Industry-led Research Key to Australia Achieving Net Zero

ACIL Allen Report: Cooperative Research Centres (CRCs) invest over $1 billion in research and
development to support Australia’s decarbonisations ambitions

SmartCrete CRC is one of 13 Cooperative Research Centres (CRCs) whose direct and indirect contributions to Australia’s decarbonisation efforts have been highlighted with the release of an independent report assessing the collective research and development (R&D) investment in decarbonisation-related projects and activities.

The Mapping and Quantification of CRCs’ Work on Decarbonisation report, produced by leading advisory firm ACIL Allen, analysed the work of 13 CRCs in fostering research collaborations that deliver sustainable products and services, generate new knowledge, build industry capacity and engage with the wider community to help Australia reach net zero by 2050.

The report reveals, while the CRCs address a range of priority areas, approximately 49% or $1.12 billion of their collective resources are focused on decarbonisation-related activities.

It forecasts that the contribution of this group of 13 CRCs over 2017-2032 will:

• Generate substantial economic activity: an increase of $4.8 billion in Australia’s economic output (GDP)
• Raise economic welfare across Australia: an increase of $1.7 billion to Australia’s real economy as a result of industry-led decarbonisation research and innovation
• Create significant employment opportunities: 3,705 job years to 2032 are delivered (an average of 265 FTE jobs years per year)
• Provide significant value for money: $5.80 generated in additional economic output (GDP) for every dollar of investment and in-kind contributions.

Clare Tubolets, SmartCrete CRC CEO, said, “ACIL Allen’s report highlights the enormous value of collaborative research and demonstrates the expertise and capabilities CRCs can bring to the table to drive innovation and support Australia’s decarbonisation ambitions.”

Decarbonising Australia’s Cement and Concrete Industry

In 2021, SmartCrete CRC, in collaboration with Cement, Concrete and Aggregates Australia and the Cement Industry Federation, released the Decarbonisation Pathways for Australia’s Cement and Concrete Sector report that identified eight pathways to reach net zero concrete by 2050.

“Despite the Australian cement and concrete sector’s long history of reducing its CO2 emissions, the report highlighted that significant regulatory, structural and behavioural changes across the entire value chain were required to decarbonise cement and concrete,” Tubolets said.

“It has given SmartCrete CRC a blueprint for engaging with industry and setting up research partnerships that address those changes. To date, we have invested in 34 research projects that follow the key recommendations of the report and, for example, deliver lower-carbon
concrete mixes and investigate carbon capture, storage and utilisation (CCSU).

“Yet, more needs to be done. Numerous, commercial barriers exist that slow down the uptake of research and innovation, hindering the decarbonisation process.

“SmartCrete CRC – by bringing together industry, research and government – is well placed to help the sector to overcome those barriers and support Australia’s cement and concrete industry’s net zero ambition,” Tuboluts said.

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