Delivered in partnership with Deakin University’s Recycling and Clean Energy Commercialisation Hub (REACH), which is supported by the Australian government’s Trailblazer Universities Program, the eight-week program will be spearheaded by experienced researchers and will help participants examine technical challenges, explore research and development (R&D) opportunities, and develop actionable business and funding plans for their R&D ideas. 

CSIRO’s Ending Plastic Waste Research Lead Dr Deborah Lau stated that it is critical to bring science and industry together so we can create circular pathways for plastics and other recyclable waste.   

“Over 9.5 billion tonnes of plastic waste have been produced globally since 1950, with only nine per cent recycled each year. This is commercially and environmentally unsustainable,” Lau said. “Working with SMEs is essential to unlocking R&D opportunities that accelerate breakthroughs in science and technology. Through this program, we aim to spark innovation that will shape a sustainable circular ecosystem for plastics and waste through recycling, redesign and reuse.”  

Innovate to Grow: Recycling and Circular Economy program is open to SMEs working in the following sub-sectors:  

• Organic and inorganic recycling  
• Sustainable manufacturing  
• Clean energy production and storage  
• Supply chain waste reduction  
• Waste to energy (bioenergy)  
• Fibre and textiles waste  
• Sustainable construction materials  
• Other  

Amy Hunter, Deakin REACH Executive Director, said that SMEs and the start-up sector have a tremendous opportunity to play a key role in developing greener supply chains in Australia.  

“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,” Hunter said.  

CSIRO’s Innovate to Grow was first launched in 2020 and has equipped over 600 SMEs with the knowledge and tools required to progress their R&D opportunities.  

Applications for this year’s ‘Innovate to Grow: Recycling and Circular Economy’ close on 16 February 2025.  

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Funded by the Queensland Government, the RUIC program seeks to strengthen collaboration between SMEs and regional universities. These include James Cook University, Central Queensland University, University of Southern Queensland, and University of the Sunshine Coast.

Offerings

Eligible SMEs can access free research and development (R&D) training, facilitation services, up to $50,000 in dollar-matched funding for projects, and regional networking events.  

“With a dispersed population and diverse climates, Queensland is a fantastic base for innovation,” said Dr George Feast, Deputy Director of CSIRO’s SME Connect team. “The RUIC program is designed to boost potential by providing SMEs with the skills and resources to turn their ideas into impactful solutions at all stages of their innovation journey.”  

Queensland Chief Scientist Professor Kerrie Wilson said that the program would help SMEs commercialise research by collaborating with universities, leveraging diverse skill sets and fostering innovative thinking. 

Dr Anna Daniel, RUIC Program Facilitator, urged SMEs to take advantage of the program offerings, saying, “This is an excellent opportunity for businesses in the early stages of the R&D process to refine their research question with guidance from our program facilitators. For those more advanced with their ideas, there is also the opportunity to access up to $50,000 in dollar-matched funding to support collaborative projects with one of our world-class regional university partners.” 

Free R&D training programs

RUIC will kick off with a free eight-week R&D training program for SMEs working on manufacturing solutions in Queensland, particularly in the Manufactured materials and processes, Energy and batteries, Digital manufacturing and mechatronics, Food and beverage manufacturing, Industrial manufacturing, Biomedical manufacturing, and Robotics subsectors.

Applications are open for SMEs interested in taking part in this program and other initiatives under the RUIC.

For those outside of Queensland, the CSIRO also operates a yearly Innovate to Grow program to help SMEs embarking on early-stage R&D.

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CSIRO’s Innovate to Grow: Digital Technologies and Artificial Intelligence program connects businesses working on solutions in digital technologies and AI with knowledge, resources, and mentors to learn how to advance their projects or ideas, a timely program that SMEs can take advantage of, according to Dr Liming Zhu, CSIRO’s Data61 Research Director for Software and Computational Systems.

“Digital technologies and AI continue to reshape industries and drive economic growth,” Dr Zhu said. “The rise of generative AI and large language models like ChatGPT are rapidly transforming the digital and cyber innovation landscape. Whether they’re creating knowledge-intensive products or seeking to add innovative features to interact with customers, companies can tap into new growth opportunities thanks to the increasing power of generative AI.”  

Since its launch in 2020, Innovate to Grow has helped more than 600 early-stage R&D companies access the knowledge and tools required to progress their ideas.  

Michelle Armistead, CSIRO’s Innovate to Grow Program Coordinator, encouraged Australian SMEs to apply, as successful applicants are given access to expert facilitators and experienced researchers.  

“Australian SMEs are crucial to the growth and resilience of our economy, particularly in emerging industries like digital tech and artificial intelligence,” Armistead said. “Past participants have found immense value in working through the self-paced deliverables and connecting with our expert advisors, helping them to make informed decisions about advancing their R&D plans.”  

Innovate to Grow: Digital Technologies and Artificial Intelligence is open to SMEs working in AI subsectors such as computer vision, machine learning, ChatGPT/large language models, natural language processing, digital manufacturing, quantum computing, cybersecurity, and robotics and autonomous systems, among others.

Applications are open until 21 July 2024.  

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The CSIRO has partnered with Trailblazer for Recycling and Clean Energy (TRaCE), an initiative of UNSW and the University of Newcastle and supported by the Commonwealth Government to facilitate clean energy transition, to deliver this year’s edition of Innovate to Grow, called the Innovate to Grow: Clean Energy program. 

The free online program will provide Australian SMEs with a supportive environment with expert facilitators, experienced researchers, and self-paced deliverables to guide successful applicants through their technical or business challenges in implementing their clean energy solutions.

Professor Emmanuel Mastio, Executive Director of TRaCE said SMEs, scale-ups and start-ups are key to building sovereign supply chains on Australia’s path to a clean energy economy. 

“We need to bring our universities into the fold and see a shift in our approach where SMEs and industry are provided greater support to commercialise their innovations and de-risk investment at speed,” Mastio said. “At TRaCE, we are extremely focused on emissions reductions and our path to Net Zero. We jumped at the opportunity to extend our ecosystem of support through CSIRO’s Innovate to Grow program’s Clean Energy series.” 

CSIRO’s Director of Energy, Dr Dietmar Toubier said Australia is well positioned to establish itself as a global leader in clean energy. 

“We have all the ingredients here in Australia for the critical energy minerals that are required to power the clean energy transition,” Toubier said. “There’s an International Energy Agency (IEA) analysis that shows Australia can have the lowest cost clean energy of all OECD countries – we want to help achieve that.” 

Since its launch in 2020, Innovate to Grow has helped over 600 SMEs in providing them the knowledge and tools to explore research and development (R&D) opportunities and develop actionable R&D business and funding plans.

This year’s Innovate to Grow: Clean Energy is open to SMEs working in the following sub-sectors: Energy storage, Electrification, Energy modelling and integrated systems, Carbon management, Renewable energy, Renewable heat, Sustainable fuels, and other subsectors as determined by the program.

Applications will open until 23 June 2024.   

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Launched in 2020, Innovate to Grow is a self-paced, 10-week, online program designed to help SMEs embarking on early-stage R&D or those venturing into new solutions within advanced manufacturing. in transforming their ideas into R&D opportunities. To date, it has helped over 500 SMEs with the knowledge and tools required to progress their research. 

The launch comes on the back of the CSIRO announcing a $20 million investment to provide SMEs with greater access to vital research and development (R&D) opportunities to accelerate their growth.  The funding will support an additional 600 SMEs through its Innovate to Grow program, kicking off with its Advanced Manufacturing cohort. 

CSIRO’s Director of Manufacturing, Marcus Zipper, explained how CSIRO’s unique position in the research ecosystem drives innovation to advance Australian manufacturing.  

“Advanced manufacturing is a vitally important sector, employing over 800,000 people across Australia,” Zipper said.  “It’s an exciting area of research and development for CSIRO, and we work collaboratively to connect SMEs with new technologies to improve efficiency, productivity, health, safety and environmental outcomes while driving prosperity across the manufacturing sector.

“We translate research into products and processes that businesses want to adopt because what we’ve created is economically viable, more efficient and effective, and sustainable,” Zipper added.

Successful program participants will gain access to expert facilitators and experienced researchers who will guide participants on how to formulate a research question, assess its impact, and seek out strategic partnerships. Additionally, they will acquire skills in developing a compelling R&D business case and funding proposal.

Connop Metal Founder, Murray Connop, a 2022 Innovate to Grow: Advanced Manufacturing program participant, has made headlines for developing a world-first method of analysing the chemical compositions of PVC to make it recyclable – right here in Australia. Connop shared that CSIRO’s program provided invaluable connections to industry experts.

“Thanks to the Innovate to Grow program, I gained the vital contacts and support needed to determine the feasibility of my project,” Connop said. “I wholeheartedly recommend this program to fellow start-ups and small businesses in advanced manufacturing. The invaluable connection to industry experts provided by this program has played a significant role in the success of my project.”

The Innovate to Grow: Advanced Manufacturing program is open to SMEs working in robotics, additive manufacturing, advanced materials and processes, mechatronics design and engineering, energy storage and battery technology, sensing and detecting technologies, natural products manufacturing and biomedical manufacturing.

Applications for this year’s program are open until 12 May 2024.

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With the funding, the CSIRO’s SME Connect team will support up to 750 SMEs through a range of programs and initiatives that provide facilitation, training, dollar-matched funding and support to start-ups and SMEs seeking to engage in company-led research projects.

One of the programs being supported is SME Connects’ flagship program, CSIRO Kick-Start, which has facilitated over 280 company-led R&D projects since 2017 across a broad range of industry sectors including technology, manufacturing, agriculture, mining, energy and health and biosecurity. Program alumni companies collectively have held a market value exceeding $2 billion.

Dr Doug Hilton, CSIRO’s Chief Executive, emphasised the significance of this investment and the transformative impact it would have for Australia’s critical SME sector.

“SMEs are crucial drivers of Australia’s future and so often the engine room of new, innovative thinking and solutions to many of the challenges our society faces,” Hilton said. “CSIRO’s fundamental role as the national science agency is to create benefits for Australia and that includes helping to drive SME’s productivity, sustainability, and growth through greater access to R&D opportunities and conducting research to support a more resilient and diverse economy.

“CSIRO is committed to its role within the innovation ecosystem of supporting SMEs in embracing research and providing access to the resources, knowledge, and support they need to flourish,” he added.

Recent research has found that SMEs constitute 99.8 per cent of businesses, contributing to more than half of Australia’s gross domestic product (GDP) and employing 68 per cent of the private sector workforce.

Simon Hanson, Director CSIRO’s SME Connect said the investment helps boost Australian innovation by providing practical pathways for SMEs to leverage the expertise and facilities of the national science agency.

“Our research has shown that strong collaboration between industry and the research sector is crucial for the longevity and success of Australian SMEs,” Hanson said. “This funding injection enables us to encourage and support initiatives aimed at bridging this gap, fostering meaningful collaborations between businesses and academia, we aim to facilitate innovation and growth within the SME ecosystem.

“We are dedicated to proactively supporting SMEs nationwide by leveraging CSIRO’s extensive research capabilities and expertise, empowering them to commercialise and integrate cutting-edge innovations into their operations,” he added.

Goterra, an award-winning start-up based in Canberra, is a shining example of the success stories emerging from CSIRO’s SME Connect programs.

Olympia Yarger, founder of a CSIRO Kick-Start alumni company, Goterra shared how CSIRO helped her connect with farming experts who further developed their innovative waste management system that utilises insects to process food waste, resulting in a 97 per cent reduction of greenhouse gases.

“CSIRO’s Kick-Start program connected us with leading scientists who not only provided world class research capabilities to some of our most complex problems but were also pivotal in supporting our exploration of business opportunities, alternative technological advancements and industry connections,” said Yarger.

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The 10-week Innovate to Grow program is designed to help SMEs embarking on early-stage R&D or those venturing into new ideas within the critical minerals sector acquire valuable business insights and strategic plans to leverage R&D to meet their business needs.

Lucy O’Connor, Manager of the Australian Critical Minerals Research and Development Hub, which is sponsoring this initiative, said SMEs play an integral role in driving innovation and enriching the diversity and resilience of critical minerals supply chains. 

“Scaling up and commercialising critical minerals projects requires strategic collaboration to address technical challenges and drive sustainable growth and innovation in this sector,” O’Connor said.  “This program is designed to help SMEs navigate the complex landscape of R&D within the critical minerals sector and build new collaborative projects with the support of technical experts.” 

Successful participants will be given access to expert facilitators and experienced researchers, who will help them examine their technical or business challenges, explore R&D opportunities, and develop actionable R&D business and funding plans.

“Participants will work through the self-paced materials and engage with researchers and industry experts, to advance their project idea and discuss collaboration opportunities with R&D leaders at CSIRO, other science agencies and universities,” O’Connor said. “Their professional networks will also receive a boost as they will connect with peers in their cohort, sector-specific mentors, and with CSIRO, ANSTO and Geoscience Australia, which combined have the largest mineral resources R&D capability in the world.”

API Management, which manages the Australian Premium Iron Joint Venture, went through the Innovate to Grow program in 2021, is among the program’s supporters as it provided them the means to expand their knowledge of engaging with research organisations, prepare them for partnerships, and understand available funding options.

“The industry has big challenges, with lots of elements that need to come together, and CSIRO is playing a key part in our research and development goals,” Principal Scientist at API Management, Dr Alan Ooi, said. “We would wholeheartedly recommend the Innovate to Grow program to other companies in the industry, especially to help them gain direction for their business opportunities.”

The Innovate to Grow program is a collaboration between CSIRO, Geoscience Australia and ANSTO, with applications set to close on 14 April 2024.

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The three-month competitive program will provide start-ups and entrepreneurs with access to resources, tools, and the expert support needed to rapidly refine AI-powered ideas into demonstration-ready prototypes. Stone & Chalk will be offering essential start-up support services, with Google Cloud bringing AI technical support, and NAIC providing AI expertise, an engaged community and resources.

A selection of participants will then be chosen to progress to the second stage where they will benefit from enhanced support and resources in preparation for a Demo Day, where prototypes will be presented to an audience of industry stakeholders.

The winner will be awarded $300,000 worth of research and development support from selected Australian research institutes, while two runners-up will receive $100,000. The prize is provided by the NAIC and includes facilitation services by CSIRO’s SME connect.

Winners will also be eligible for a range of support services from Stone & Chalk to help them to secure the essential capital, customers, expertise and talent for the most successful launch of their business.

National AI Centre Director Stela Solar said Australia’s AI Sprint is central to the NAIC’s mission to create a thriving local AI industry and accelerate the nation’s sovereign AI capabilities.

“Australia’s AI Sprint offers our innovators the technological expertise and commercial savvy to create AI solutions with real impact for Australia. The initiative provides start-ups and entrepreneurs with the end-to-end support needed to refine their innovations, gain visibility, and bring their AI solutions to market. This is the springboard opportunity to transform AI concepts into real-world impact,” Solar said.     

CEO of Stone & Chalk Group, Chris Kirk, said by partnering with NAIC and Google Cloud, Australia’s AI Sprint has the unique ability to accelerate the long-term growth of AI in Australia. 

“By uniting our organisations’ unique strengths, we have an unprecedented opportunity to cultivate world-class AI talent, drive innovation, and develop solutions that will benefit Australians in the digital age,” Kirk said. “Australia’s AI Sprint is a game-changer that will significantly strengthen our nation’s AI ecosystem for the future.”   

Michael Langford, Head of VC & Startup Ecosystem JAPAC, Google Cloud, said, “AI’s potential to help solve real-world problems and build a stronger digital future for all Australians is significant. Initiatives like Australia’s AI Sprint play a crucial role in unlocking this potential, and we are pleased to support innovators across the country with our deep expertise, educational resources and mentorship.” 

Overall the program will provide end-to-end support that will enable participants to refine their innovations, gain visibility, and bring their AI solutions to market while nurturing greater AI innovation and position Australia at the forefront of responsible AI advancement.

Applicants will be accepted based on their proposals aligned to one of the program’s opportunity statements, with the first phase of the AI Sprint scheduled to commence in February 2024.

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The free 10-week online program is specifically designed to assist Australian SMEs operating in critical sectors advance their innovative technologies, solutions and ideas through research and development (R&D).  

Professor Susie Nilsson, Biomedical Manufacturing Research Director at CSIRO, underscored the significance of fostering meaningful collaboration between research organisations and SMEs. 

“Developing a sustainable product in the digital health and medical technology sectors is a challenging and often underestimated process,” Professor Nilsson said. “The daunting task of navigating stringent testing and product development processes can be particularly overwhelming for SMEs.  

“Innovate to Grow presents a unique opportunity for businesses to gain valuable insights from industry experts about how research and development collaboration can help take their technology to the next level,” she added. “In particular, the way in which businesses can advance from a research idea to a tangible R&D opportunity.”  

Program participants will collaborate with a mentor from CSIRO or a university to address technical and business challenges, while exploring R&D opportunities, gaining insight into partnering with research organisations and crafting compelling R&D funding applications. 

Liz Crompton, SME Connect Program Advisor, highlighted the impact of Innovate to Grow since the program’s inception. 

“To date, Innovate to Grow has equipped over 500 businesses with the knowledge and tools to advance their ideas, with many program alumni initiating R&D projects with research organisations like CSIRO within 12 months of completing the program,” Crompton said.  

The program commences 14 March 2024 and is available for a limited number of SMEs in the therapeutics and care; health system analytics; and biomedical informatics and data modelling subsectors in digtal health, as well as in the diagnostics, biosensors, and biomedical devices; drug discovery; and vaccines and biologic therapeutics subsectors in medical technology. Applications will close on Sunday 18 February 2024. 

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Analysis of more than 12 million online job ads captured by Adzuna Australia between 2015 and 2022 found that the pandemic accelerated demand for employees who can work well with others, especially when working from home.  

Lead author and CSIRO scientist David Evans said the results were unexpected given the unemployment rate hit a historic low at 3.5 per cent between 2021 and 2022.

“Periods of low unemployment are usually associated with a dampening of employer’s skills expectations,” Evans said. “Despite this job seekers’ market following the pandemic, we were surprised to observe a further acceleration of interpersonal skills demand across many occupations.”

“You’d also be forgiven for thinking the rise of remote working arrangements might suit introverts or more independent workers,” Evans added. “But the data shows working from home is not working alone. We observed job postings offering remote work were 1.2 times more likely to mention interpersonal skills than face-to-face roles.”  

Interpersonal skills were defined using the European Skills, Competences, Qualifications and Occupations (ESCO) skills hierarchy, which groups over 13,000 detailed skills into four broad classes: Interpersonal, Digital, Manual and Analytical.  

The accelerated demand for candidates with people skills was seen to be primarily driven by an increase in job postings seeking skills in communication and collaboration. Evans noted that the findings can help job seekers tailor their applications and interviews, as well as inform the education and training sector.  

“This finding can help individuals’ prioritise what skills to invest in developing. We also know that when employees’ skills are aligned with employers’ expectations, you have happier employees, lower turnover, and higher productivity,” Evans said. “Our results also support the ongoing relevance of calls for Australia’s education and training providers to focus on developing the interpersonal skills of students. The data suggests these ‘soft skills’ are increasingly front of employers’ minds and critical not to overlook.”

The study also reported an increased demand for digital skills post-pandemic, such as accessing and analysing digital data. On the other hand, demand for manual skills decreased post-pandemic and demand for analytical skills increased steadily in line with pre-pandemic predictions.   

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