The recipient for the Prime Minister’s 2022 Prize for Innovation has been announced, with the winning technology aiding in fast and environmentally friendly gold analysis.
CSIRO’s Dr Nick Cutmore, along with Dr James Tickner and Dr Dirk Treasure from spin-out company Chrysos Corporation, was the recipient of the Prime Minister’s 2022 Prize for Innovation for the successful commercialisation of PhotonAssay™ technology.
The PhotonAssay™ technology – developed by Australia’s national science agency, CSIRO – delivers faster, safer, more accurate and environmentally friendly analysis of gold for the minerals industry.
Formed in 2016 to commercialise the PhotonAssay technology, Chrysos Corporation has significantly grown its installations around the world.
PhotonAssay is fast becoming the preferred technology for gold analysis across the globe due to its speed and reduced environmental impact when contrasted to the incumbent process, fire assay.
With fewer carbon dioxide emissions and less hazardous waste, PhotonAssay offers improved customer benefits in comparison to fire assay which is much slower, more hazardous, uses toxic chemicals and requires sample fusion at temperatures up to 1,200 degrees centigrade.
CSIRO Chief Executive, Dr Larry Marshall, congratulated the team, describing Chrysos as a shining example of CSIRO’s innovation catalyst strategy in action.
“When scientists decide to create a business from scratch, you know it’s going to be pretty extraordinary,” Dr Marshall said.
“Australian deep-tech innovation companies like Chrysos give me hope for the nation’s wider opportunity to add more value to our mineral commodities right here at home before we export them to the world.”
Award winner, Dr Nick Cutmore, said that he was extremely honoured to receive the Prime Minister’s Prize for Innovation, and credited CSIRO for providing an environment where such initiatives were possible.
“I’m proud that CSIRO’s innovative technology is now used around the world including Australia, Africa and North America – that’s real global impact,” Dr Cutmore said.
“Being fully automated, PhotonAssay™ can deliver results to customers in as little as two minutes, unlike the days that could be required for traditional methods.”
CSIRO’s Executive Director of Growth, Jonathan Law, who nominated the PhotonAssay team for the prestigious award, also congratulated the team on its win.
“Through partnerships with global laboratory companies and major miners, Chrysos is continuing to build Australia’s reputation of a world-leading exporter of Mining Equipment and Technology Services (METS) built on the very best of Australian science,” Mr Law said.
“Chrysos has created more than 70 high-value jobs and delivers a safer and environmentally friendly alternative to traditional assay methods.”
Featured image: (left to right) Dr James Tickner, Dr Dirk Treasure and Dr Nick Cutmore. Image: CSIRO.
