Fostering a critical minerals future.
South Australia is calling on entrepreneurs and companies from around the world to help grow its burgeoning critical minerals supply chain.
The Department for Energy and Mining in partnership with Unearthed Solutions has devised Thinking Critical South Australia – a global online crowdsourcing challenge to encourage innovators and entrepreneurs in the critical minerals value chain to make their home in our state.
As a global critical minerals hotspot, South Australia is well placed for this challenge. The state contains 65% of Australia’s copper, graphite and zircon as well as halloysite, cobalt, rare earths and magnesite. It is also home to the world’s largest zircon mine (Jacinth-Ambrosia) and Australia’s largest graphite deposit (Siviour). The rapidly expanding technology sector and research and development ecosystem in the state means it is well placed for critical minerals supply chain growth from processing to manufacturing and so much more.
South Australia’s commitment to achieving net 100% renewable electricity by 2030 will require significant critical minerals input, and makes it a global green energy leader.
There are 2 rounds to the challenge. Round 1 is now open with submissions due by 31 January 2022. Entrepreneurs or businesses are invited to submit their most innovative ideas and projects that can be set up in South Australia to support the critical minerals sector. The focus is specifically on proposals involved in processing and manufacturing. Companies throughout the value chain are encouraged to enter.
Successful entrants will be asked for more detailed proposals in Round 2, with 5 winning entries announced in June 2022.The winners will share in a $250,000 cash prize and will also receive attractive incentives from the challenge partners. Confirmed incentives to date include:
- access to CORE Innovation Hub’s Welcome Program and a location in the Lot 14 innovation precinct
- participation in the International Mining and Resources Conference and Expo 2022
- Austmine membership and profiling
- branding and business development consultancy advice from Hughes PR
- time with leading critical minerals experts from the University of Adelaide.
Find out more and register your interest
– Louise Baida, December 2021
