CSIRO Innovate to Grow: Mining/METS

CSIRO Innovate to Grow: Mining/METS is sponsored by CSIRO. This is a free 10-week virtual program for small to medium enterprises (SMEs) working on new ideas in the Mining/METS sector. The program connects SMEs with innovation facilitators, mentors, and research and industry experts to support their research and development.

An online program designed to help startups and small to medium sized enterprises learn how to plan collaborative research and development projects. Innovate to Grow - Aquaculture Applications close on Tuesday 25 August 2026. Applications are now open for small to medium-sized enterprises working on innovative technologies and solutions in aquaculture.

Since June 2020 the Innovate to Grow program has equipped over 900 small to medium sized businesses (SMEs) with the knowledge, tools and support required to progress their research and development (R&D) opportunities. This free 8-week online program provides SMEs access to expert facilitators, research guidance, a self-paced learning platform, guest speakers and networking opportunities.

Participants can explore innovation ideas or challenges, assess their R&D plans and be supported as they navigate the R&D sector. Frequently asked questions: For SMEs The course will help you make informed business decisions about whether the R&D project you've identified is right for you.

It will step you through how to: refine your innovation challenge question assess the viability of your innovation build your R&D business case prepare a strong R&D funding application As part of the course, you can expect: Practical outcomes: We’ll step you through how to turn your idea into viable R&D. Confidential feedback: All submissions will receive prompt expert feedback.

An R&D coach: You'll have a researcher who can answer general questions and find you an expert to talk to. To build your network: Meet others working in your industry.

[Music plays and the CSIRO logo and text appears on a blue screen: “Innovate to Grow” is CSIRO’s online learning program for SMEs, delivered in partnership with Australian edtech start-up Practera] [New text appears: It helps SMEs develop their R & D skills by bringing together companies, industry-specific researchers, and innovation experts] [New text appears: Here is what recent participants have to say about “Innovate to Grow”] [Image changes to show Hamish Shaw talking to the camera and text appears: Hamish Shaw, Bellata Gold] Hamish Shaw: Yeah, nobody knows their product like SMEs.

They have to or they don’t survive. So, we all run around with 50 ideas in our heads about how to do things better.

[Image changes to show Jo Lane talking to the camera and text appears: Jo Lane, Sea Health Products] Jo Lane: Often you go, “Oh yeah, this is what I’m going to do” but we actually need to break it down step-by-step in how much is it going to cost, what resources do you need, is this actually a realistic concept.

[Image changes to show Amanda Falconer talking to the camera and text appears: Amanda Falconer, Bestie Kitchen] Amanda Falconer: Doing the “Innovate to Grow” programme really made that accessible to me and demystified that. And it also gave me some tools and rigour around trying to develop a research programme and work out the funding sources for that.

[Image changes to show Hamish talking to the camera] Hamish Shaw: We had great exposure to, along the way to several experts and those contacts I think will be invaluable going forward. I do feel they’re the sort of people, if I drop them a line they’d give me 15, 20 minutes, and certainly heading you in the right direction could save you months.

[Image changes to show Amanda talking to the camera] Amanda Falconer: There was exposure to peers, people in businesses that I probably wouldn’t ordinarily come across who were having experiences, not the same as mine, but still things that I could learn from.

[Image changes to show two Emerging High Growth graphs on a web page and then the image changes to show a Research Engagement model web page] Jo Lane: What I found most valuable was opportunities to talk with other participants and hear about their challenges. [Image changes to show Hamish talking to the camera] Hamish Shaw: We were very lucky it was CSIRO; I think they were sort of at the centre of everything.

[Image changes to show Amanda talking to the camera] Amanda Falconer: It certainly paid back my time ten-fold I think. [Image changes to show a Collaboration & Funding Options web page and then the image changes to show a pie graph and information about Businesses of Tomorrow on a web page] Jo Lane: It’s been a great experience and opened my eyes to, you know, really anything is possible.

[Image changes to show Hamish talking to the camera] Hamish Lane: I think the programme is a fantastic idea. [Image changes to show Jo talking to the camera] Jo Lane: I would definitely recommend it. [Image changes to show Amanda talking to the camera] Amanda Falconer: I think it’s an awesome opportunity and I encourage you to apply.

[Music plays and image changes to show a blue screen and text appears: Find out more about “Innovate to Grow” at www. csiro. au/sme ] [Image changes to show the CSIRO logo and text on a white screen: CSIRO, Australia’s National Science Agency] Hear from previous participants of the program https://vimeo.

com/468328811 <iframe src="//player. vimeo. com/video/468328811" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; fullscreen" allowfullscreen></iframe> Small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) Submit an expression of interest during an open intake for your sector.

Innovate to Grow runs one sector-specific intake each month. Share your knowledge with Australia's most innovative SMEs as an R&D coach in our Innovate to Grow program. Discover how your organisation can partner with CSIRO’s Innovate to Grow program to support Australian SMEs on their R&D journey.

Ready to get involved? Here’s how. Researchers: participate by opting into relevant program intakes.

Review the researcher information page and complete the researcher expression of interest form to be considered for upcoming cohorts. Corporate sponsors and partners: visit the corporate partnerships information page to learn how Innovate to Grow collaborates with sponsors and to begin the partnership process. Applications can be submitted at any time.

CSIRO's Innovate to Grow program provided a framework that RE3 needed to refine and scale their key R&D projects. CSIRO's Innovate to Grow Program helped entrepreneur Robert Carloff expand the research and development (R&D) capability of Cyber News Live, an online platform that makes cybersecurity news easy to understand.

From satellites to shorelines: QL Space revolutionises mangrove conservation with AI QL Space fuses satellite imaging and AI to drive fast, focused conservation decisions and expand geospatial solutions across sectors.

We linked Australian company Lowes TC with researchers from the University of Technology Sydney to design a ground-breaking new tissue culture (TC) system prototype to bring stronger, disease-resistant plant varieties to growers sooner. CSIRO Kick-Start has assisted a Newcastle-based entrepreneur, and dog-lover, develop scientifically-sound pet food.

CSIRO has a range of initiatives and funding programs designed to give small to medium Australian mining and METS companies a chance to grow their business through innovation and science. KEIRISSA LAWSON writes Ultrafines+ boosts LabWest Ultrafine+, a CSIRO-developed analytical workflow licenced to Western Australian analytical services company, LabWest, is seeing an upsurge in demand from mineral exploration companies.

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