The latest Innovate to Grow program from CSIRO, Australia's national science agency, will help small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) operating in the recycling and circular economy advance their research goals.
Australian SMEs are invited to apply for the 8-week Innovate to Grow: Recycling and Circular Economy program, delivered in collaboration with Deakin University's Recycling and Clean Energy Commercialization Hub (REACH) and supported by Australia's Trailblazer Universities Program government is supported.
Led by experienced researchers, the program helps participants examine technical challenges, explore research and development (R&D) opportunities, and develop actionable business and financing plans for their R&D idea.
Launched in 2020, CSIRO's Innovate to Grow has equipped over 600 SMEs with the knowledge and tools they need to advance their research and development opportunities.
Dr. Deborah Lau, CSIRO Research Lead Ending Plastic Waste, said it was vital to bring science and industry together so we can create circular pathways for plastics and other recyclable waste.
“Since 1950, over 9.5 billion tons of plastic waste have been produced worldwide, of which only 9 percent has been recycled each year. “This is commercially and environmentally unsustainable,” said Dr. Lau.
“Collaborating with SMEs is crucial to unlock research and development opportunities that accelerate breakthroughs in science and technology.
“With this program we want to initiate innovations that create a sustainable circular ecosystem for plastics and waste through recycling, redesign and reuse.”
Deakin REACH chief executive Amy Hunter said there was a huge opportunity for SMEs and the start-up sector to play a key role in developing greener supply chains in Australia.
“By supporting CSIRO’s Innovate to Grow Recycling and Circular Economy program, more businesses will be connected to Deakin through our REACH ecosystem so we can help them drive innovation and solve problems that lead to greener supply chains in Australia will,” she said.
Manon Beauchamp-Tardieu from Little Green Panda, a company that converts agricultural waste into biodegradable alternatives to single-use plastics, took part in CSIRO's 2023 Innovate to Grow: Recycling programme.
“We have made great progress and have found direction on the steps we need to take and the people we need to talk to to get this project off the ground,” she said.
The “Innovate to Grow: Recycling and Circular Economy” program is open to SMEs operating in the following sub-sectors:
- Organic and inorganic recycling
- Sustainable manufacturing
- Clean energy production and storage
- Reducing waste in the supply chain
- Generating energy from waste (bioenergy)
- Fiber and textile waste
- Sustainable building materials
- Other
The application deadline for CSIRO’s “Innovate to Grow: Recycling and Circular Economy” is February 16, 2025.
Find out more and apply or discover other programs for SMEs.