About the Challenge

Lithium batteries are one of the recycling industry’s most urgent priorities. Improperly discarded lithium-ion batteries are turning collection vehicles into potential fire bombs and filling waste facilities with unidentified, volatile fuel.

Last year, the waste and recycling industry fought more than 12,000 fires across Australia. This year alone, a Queensland waste facility has burned to the ground. Another needed 10 crews to fight the sudden fire for more than 10 hours before they were able to quell the flames.

Despite the commendable efforts of industry-led schemes like B-Cycle, the management of End-of-Life (EOL) batteries in Australia faces significant challenges that call for both immediate action and long-term strategies.

As a unified voice of the waste management, recycling and resource recovery operators in the state, WRIQ has partnered with the Department of Environment, Science, Tourism and Innovation (DETSI) to seek applications from the brightest of minds from international, national and state innovators to work with the industry on developing technology products and services to solve this issue.

Eligibility

The Lithium-ion Battery Challenge is open to national and international organisations from waste recycling industries or any industries with sufficient expertise to develop solutions to address Australia’s current lithium ion battery management and disposal challenges.

This Challenge is open to startups, registered businesses, social enterprises, research institutions, group of businesses or a group of individuals who are developing an innovative product or service that identifies lithium ion batteries within trucks, recycling plants or landfill, or provides a mechanism to safely disassemble or reduce lithium batteries to constituent parts.

To be eligible to receive any grant funding, applicants must be willing to do the following:

  • be committed to working with Queensland industry partners or customers (noting that the implementation stage of any future projects need to be delivered in Queensland)
  • have commitment from the founding or executive team to participate in the program.

Assessment

Applicants must meet basic eligibility criteria and will be competitively assessed by the Judges against the following:

Problem and market

What is the problem you are solving and what is your solution?
Less than 500 words

The solution: innovation and impact

Outline the impact on Queensland and the industry
500 words

Business model

Include supporting documentation and unit sales requirements
800 words

Market readiness

Address technology readiness, piloting, and development status
2,000 words

Our Judges

Entries into the challenge will be assessed by an expert panel of industry judges from WRIQ (Waste & Recycling Industry of Queensland) members. To view the judges, click here.

Key Dates

Applications Open
15 May
Information Session
5 June
Applications Close
30 June
Shortlist applications
July
Winners announced
July
Product/service trials
Aug/Sep
WRIQ Showcase
October

Frequently Asked Questions

Does it cost anything to join The Lithium Ion Battery Challenge?
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There is no cost to submit an application.
What are the benefits for participants?
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Benefits include gaining a wider exposure to an industry that will be eager to work with you on implementing it as a solution. Some companies could engage your services following the program completion.
How many participants will be invited to present at the Showcase?
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There is no upper limit on the number of applicants that will be shortlisted to participate in the program, it will depend on the quality of submissions. However based on previous challenges we anticipate between 5 to 10 applicants will make it to the pilot stage.
What's not in scope?
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WRIQ is not seeking programs or services that are directed to education and awareness. This is covered by other WRIQ activities.
If I am already selling a product in the market, can I join the challenge?
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Yes.
Can only Queensland based companies join the challenge?
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No. Applications are welcome from anywhere around the globe.

Do I need to live in Brisbane to participate in the challenge?
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No, any business in the world can be part of the challenge.
What about my privacy/confidentiality/IP?
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Any commercial-in-confidence materials provided during the course of this Challenge will remain private and confidential. To qualify to participate on the Judging Panel, WRIQ and all judges will sign a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) to ensure your IP remains yours.

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