Active deals across all sector opportunities, tracked through the investment pathway from definition to transaction close.
Back to homeActive deals across all sector opportunities, tracked through the investment pathway from definition to transaction close.
Back to homeInvestment
$5.7M
$5.7m Queensland Government funding (Stage 2)
Economic impact
$30B
Part of $30-42bn Australian critical minerals pipeline; supports region's 700+ METS businesses
Jobs
—
Critical minerals · Mackay · Updated 6 Feb 2026, 12:00 am
The Resources Centre of Excellence is a world-class facility located in the Greater Whitsunday region driving cutting-edge research, technology, education, and industry collaboration. Stage 2 — the Future Industries Hub — is focused on incubating new industries including critical minerals processing, with $5.7 million in Queensland Government funding under the Queensland Resources Industry Development Plan.
The facility includes the FlexiLab critical minerals pilot processing plant, underground coal mine simulator, and supporting infrastructure. It serves as a sector-agnostic innovation platform connecting METS businesses with emerging opportunities across the seven priority diversification sectors identified in the GW3 strategy.
Next step
Finalise Stage 2 scope and common-user access model.
Key stakeholders
Queensland Government (Dept of State Development), Resources Centre of Excellence, GW3, Local Buying Foundation