July 2025 newsletter
International scholarships for overseas R&D
The Hub is funding scholarships for eligible researchers to undertake research or collaboration activities in selected priority countries on critical minerals.
The funding supports research aligned with the Australian Critical Minerals Strategy 2023-2030 and fosters innovation that addresses technical challenges in critical minerals supply chains.
Who is eligible?
- Australian Citizens or Permanent Residents (including applicants who are Australian Citizens who are temporarily overseas).
- Applicants must be over the age of 18 years.
- Applicants must be employed by an employer with an Australian Business Number (ABN) or Australian Company Number (ACN)
How much is available?
- The value of the scholarship may be up to AU$10,000 per month for a maximum period of six months.
- Funding for economy class airfares, reasonable accommodation, transportation and expenses.
When can travel occur?
Travel must occur between June 2025 and conclude by May 2026.
Which countries are included?
Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Korea, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, UK, USA
Read the full eligibility criteria or start an application
R&D Hub Science Conference
Hub Science Conference attendees at Geoscience Australia
60 scientists from across the agencies and representatives from the Critical Minerals Office gathered in Canberra at Geoscience Australia to present project findings and challenges, collaborate, problem solve and network.
International engagement with the Republic of Korea
On 4 June, the Hub hosted a workshop in Perth with a visiting delegation from the Republic of Korea, led by the Korea institute of Geosciences and Mineral Resources (KIGAM). The workshop explored opportunities to promote technical cooperation – one of the four pillars of the Korea-Australia MOU on Critical Minerals Cooperation of April 2022.
The Perth workshop was followed by a Hub science delegation to Korea from 30 June to 5 July. The delegation included 13 representatives from the science agencies and Australian universities. The program focussed on cooperation in mid-stream processing and included meetings and tours with Korean industry, universities and a reciprocal visit to KIGAM.
The Hub also sponsored the Australia-Korea CSIRO/KIGAM Joint Symposium in Perth on 3 June which builds on a long-standing relationship between the two science institutes. The Symposium was attended by close to 80 participants and focused on rare earth collaboration.
Read more about recent international engagement with Korea
The Hub has also recently concluded an outbound delegation to the Republic of Korea, led by CSIRO’s Dr Mark Pearce and Hub International Engagement Manager Carla Gonzalez Zlatar. Reflections and outcomes from the delegation to be shared shortly on the Hub website.
R&D Hub partner agency ANSTO have been granted a patent in Australia and several European countries for the separation, a key radioactive contaminant in critical minerals processing, actinium-227, from process liquors used in minerals extraction. “We have a lot of credibility in this area. Numerous commercial partners have already asked us to assess how this technology could be integrated into their processing,” Dr Chris Griffith said.
Updates from the field
As a part of the ‘Accelerating Development of Australia’s Rare Earth Elements (REE)’ project, a research project funded by the Hub, the field team has been conducting visits of the final of 3 field study sites where concentrations of clay-hosted REEs have been discovered. What makes this central Australian site unique? The REE-bearing clays are exposed near the surface, giving the team the chance to sample the clays directly for laboratory analysis and test if satellite-based mapping is possible.
How does Australia become a global leader in critical minerals?
Critical Minerals R&D Hub Manager Lucy O’Connor spoke at the AusIMM Thought Leadership series in June on How Australia can become a global leader in critical minerals.
The webinar will be available in an online recording on 16 July.
Upcoming events for the R&D Hub
This year’s conference theme is ‘Driving the energy transition’. Keynote speakers include Geoscience Australia’s CEO Melissa Harris PSM and CSIRO’s Dr Chris Vernon.
This year’s conference theme will be ‘Collaborating on trends in mining, investment and innovation towards a sustainable future’ . All three science agencies will be exhibiting under an Australian Government banner.
