Senator Kim Carr, Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research, has announced 40 Australian projects will receive $23.6 million in the latest Commercial Ready and Commercialising Emerging Technologies (COMET) grants.
The projects included funding to Desaln8 Pty Ltd, which was awarded a $579,110 grant to develop a small desalination system which operates entirely within a borehole, selectively extracting freshwater from poor quality groundwater.
“Desaln8, in Victoria, has designed and developed a desalination process that takes moderately saline, brackish or poor quality groundwater, removes the salt content and pumps the fresh water to the surface for use,” Senator Carr said.
“Trials will be carried out around Australia and in India to determine the capability of the system, and improve it to handle a variety of complications due to membrane fouling and variations in subsurface conditions.”
Other companies awarded innovation grants include:
- H20 Hive Holdings Pty Ltd, of Ormeau, Qld — a $64,000 COMET grant to market a rainwater storage system built into the foundations of any building with a concrete slab.
- JRB Engineering Pty Ltd, of Perth, — a $2,994,411 Commercial Ready grant to develop its one-stop-shop, automatic inspection system for rail vehicles and associated infrastructure.
- Intelligent Plastic Pty Ltd, Coffs Harbour, NSW — a $64,000 COMET grant to commercialise intelligent plastic sensors that can measure changes in foods, blood, blood products, human health and fitness, and the environment.
Key contact: www.ausindustry.gov.au
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