Global Business Innovation Programme in Australia - Critical Mineral uses for the Battery Supply Chain

A GBIP has three stages:

Prepare for the market

Preparing for the market includes the cohort being briefed by sector and market experts on, for example, cultural aspects of conducting business in that country. Delegates receive help to find business partners and arrange meetings and are advised on best practice including the management and protection of their intellectual property.

Visiting the market

Visiting the market provides opportunities to attend pre-arranged meetings and activities in order to better understand and maximise the opportunities that the visit presents.

Exploiting the opportunity

Exploiting the opportunity is arguably the most important aspect of the programme. To maximise the opportunity, participating companies are given bespoke one-to-one support from an Innovate UK EDGE innovation and growth specialist to help develop and implement an action plan.

The Global Business Innovation Programme operates on a competitive basis and businesses selected are required to participate in all three stages (some or all of which may be online).

To apply, you must:

• Be a UK based innovation-led company with ambitions to grow and internationalise
• Be a company with fewer than 500 employees
• Be able to attend and complete all activities

Australia is well-positioned to be a leading supplier of critical minerals and crucial rare earth elements to help meet the growing global demand for minerals used in a variety of modern  technologies. Australia’s critical minerals inventory is impressive, and it demonstrates the significant role that Australia plays in the global supply of these critical materials.

The relationship between the UK and Australia is both significant and comprehensive, with closely aligned strategic perspectives, and substantial trade and investment ties through the recently signed Free Trade Agreement, AUKUS, Clean Tech Partnership, etc. Collaborations between the two countries have covered a broad range of interventions and topics including Net Zero.

The Global Business Innovation Programme will further enhance innovation opportunities in critical minerals for electrification to achieve our shared goal of Net Zero emissions by 2050 and decarbonise the transportation sector.

Future innovations and collaborations will not only benefit societies, but also foster economic growth by enhancing respective skill sets, capabilities, and policies. The UK and Australia both have comprehensive strategies for critical minerals, which are essential for the transition to clean energy. Both strategies have a common goal of enhancing domestic capabilities in the mining and processing of critical minerals, emphasising the importance of ESG performance and ensuring supply chain resilience.

We are inviting applications from innovative companies that possess complementary expertise across the value chain for mid-stream processing of Australian raw materials, which are critical for electric vehicles (EVs) and renewable energy.

We are interested in companies that are involved in early-stage research for developing new battery and magnet technologies for clean transport and energy.

Additionally, we are looking for technologies that can apply ‘big data’ digital mapping, artificial intelligence (AI), and environmental, social, and governance (ESG) principles to achieve transparency throughout the EV battery supply chain between the UK and AUS.

Key Technologies:

• Accelerate development and proof of concept for converting pre-curser into active cathode material

• Battery systems, cathode manufacturing, cell materials and cell components

• Battery manufacturing processes and supply chain

• Simulation, digitalisation of design and process, big data, and AI

• LCA and sustainability models for life cycle analysis of critical minerals and systems

• Provenance (e.g., material passports, digitisation, traceability, etc.) of critical minerals for electrification

Innovate UK will fund and organise flights, accommodation, in-market travel, and conference fees for successful applicants. Innovate UK will also pay for any reasonable adjustments throughout the initiative.

One representative from each company will be funded. On acceptance to the initiative a commitment fee of £500 will be obtained from each delegate, which will be refunded on completion of the full activities and agreed action plan.

Non-completion after formal acceptance may result in forfeiting some or all the commitment fee.

Register for the applicant briefing event on the 11th of March 2024 here.

Closing date for application: 10th April 2024

Pre visit workshop: 30th April – 1st May 2024

Market visit: 10th June – 20th June 2024

Post visit workshop: 28 June 2024