momentum.

Thank you for being a part of the journey, your engagement and collaboration are central to the success of the Hub.

Lucy O'Connor
Hub Manager

Coordinating the Australian R&D ecosystem

Attendees at R&D Hub Policy Forum in Perth

Building a shared vision: Australia's R&D priorities

We are continuing our stakeholder outreach to build a shared vision of Australia's R&D priorities.

On 1 September, we co-hosted a Policy Forum in Perth with AusIMM, which brought together more than 30 senior representatives from government, research, and industry.

The Forum built on the rich insights gathered at the Critical Minerals R&D Symposium in Melbourne in February. This work delivers on the Hub’s mission of aligning research efforts to reduce duplication and maximise impact.

If you’re interested in contributing feedback on R&D Priorities, please get in touch with the Hub at criticalmineralshub@csiro.au

Explore. Connect. Collaborate: Launching the national Critical Minerals online R&D Directory

We’re gearing up to launch a new tool for Australia’s critical minerals community – the Australian Critical Minerals R&D Directory.

This is being designed as an online database to discover, share and connect with research projects and activities happening across the country, providing greater connection, visibility and collaboration. The Directory is expected to launch in October.

R&D Hub International Engagement

Strengthening international ties: Australia-Korea delegation

International engagement is a core pillar of the work we do at the Hub. In July 2025, CSIRO’s Dr. Mark Pearce and Hub International Engagement Manager Carla Gonzalez-Zlatar led an outbound science delegation to the Republic of Korea. This mission included site visits to key institutions like POSCO and KIGAM, giving Australian researchers valuable opportunities to connect directly with Korea’s research, university and industry sectors. The visit also helped raise awareness of Australia’s critical mineral capabilities in Korea, opened doors for potential joint research, and strengthened country-to-country ties. In fact, the connections made on this trip have already sparked further collaboration, with some Australian researchers going on to apply for the Hub International Scholarship to undertake work in Korea.

International experts uncover Australia's capabilities in WA

The Hub was proud to host an inbound international Study Tour from 25 August to 5 September, welcoming around 30 senior researchers from nine countries. The Tour took participants across Western Australia to engage with key institutions and industry leaders and was a major opportunity to showcase Australia’s research and innovation capabilities on the world stage and to deepen international connections that can underpin long-term collaboration. The Study Tour also hosted 7 participants who travelled as a part of the CSIRO-led India Australian Critical Minerals Research Partnership – Scholar Network. At the conclusion of the week, the Hub interviewed a few of the Scholars to unpack what their week in WA taught them and what new connections had been forged. Click the link to read a summary from some of our Scholar participants.

Opportunities and grants

CSIRO opens R&D training opportunity for SMEs in the critical minerals sector

Expressions of interest are open for CSIRO’s free 8-week R&D training program for small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) working on solutions in the critical minerals sector. Through the program, participants can investigate opportunities, evaluate their R&D plans, and access expert support to advance their innovation journey.

Supercharge your graphite innovations

The Graphite Research and Development (R&D) Grant provides Australian SMEs with access to CSIRO experts and facilities for collaborative projects that focus on innovative technologies and processes essential to graphite production, particularly for battery applications. Successful companies will receive between $10,000 and $50,000 and can combine this grant with the CSIRO Kick-Start Program to unlock up to an additional $50,000. Expressions of Interest close 30 March 2026.

Hub-funded research takes the stage in Perth

CSIRO Gabriel Berni AusIMM talk

Several Hub-funded research projects were the subject of presentations across multiple streams at the AusIMM Critical Minerals Conference, held in Perth from 2-4 September.

Find more information about presentation topics.

Those who presented and their topics included:

  • Keynote Presentation | Australian Government Geoscience - Supporting Critical Minerals Exploration and Development, Melissa Harris (Geoscience Australia)
  • Keynote presentation | Now or Never: Designing Critical Minerals R&D for Maximum Impact, Dr Chris Vernon (CSIRO and R&D Hub Operations Group Chair)
  • Multiscale Mineralogy of clay-hosted REE deposits in Western and South Australia: Practical applications for exploration, sample domaining and resource modelling, Dr Gabriel Berni (CSIRO)
  • Comparative study of kaolin – acid routes to produce high purity alumina (HPA), Dr Godfrey Mawire (CSIRO)
  • A national-scale assessment of clay-hosted rare earth element mineral system potential in Australia, Dr Jessica Walsh (Geoscience Australia)
  • Methods for the characterisation of high-purity alumina, Dr Tommaso Tacchetto (CSIRO)
  • Adding downstream value to Australian tungsten concentrates, Dr Carly Baker (ANSTO)
  • By-products – maximising Australia's hidden critical mineral potential, Callum Kucka (Geoscience Australia)
  • Germanium By-Production from Australian Zinc Refining: Challenges and Opportunities, Dr Chris Griffith (ANSTO and R&D Hub Operations Group)

Mineral of the month: Dr Michael Page, ANSTO

Jadarite: the real-life kryptonite with super potential

What does Superman and critical minerals have in common? Quite a lot, according to ANSTO researcher Dr Michael Page. We interviewed Michael for the CSIRO July Mineral of the Month on Jadarite – a rare lithium-boron mineral famously nicknamed Kryptonite for its uncanny chemical resemblance to Superman's fictional foe. From its discovery in Serbia to its potential role in the clean energy transition, this piece was both fun and insightful.

Global participation at CCMM Chicago

R&D Hub Operations Group members Michael Sexton and Chris Griffith at CCMM in Chicago
R&D Hub Operations Group members Michael Sexton and Chris Griffith at CCMM in Chicago

The Hub facilitated and funded Australia's technical contribution to the 2025 meeting of the Conference on Critical Minerals and Materials (CCMM) on 9 to 11 September, hosted by the US at the Department of Energy's Argonne Laboratories in Chicago.

The CCMM is a forum of countries with shared national and economic security interests seeking access to resilient critical minerals supply chains. The Chicago meeting considered priorities identified by the G7 at its meeting in Kananaskis, Canada in June, which includes promoting innovation.

Representatives from ANSTO, CSIRO and Geoscience Australia joined the Australian delegation and presented on Australia’s technical capabilities and innovation in critical minerals - particularly in mineral processing and mine waste – including on research underway in the Hub. The meeting generated significant opportunities for further research cooperation with international partners, which will be taken forward through the Hub's bilateral networks. Japan will host the 2026 CCMM.

The visit also provided an opportunity for Australian researchers to tour Argonne's laboratories - including the Materials Engineering Research Facility and Advanced Photon Source - and connect with US researchers working on similar innovation challenges.

Register to attend a Hub science webinar

14 October 2025, 2PM aest

Metal to Market: Advancing metallisation for Australia's critical minerals future

As global demand for critical minerals continues to surge, the ability to convert raw materials into high value products is becoming a strategic priority. This webinar brings together leading experts from CSIRO, Australian Strategic Materials (ASM) and ANSTO to explore the vital role of metallisation in building Australia’s sovereign capabilities and strengthening the downstream value chain.

Register to attend
12 november 2025, 11 am aest

How pure is pure? The future of purity testing in Australia.

Join our webinar to find out about GDMS testing and ICP-MS/OES testing from both the research and industry, including the benefits, challenges, research underway and what purity testing options are on the table for industry to access.

Register to attend

Hub Manager Lucy O'Connor shines in AusIMM critical minerals thought leadership series

Read Lucy's Q&A article

In June, R&D Hub Manager Lucy O’Connor participated on the panel of AusIMM Thought Leadership series on Critical Minerals which included a webinar and a Q&A article, raising awareness of the work of the Hub and enforcing Lucy’s position as an expert in the critical minerals sector in Australia.

Visit us at IMARC, Sydney in October

The R&D Hub will be on the ground at IMARC Sydney 21-23 October, sharing a booth space with agency partners ANSTO, CSIRO and Geoscience Australia.

This is a great opportunity to come and connect with the Hub team, learn more about our research projects and explore how we're supporting Australia's critical minerals future.

If you're attending IMARC, be sure to drop by and say hello!