News and Events

Industry leaders from the resources technology and critical minerals sector converged on Townsville, Queensland this week to discuss ways to boost this crucial industry in the region. Hosted by James Cook University, the Regional Trailblazer Showcase & Stakeholder Forum was held on Wednesday 25 September in partnership with Trailblazer program lead Curtin University and partners […]

The Resources Technology and Critical Minerals Trailblazer welcomes the appointment of Resource Capital Funds (RCF) Managing Director, Brett Beatty. Brett brings to the board extensive global industry knowledge and networks, having worked in mining roles across Australia, Brazil, and the USA. Brett joined RCF, an international mining-focused private equity firm, in 2009 having worked as […]

A semi-vapor electrolyser system that can produce cost-effective green hydrogen; a catalytic graphitisation technology that can produce synthetic graphite; and a mining wastewater treatment using hydrogel beads encapsulating microorganisms that remove pollutants were just some of the exciting deep tech solutions on display last night at the inaugural National Energy Transition Accelerator Demo Night held […]

As part of the funding allocated by the Federal Government to the Trailblazer Universities program, $45 million has been provided for participating universities to access Australia’s national science agency CSIRO’s National Characterisation Capabilities and Facilities, providing them with access to specialist equipment and expertise to support the delivery of their projects. The Resources Technology and […]

With hydrogen continuing to emerge as a sustainable energy solution, we need to find innovative solutions to current challenges and risks associated with hydrogen transmission, storage, and distribution infrastructure. John Curtin Distinguished Professor in Physics and Astronomy, Craig Buckley, is recognised internationally for his work on energy storage, in particular hydrogen storage and conversion. Craig leads […]

We’re delighted to announce that the winners of the 2024 Trailblazer Prize are Dr Hoa Bui, Professor Ryan Loxton, Alex Massen-Hane, and Dr Elham Mardaneh from ‘Maintenance Schedule Optimiser’. Maintenance scheduling optimisation is often seen as a type of resource-constrained project scheduling problem. Existing mathematical models and solution methods, including exact, heuristic, and meta-heuristic approaches, […]

Wednesday 25 September 2024 The inaugural Regional Trailblazer Showcase & Stakeholder Forum will be held on Wednesday 25 September in Townsville, Queensland hosted by James Cook University. The aim of the event is to highlight industry relevant research projects supported by the Resources Technology and Critical Minerals Trailblazer whilst identifying concerns and research goals for […]

Curtin University is thrilled to continue our partnership with Venture Minerals in support of their push to become the next rare earth element producer of significance in Australia. The company announced in an ASX update this week that data collected at the company’s flagship 40 km2 Jupiter rare earth discovery, based out of Western Australia’s […]

With the presence of the WA School of Mines for over 100 years in Kalgoorlie-Boulder, Curtin University has been an integral partner of the Diggers and Dealers conference which took place in the city from 5 – 7 August 2024. For the first time this year, the Resources Technology and Critical Minerals Trailblazer supported a […]

Curtin is excited to announce that it will be the first University in Australia to offer Open Process Automation (OPA) training and education to the mining industry. Traditional process control technology does not meet the advancements in IT over the past 20 years, causing significant issues for the current generation of process control professionals who […]

Curtin University Associate Professor Bogale Tadesse has built a reputation for finding innovative approaches to unlock value from challenging ore deposits. His research has demonstrated improved recovery of rare earth minerals through simplified flowsheets that are capable of handling recycled water sources. He is also involved in developing alternative methods for gold extraction from complex […]

Monday 4 – Tuesday 5 August 2024 The WA School of Mines (WASM) is set to welcome industry professionals from the resources sector for exclusive campus tours during the highly anticipated Diggers & Dealers Conference in August. This initiative aims to foster stronger connections between academia and industry, highlighting the innovative research and educational excellence […]

On Thursday 20 June, Resources Technology and Critical Minerals Trailblazer Director Rohan McDougall fronted members of Western Australia’s mining and critical minerals sector alongside industry heavyweights Bill Beament, Angela Glover, and Raj Surendran at Business News’s Critical Minerals Sector Briefing. The panel discussed the challenges facing the critical minerals industry, including difficulties in financing projects, […]

Curtin University Research Associate, Dr Nadia Bustos Salgado, from the Mining Rock Mechanics Group in the WA School of Mines (WASM), is undertaking groundbreaking research in the heart of Australia’s mining sector at Curtin’s Kalgoorlie campus, alongside leading Professor Ernesto Villaescusa with funding support from the Resources Technology and Critical Minerals Trailblazer. In the future, […]

A novel way to manufacture synthetic graphite for lithium-ion batteries and a new process for converting atmospheric carbon into sustainable aviation fuel are just some of the transformative solutions that will be supported by the inaugural National Energy Transition Accelerator (NETA) which today announced the nine teams selected for the program. Supported by the Resources […]

Zapping rocks with a high-voltage pulse – similar to a lightning strike – could be the answer to decarbonising the mining industry according to researchers from The University of Queensland. Researchers from UQ’s Sustainable Minerals Institute have developed High Voltage Pulse (HVP) technology, which uses a short-pulsed discharge similar to a lightning strike, to selectively break mineralised […]

Curtin University has unveiled a new multi-million dollar venture studio to fast-track innovation in the resources industry and develop new technologies to support net-zero emissions by 2050 under the Trailblazer Universities Program. The $18.6 million platform will build and accelerate the growth of start-ups that are focused on pioneering sustainable resources solutions. Assistant Minister for Education, […]

On Tuesday April 30, over 120 researchers, industry partners, and academic staff members convened at Curtin University’s TL Robertson Library for the inaugural Resources Technology and Critical Minerals Trailblazer Showcase. The event provided an opportunity to update stakeholders connected to the Trailblazer on the key achievements of the program to date since Curtin University was […]

This week, one of our early career researchers Dr Nirmala Ilankoon was invited by the Australian Government Department of Education to attend Science & Technology Australia’s Science Meets Parliament event at Australian Parliament House in Canberra on behalf of the Resources Technology and Critical Minerals Trailblazer. This event offered attendees bespoke training to forge deeper […]

Today, we launched the National Energy Transition Accelerator, a dedicated program designed to to support early-stage businesses developing solutions that will enable the resources technology and critical minerals sectors to facilitate the energy transition. Startups participating in this free 8-week program will be supported to overcome technical and market barriers to allow for rapid deployment […]

West Tech Fest ran in December 2023 and is Australia’s longest running technology and innovation festival, providing opportunities for participants to connect with global leaders as they share insights to grow successful businesses.

Larry Lopez from the Trailblazer Board represented the team at What’s Down the Track in Kalgoorlie on 16 November 2023.

The Trailblazer award was presented at the 2023 Curtinnovation Awards. The awards recognise and celebrate individuals and teams developing new innovations through research, study, or work at Curtin University.

The Trailblazer team connected with regional audiences at the Pilbara Summit in Karratha on 10 to 11 October 2023.

29 Trailblazer scholarships have been awarded for the Curtin Ignition Program which ran from 3 September to 8 September 2023.

Mineral Resources (MinRes) and Curtin University have joined forces to drive innovation in mining and prepare the next generation of talent for jobs of the future. The new strategic partnership combines MinRes’ expertise across lithium, iron ore, energy and mining services with Curtin University’s excellence in research and learning.

“This investment will turbocharge Australia’s critical minerals industry and backs in the State’s status as an economic powerhouse for the whole country.” – Former Prime Minister Scott Morrison