Cooperative Research Australia has welcomed the establishment of Australia’s newest Cooperative Research Centre, the Critical Metals for Critical Industries (CMCI) CRC, following the announcement of $53 million in Australian Government funding for the initiative.
The funding was announced by Minister for Industry and Innovation and Minister for Science Senator Tim Ayres, together with Minister for Resources Madeleine King, as part of the Cooperative Research Centre (CRC) Program aimed at supporting research and industry collaboration.
In a media release, Cooperative Research Australia (CRA) congratulated the successful consortium behind the CMCI CRC and acknowledged the effort involved in securing support under the program.
“We extend our congratulations to CMCI CRC on their success. Developing a CRC bid is a complex, time-consuming and highly collaborative process, and an achievement not to be underestimated,” said Jane O’Dwyer, chief executive officer of Cooperative Research Australia.
According to CRA, the new CRC is intended to support research and development activities related to the refining and processing of critical metals. O’Dwyer said Australia has significant potential to expand its role in global supply chains beyond mineral extraction.
“With vast mineral resources, near-free renewable energy, and world-class technology, Australia has a once-in-a-generation opportunity to move beyond mining to lead the global shift to high-value refining and processing, creating a globally competitive industry supplying new technology metals and products,” she said.
CRA said the CMCI CRC would combine $53 million in government funding with broader contributions from partner organisations. The centre is expected to leverage a total investment of $185 million from 62 partners, including 43 industry partners, 11 research organisations and four peak bodies.
The organisation said the collaboration would focus on advancing research and innovation to support a globally competitive and sustainable critical metals refining industry while strengthening Australia’s supply chains for advanced technologies and strategic exports.
O’Dwyer also noted the competitiveness of the latest CRC funding round.
“Round 26 of the CRC Program was ultra-competitive. We believe this is the first round since the program’s establishment in 1990 that only one CRC has been funded, and hope that it is a once off,” she said.
She added that the CRC model has historically supported collaboration across sectors and addressed complex industry challenges.
“CRCs are unique in their ability to tackle complex supply-chain or system-wide challenges over the longer term. For businesses, including SMEs, they provide access to research, talent and networks across the supply chain that would otherwise be out of reach,” O’Dwyer said.
“They refine and improve partners’ products and services, help solve regulatory roadblocks, lift sector performance and create spillover benefits for all involved, as well as the wider Australian community.”
O’Dwyer also pointed to national research and development trends, noting that Australia’s total research and development expenditure rose slightly to 1.68% at the end of 2025 but remains below the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development average.
“The stimulation of business R&D – a core output of CRCs, which have been shown to return $5.61 to GDP for every dollar of Australian Government funding – is what’s needed for Australia to advance our capability and lift that GDP,” she said.
CRA said the CMCI CRC is expected to contribute to Australia’s broader innovation ecosystem and support long-term economic resilience.
“CMCI CRC will help play a vital role in securing a healthy innovation system for the country, to ensure Australians have quality of life, great career opportunities and a resilient economy into the future,” O’Dwyer said.
The organisation also noted that applications for Round 27 of the CRC Program will close on 29 April 2026 at 5:00pm AEST, while the government has announced a special Artificial Intelligence Accelerator Round, scheduled to open in 2027.
