For a full list of supporting strategies and resources visit our related documents page.
About
The Research and Capability Priorities document supports Western Australia's 10-Year Science and Technology Plan, and identifies 6 key areas to focus research and development efforts.
- Clean energy and decarbonisation
- Environment and sustainability
- Mineral supply and value-adding
- Health and wellbeing
- Sustainable and secure food production
- Critical and emerging technology.
These areas have been identified through extensive consultation and respond to the opportunities and complex challenges that face Western Australia in the coming decades. They aim to:
- capture unique opportunities for Western Australia
- encourage strategic investment in science and technology capabilities
- elevate Western Australia’s research performance
contribute to a diversified economy - aid decarbonisation
- address social challenges
1. Clean energy and decarbonisation
Show moreWestern Australia will be a leader in clean energy and green technologies.
Low emission energy
Priorities for Western Australia include renewable and synthetic fuel and renewable hydrogen:
- production methods
- uses in hard to abate sectors and applications: mining, transport, agriculture and remote applications
- export and value chains.
Carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS) and biosequestration
Priorities for Western Australia include:
- reducing the cost of CCUS methodologies
- novel emission utilisation, including e-fuels and materials
- mineral carbonation applications
- nature-based solutions for carbon sequestration.
Advanced energy storage
Priorities for Western Australia include:
- production of battery chemicals
- long-duration energy storage technologies.
2. Environment and sustainability
Show moreWestern Australia will foster world-leading research to support evidence-based adaptation and conservation of our local ecosystems.
Conservation, restoration and discovery
Priorities for Western Australia include:
- biodiversity and conservation
- restoration ecology
- biosecurity and management of pests and diseases
- biodiscovery.
Climate mitigation and adaptation
Priorities for Western Australia include:
- understanding the current and future impacts of climate change
- evidence-based climate action
- development of climate adaptation measures in partnerships with Aboriginal peoples and the broader community.
Water security
Priorities for Western Australia include:
- drought resilience
- water sensitive cities
- sustainable desalination
- methods and use of recycled water.
Recycling for a circular economy
Priorities for Western Australia include:
- management and local processing or recyclable materials
- improving battery recycling methods.
3. Mineral supply and value-adding
Show moreWestern Australia will grow its science and technology capability to be a global leader in the supply of minerals.
Mineral exploration and characterisation
Priorities for Western Australia include:
- developing innovative mapping tools and methodologies
- geoscience and mineral systems
- innovative use of data and digital technologies.
Precision and low impact extraction
Priorities for Western Australia include:
- deep and complex extraction systems
- innovative mining technologies, including AI and autonomous mining systems
- extraction from low grade ore.
Critical minerals supply
Priorities for Western Australia include:
- rare earth element separation
- high purity metal refining
- advanced materials manufacturing.
Value-added processing
Priorities for Western Australia include:
- physical and chemical processing of minerals
- green metal production.
4. Health and wellbeing
Show moreWestern Australia will build new knowledge about health and diseases and translate this into improved community outcomes.
Regional, remote and Aboriginal health
Priorities for Western Australia include:
- remote and autonomous system applications in healthcare
- digital health and tele-trials
- Aboriginal health.
Precision health
Priorities for Western Australia include:
- diagnosis and treatment of rare diseases
- omics healthcare
- precision diagnostics
- precision health treatment for cancer treatment.
Disease prevention and community resilience
Priorities for Western Australia include:
- public health and disease prevention.
- health data linkage
- social determinants of health.
5. Sustainable and secure food
Show moreWestern Australia will be a leader in research and technology development to support sustainable and high value food production.
Climate resilient food production
Priorities for Western Australia include:
- climate-tolerant plants and livestock
- low emissions farming practices
- innovative biosecurity practices.
Land and water optimisation
Priorities for Western Australia include:
- maximising water and nutrient-use efficiency
- water security for food production
- integration of data and technology in resource management.
Value-added food supply
Priorities for Western Australia include:
- manufacturing and value-added food and beverage products of local produce
- innovative and efficient propagation of perishable fresh foods
- extending the shelf-life and nutritional value of fresh food.
6. Critical and emerging technology
Show moreWestern Australia will be renowned for its capability in the development and application of critical technologies.
Remote operations, robotics and autonomous systems
Priorities for Western Australia include:
- innovative remote operation services
- development and testing of automation and robotics products
- cross sector technology transfer.
Artificial intelligence and cybersecurity
Priorities for Western Australia include:
- innovative AI applications to support other research priorities
- cybersecurity capability and adoption.
Data insights, linkage and optimisation
Priorities for Western Australia include:
- data linkage processes
- optimising access to data
- data analysis, including AI applications.
Quantum capabilities
Priorities for Western Australia include:
- positioning, navigation and timing technologies
- quantum sensors, including for resource exploration and processing
- secure communications to support defence and other applications
- quantum materials.
Radio astronomy and space technology
Priorities for Western Australia include:
- applications of data intensive and data driven technologies across industries
- high bandwidth communications and signal processing for space and ground.
Advanced and additive manufacturing
Priorities for Western Australia include:
- robotics
- capabilities to support other priorities, including synthetic fuel, renewable hydrogen and critical mineral processing.
