The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) has announced its latest initiative to support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) working in the recycling and circular economy sectors.
The Innovate to Grow program, an eight-week course, aims to help SMEs advance their research and development (R&D) capabilities in partnership with Deakin University’s Recycling and Clean Energy Commercialisation Hub (REACH).
REACH is part of the Australian government’s Trailblazer Universities Program, the organisation said in a news release.
The program is designed to guide SMEs through technical challenges, identify R&D opportunities, and formulate actionable business and funding strategies.
Since its launch in 2020, Innovate to Grow has supported more than 600 SMEs in navigating the complexities of R&D and achieving their innovation goals.
Dr Deborah Lau, CSIRO’s Ending Plastic Waste Research Lead, emphasised the urgency of fostering collaboration between science and industry to address global plastic waste issues.
“Over 9.5 billion tonnes of plastic waste have been produced globally since 1950, with only 9 per cent recycled each year. This is commercially and environmentally unsustainable,” Dr Lau stated.
She highlighted the program’s role in sparking innovation to create a sustainable circular ecosystem for plastics through recycling, redesign, and reuse.
Amy Hunter, executive director of Deakin REACH, underscored the significance of involving SMEs in building greener supply chains.
“Supporting CSIRO’s Innovate to Grow Recycling and Circular Economy program connects more businesses to Deakin through our REACH ecosystem, so we can support them to drive innovation and solve problems that will develop greener supply chains in Australia,” she said.
The program has already delivered tangible results for past participants, including Little Green Panda, a company that transforms agricultural waste into biodegradable alternatives to single-use plastics.
Founder Manon Beauchamp-Tardieu credited the 2023 Innovate to Grow: Recycling program with helping her company refine its project direction and establish key connections to advance its initiatives.
Open to SMEs in diverse sub-sectors such as organic and inorganic recycling, sustainable manufacturing, clean energy production, and fibre and textiles waste, the program encourages applications from businesses seeking to innovate within these fields.
Other focus areas include supply chain waste reduction, waste-to-energy bioenergy projects, and sustainable construction materials.
Applications for the Innovate to Grow: Recycling and Circular Economy program close on 16 February 2025.
