A new research centre aimed at turning critical metals research into practical technologies will establish its national base at The University of Queensland’s Brisbane City campus.
Read: Former Bank Turns Into a University of Queensland Campus
The Critical Metals for Critical Industries Cooperative Research Centre will support industry-led projects aimed at helping Queensland and Australia capture more value from critical mineral resources before they are exported. Its work will focus on stronger refining and processing capability and more resilient supply chains.
Brisbane Hub To Connect Research And Industry
The Brisbane Hub will connect Queensland researchers and industry with partners nationally and internationally, with a focus on moving promising ideas from research into practical applications. Initial work will focus on opportunities involving vanadium, while future projects are expected to examine copper, rare earth elements, lithium and tellurium.
Critical Metals for Critical Industries Cooperative Research Centre CEO Dr Neville Plint said the Brisbane Hub would extend the centre’s national reach by connecting Queensland researchers and industry with partners across Australia and internationally.
“The Brisbane Hub extends our national reach. It connects Queensland researchers and industry, nationally and internationally, and will help drive promising ideas from the lab into operation,” Dr Plint said.
The centre will connect researchers, manufacturers, investors and industry to fast-track new technologies and help turn innovative ideas into commercial outcomes. Its work will extend beyond resource discovery to the development of refining technologies, skills and supply chains that can capture more value in Australia.
Building Queensland’s Critical Minerals Capability
The new centre comes as Queensland works to expand its critical minerals sector and strengthen local processing and refining capabilities. Queensland’s Delivering Queensland’s Critical Minerals Future 2026-30 strategy sets out a plan to grow the sector and build sovereign capability, including the state’s processing and refining capabilities.
The state’s 2026-27 Budget also included $146 million to accelerate the extraction, processing and export of Queensland’s critical minerals. The allocation includes an additional $100 million for the Queensland Investment Corporation’s Queensland Critical Minerals Fund to kick-start new projects.
The centre will support projects aimed at turning research into practical technologies and commercial outcomes. Its research focus also reflects the wider challenge of developing the refining technologies, skills and supply chains needed to retain more value from critical minerals in Australia.
Dr Plint said the centre’s success would involve more than discovering resources. “Success means more than discovering resources. It means developing the refining technologies, skills and supply chains that capture more value in Australia and make us a trusted supplier to the world,” he said.
Read: Remembering Yayoi Kusama Through Her Brisbane Artwork
The Brisbane location will serve as the centre’s national base while connecting Queensland researchers and industry with partners nationally and internationally. The centre’s initial research focus will be on vanadium, with copper, rare earth elements, lithium and tellurium identified for future projects. Its stated focus is on turning Australian research into practical technologies for industry, alongside the development of refining technologies, skills and supply chains.
Published 24-September-2026
