TRaCE researchers and partners have been awarded over $834,000 in the first round of the Australian Economic Accelerator’s (AEA) Ignite research and commercialisation grants. 

The AEA Ignite grants aim to drive investment in key sectors by focusing on value-adding and capability development, leveraging Australia’s natural and competitive strengths as outlined in the National Reconstruction Fund Corporation (Priority Areas) Declaration 2023. 

TRaCE, a Department of Education funded initiative delivered by the University of Newcastle and UNSW Sydney, is building world-leading capabilities in the national priority area of renewables and low emission technologies. TRaCE is accomplishing this by promoting collaboration between industry and academia. 

Congratulations to the following TRaCE researchers and their partners for their outstanding achievements in securing this significant funding, which will further enhance their impact on the clean energy and recycling sectors. 

Read more about the successful projects below. Congratulations to the Trailblazers involved.

Dr Josephine Vaughan – TRaCE Enterprise Academic Fellow at the University of Newcastle  

  • Project: Circular Economy Mortar from construction, industrial and agricultural waste 
  • Priority Area: Renewables and low emission technologies  
  • Focus Area: Advanced manufacturing   
  • Total Funding: $444,880 

Associate Professor Karl Hassan – TRaCE researcher at the University of Newcastle

Claudia (Holt) Bruinsma – TRaCE PhD candidate at the University of Newcastle  

TRaCE Partner Wild Yeast Zoo 

  • Project: Wild Yeast Zoo – Harnessing Microorganisms for Sustainable Innovation.  
  • Priority Area: Renewables and low emission technologies 
  • Focus Area: Harnessing microbes to biologically produce key petrochemicals for a sustainable future  
  • Total Funding: $199,999

Professor Shawn Kook – TRaCE Major Project Lead at UNSW Sydney 

TRaCE partner DeCarice 

  • Project: Innovative high-pressure hydrogen injection technologies for diesel vehicle retrofit solutions  
  • Priority Area: Renewables and low emission technologies 
  • Focus Area: Sustainable fuels 
  • Total Funding: $190,000