The investment represents part of the Australian Research Council’s $23.9 million push to improve profitability and productivity by establishing new connections between industry and university research centres.

Mining industry partners in the scheme include multinationals, such as BHP Billiton Iron Ore, as well as regionally based businesses.

The University of Newcastle will harness its three major specialist areas in the minerals sector – beneficiation, bulk solids handling and technical marketing – to advance new Australian iron ore separation and handling techniques.

The $3.3 million program will be topped up by $3 million in additional industry investment, bringing funding to some $6.3 million over five years.

The research will involve collaboration between organisations such as Tunra Bulk Solids and the university’s Centre for Ironmaking Materials Research and will be headed in part by University of Newcastle Professor Kevin Galvin.

“New fundamental knowledge needed to inform end users and producers will be used in conjunction with novel advances in fine particle beneficiation and materials handling to support the long-term growth in Australian iron ore production,” Galvin said.

The government program will also include $2.5 million for the development of a copper-uranium research hub at the University of Adelaide.

The hub is planned to help ensure Australia is a world leader in copper production via the development, testing and commercialisation of methods to separate uranium from copper concentrates.

It will also benefit from a further $6.2 million in industry and collaborative support to be shared with an accompanying agricultural research facility.

At the University of Tasmania, almost $4 million in funding will aim to transform the mining value chain for the better, while the University of Sydney will take $2.7 million for research in geodynamics and sedimentary systems.

“These new research hubs will support collaborative R&D projects that address challenging industry issues – indeed 26 industry partner organisations are contributing more than $36.4 million cash and in-kind for these new research projects,” Education Minister Christopher Pyne said.

“The Australian government is committed to a vibrant research sector with strong industry collaboration.

“This particular scheme allows us to deliver exactly that.”