Australia’s national science agency, CSIRO, has announced a new $400,000 research and development (R&D) grant program to support mining and manufacturing small-to-medium enterprises (SMEs) working on graphite-based innovations for battery applications.
The initiative aims to accelerate the development of Australia’s battery industry by backing local companies involved in the graphite supply chain, a key component in battery manufacturing.
The program is designed to enhance the quality, efficiency, and sustainability of graphite used in energy storage systems, and to increase export opportunities – particularly to the United States, the agency said in a news release.
Eligible SMEs will receive up to $50,000 per project and gain access to CSIRO’s research infrastructure and technical expertise.
Projects may include work on graphite spheronisation, purification, electrochemical testing, recovery and reuse at end-of-life, or other innovations aimed at improving graphite performance and production.
CSIRO Principal Research Scientist Dr Adam Best said the initiative comes at a crucial time for Australia’s manufacturing and resource sectors, as global demand for critical minerals continues to grow and supply chains face increasing uncertainty.
“Graphite is a critical mineral and a key ingredient in batteries that power everything from mobile phones to electric vehicles and homes,” Dr Best said.
“While Australia currently has limited export markets for the specialised type of graphite used in batteries, we are ideally positioned to become a key supplier to the US and other global markets given our significant natural endowment of this critical mineral.”
He added that the program is intended to help Australian manufacturers build the capabilities needed to compete internationally by co-developing new technologies with CSIRO’s scientists.
“This grant opportunity will help Australian businesses develop the innovative technologies and processes needed to become global leaders in natural graphite production for battery applications, by partnering with CSIRO scientists and leveraging our expertise in R&D,” Dr Best said.
CSIRO also noted that successful applicants will be able to use its characterisation facilities to evaluate the quality of natural graphite resources, a critical step in meeting the performance standards required for battery-grade materials.
“By bolstering domestic research and production, we can strengthen our sovereign capability, contribute to more resilient supply chains, and create new jobs and economic growth here in Australia,” Dr Best said.
Expressions of Interest for the grant program are now open and will be accepted until 30 March 2026.
