Perth companies OncoRes Medical and PhosEnergy are among the latest recipients of federal government research grants, with OncoRes also looking to close a private capital raising.
Perth companies OncoRes Medical and PhosEnergy are among the latest recipients of federal government research grants, with OncoRes also looking to close a private capital raising.
A consortium led by OncoRes has secured $3 million from the federal government under its Cooperative Research Centres program.
It will go towards a total investment of $9.4 million in the commercialisation of the company’s diagnostic imaging system for cancer surgery.
The consortium also includes ANZ Breast Cancer Trials Group Ltd, the University of Western Australia, the WA government’s South Metropolitan Health Service and St John of God Health Care.
OncoRes chief executive Kath Giles told Business News the research grant coincided with the company getting close to completing a private $10 million capital raising.
The new funds will help to pay for three years of clinical trials for a handheld device designed to improve the accuracy of breast cancer surgery.
Ms Giles said the clinical evidence would support a submission to the Therapeutic Goods Administration for product approval.
Ms Giles added that manufacturing of the device would occur in Western Australia.
A separate consortium led by PhosEnergy – which counts Perth mining entrepreneurs Tim Goyder and Anthony Kiernan as major backers – has secured a $2.4 million CRC grant.
This will go towards a $6 million investment in the development of a pilot manufacturing process for its GenX Betavoltaic battery.
These energy units combine metals, semiconductors and beta-radiation to produce constant DC power over very long periods, for use in space and remote defence sites.
Managing director Bryn Jones said the burgeoning space industry and increasingly sophisticated remote defence sites were creating enormous demand for long-life, fuel-free power sources.
Other members of the consortium are DEWC Systems, Duromer Products, University of South Australia, University of Western Australia and University of Adelaide.
A third CRC consortium with a strong WA link is focused on the development of modular ‘green ammonia’ manufacturing technology.
This consortium, led by Melbourne-based Jupiter Ionics, has been awarded a grant of $2.6 million.
Other consortium members are Monash University, SJDC Produce, Wesfarmers Chemicals Energy & Fertilisers and Fortescue Future Industries (via its subsidiary MIH2 Pty Ltd).
Jupiter’s project aims to deploy pilot-scale manufacturing units on farms to produce green ammonia and ammonia-based fertilisers powered by renewable energy.
Its technology uses renewable electricity, air and water as inputs to make ammonia with potential for zero carbon emissions.
The company said current technology typically generates around 2 tonnes of CO2 for every tonne of ammonia produced.
Fortescue Future Industries chief executive Julie Shuttleworth said: “We are excited by this partnership and to support critical research into green ammonia”.
“The research being undertaken by Jupiter Ionics is important for FFI’s growing technology portfolio as we continue to develop technologies to lower emissions globally.”
WesCEF managing director Ian Hansen said the organisation was excited to be part of the new consortium.
“Ammonia is essential for many applications ranging from fertilisers to critical minerals and the technology Jupiter Ionics is developing could transform the way ammonia is produced and delivered,” Mr Hansen said.
