Follow Innovate UK on the latest Global Expert Mission in Critical Materials to Australia
From 20th March 2023, Innovate UK in partnership with the UK Science and Innovation Network (UK SIN) and Department for Business and Trade, travels to Australia to focus on potential markets for collaboration in Critical Materials in Electrification.
Critical materials such as lithium, cobalt, nickel, graphite and rare earth elements (REE) are vital to the UK manufacturing industry. Global consumption of these materials has increased due to the rapid development of low-carbon technologies (electric vehicles, renewable energy generation) along with an increasing population which has driven the demand for consumer products (smartphones and cars). Demand for electric vehicle battery minerals is projected to increase by 6 to 13 times by 2040, and with a globalised economy, manufacturing has become highly competitive which has increased competition for both resources and likelihood of supply chains being disrupted.
Innovate UK will deliver a Global Expert Mission (GEM), bringing together key stakeholders from the UK and Australia to exchange knowledge and showcase developments in critical materials. The purpose of this GEM is to build on the recent commitments by UK government to deepen collaboration with Australia through UK-Australia Critical Minerals Joint Working Group. The GEM will explore technology and innovation landscape of strategic international partners in critical materials fundamental to the electrification of transport and the manufacturing industry including extraction, supply chain, policy and circular economy. With the significant increase in the demand for critical materials, there is an urgency to explore bi- and multilateral research opportunities to ensure a stable supply chain for the UK and Australia manufacturing industry.
The team are looking forward to expanding international collaborations and will report back next month. Follow us on Twitter: @KTN_Global and #criticalmaterialsGEM.
About Global Expert Missions
The Global Expert Missions (GEM) programme is funded by Innovate UK to support the Industrial Strategy’s ambition for the UK to be the international partner of choice for science and innovation. Led by Innovate UK KTN, GEMs play an important role in building strategic partnerships, providing deep insight into the opportunities for UK innovation and shaping future bilateral collaboration programmes.
Related programme
Global Expert Missions
Global Expert Missions (GEM) creates global opportunities for UK research and innovation by forging strategic partnerships with key countries and businesses.