Earlier this year, Federal Industry, Science and Technology Minister Karen Andrews launched the Future Battery Industry Cooperative Research Centre (FBICRC) at the CSIRO in Waterford. The launch reflected industry and research co-operation that was said to have produced impressive commercial results.

The FBICRC has reached a significant milestone, moving beyond its establishment phase and into foundational program and project development. The combination of cash and in-kind support is expected to unlock $31 million of State and Federal government funding over the next five years.

The Curtin University headquartered centre will focus on three areas: 
- minerals processing and recycling
- battery testing, manufacture and deployment
- exploring policy settings and industry initiatives that could promote the growth of the industry.

A pilot plan facility that will be repurposed to produce cathode precursor will see the next stage of the battery value chain in addition to the current processing plants in WA: lithium hydroxide plants developed by Tianqi and Albemarle and a nickel sulphate plant developed by BHP.

Check out the Future Batteries Industries Co-operative Research Centre website here.