About us
We are a global, transdisciplinary hub for radical research, innovation, thought leadership and next-generation education.
purpose
Our
purpose
Accelerate the development of new sustainable techniques and technologies required to deliver the materials necessary for the energy transition. This demands rethinking how we source, use, and sustain these resources.
Our purpose is to unite academics, industry leaders, governments and communities around transforming how raw materials are discovered, used and recycled.
By nurturing collaboration and supporting innovative, cross-disciplinary research, we provide transparent, responsible solutions that empower better material choices, ensuring lasting social and environmental benefits for the future.
who we are
Who we are
We are a collaboration between six world-leading partners, bringing together cutting-edge research and industry expertise. At its core are Rio Tinto, one of the world’s largest and most influential mining and materials companies and Imperial College London – a global top ten university. The Centre acts as a hub for collaboration with four other leading global institutions: The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, The University of California, Berkeley, The University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg and The Australian National University, Canberra.
We bring together world-class scientific research and industry expertise to drive more sustainable mining and material resource management. By integrating cutting-edge research with real-world application, we are not just responding to today’s challenges: we are setting new standards for the entire sector.
By bringing together expertise in materials, business, tech, physics, engineering, earth sciences and sustainability, this Centre is more than a research hub—it is a bold initiative to rethink how the world sources, designs and recycles materials. Together, we are shaping a future of materials with environmental, social and economic responsibility at the core.
our partners
research
Blue sky research
Our research explores radical new methods—like harnessing biological processes using proteins and microbes to extract copper without traditional excavation. We’re also investigating magmatic fluids as a novel copper source, applying advanced engineering and geoscience to unlock resources deep within the Earth.
Beyond developing new materials, we collaborate closely with First Nations and Indigenous communities to ensure sustainability is central to mining and exploration, valuing cultural knowledge in land management. We’re reimagining post-mining landscapes as thriving ecosystems and economies.
Built on collaboration, trust, and open exchange, the Centre is a dynamic network where diverse expertise meets to inspire breakthroughs. We welcome academics, industry leaders, and innovators eager to partner in creating responsible, ethical solutions with real-world impact.
history
Our history
Innovation has been embedded in Rio Tinto’s DNA since it was founded in London over 150 years ago. As global demand for materials grows, so too does the need to provide them more sustainably. To meet the needs of the energy transition and support growing energy growth, we must urgently deliver far more of the materials Rio Tinto produces – copper, aluminium, lithium, other battery minerals and high-grade iron ore for green steel. And we must do so faster, more sustainably and more cost-effectively than ever before.
In response to this challenge – and to mark its 150th anniversary – Rio Tinto launched the Rio Tinto Centre for Future materials in December 2024, in partnership with world-leading research institutions and anchored by Imperial College London. Backed by a $150 million investment over 10 years, the Centre is focused on accelerating solutions for the energy transition by reimagining how the world sources, uses, and reuses essential materials.
With renewables driving soaring demand for critical minerals, new and better approaches are urgently needed. That’s why our first grand challenge focused on copper – a metal vital for the energy transition and mass electrification but difficult to mine sustainably due to low ore grades and high waste. Together with researchers from around the world, we’re pioneering new extraction methods that improve efficiency and reduce environmental impact.
And this is just the beginning. With more grand challenges to come, the Centre is set to become a global hub for collaborative research, innovation and transformative change – supporting economic growth, clean energy leadership, and responsible resource use for generations to come.
vision
Our vision
We’re inspiring a global shift in how the world thinks about materials. The Rio Tinto Centre for Future Materials will be a globally recognised hub for innovation in sustainable materials. Through deeper collaboration with governments, universities, and industry, we will become a trusted voice in sustainable resource use and advanced material practices.
Our growing network will enable cross-sector projects that improve how materials are sourced, processed and reused. Our research will shape policy and industry standards, while our culture of responsible innovation will drive lasting impact. Together, we’ll help build a more sustainable, just and future-ready global supply chain.
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SteerCo
Prof Mary Ryan
Vice Provost for Research and Enterprise
Dan Walker
Chief Innovation Officer
Grant Bybee
Associate Professor of Geochemistry and Petrology
Prof Walter Mérida
Associate Dean of Research
Prof Ruksana Osman
Senior Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Academic
Dr Victor Pantano
Director, ANU–Rio Tinto Research Partnership
Marie-Pierre Paquin
Head of Science and Partnerships
Prof Tarek Zohdi
Associate Dean for Research, College of Engineering
Discover more
Research
Pioneering new frontiers in materials research – rethinking how we discover, extract, use and restore resources through radical science, bold ideas and deep collaboration.
Our Team
Meet world-class experts reimagining materials – from governance to social science and technical innovation – across six global partners.
Our Partners
Founded by six global partners, our Centre unites scientific excellence with industry insight – led by Rio Tinto and Imperial College London and spans four continents.
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