Korean and Australian research institutes and universities participate in the forum jointly hosted by CSIRO and POSCO group
Participants share technology trends and discuss joint research on feedstock and raw material technologies for hydrogen-based reduction ironmaking
POSCO group jointly hosted the second CSIRO-POSCO Critical Minerals Forum 2026 with the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) on August 21.
The forum focused on feedstock and raw material technologies needed for the transition to low-carbon ironmaking. In September 2025, POSCO group and CSIRO signed a comprehensive memorandum of understanding (MOU) to collaborate on low-carbon ironmaking and critical minerals processing technologies. In October of the same year, they held the first forum, which focused on lithium refining technologies.
This year’s forum brought together POSCO Holdings, POSCO and Pusan National University from Korea, as well as CSIRO, Curtin University and Swinburne University of Technology from Australia. The event was held in a hybrid format, connecting Pohang, Seoul and Gwangyang in Korea with Perth, Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney in Australia.
Participants shared the latest research findings through eight presentations on topics including the use of Australian iron ore for hydrogen-based reduction ironmaking and technologies for applying suitable feedstocks and raw materials. They also discussed differences in raw material requirements between conventional blast furnace operations and hydrogen-based reduction processes, the competitiveness of Australian iron ore for hydrogen-based reduction ironmaking, and ways to promote future Korea-Australia joint research.
“POSCO group is pursuing the transition to a low-carbon steel production system as a key priority, and research collaboration with Australia is essential to securing the feedstock technologies needed to support this transition. We will continue to work closely with Australia, which has abundant high-quality iron ore resources and world-class research capabilities,” said Dr. KIM Ki Soo, Head of POSCO N.EX.T Hub at POSCO Holdings.
“Building on Australia’s iron ore resources and research capabilities, CSIRO will work with POSCO to drive innovation in low-carbon ironmaking technologies. We hope this forum will serve as an opportunity to further advance technological cooperation between the two countries,” said Dr. Daniel Roberts, Research Director at CSIRO.
POSCO group plans to continue open collaboration with leading Australian research institutes and universities, including CSIRO, in low-carbon ironmaking and critical minerals, with the aim of strengthening its upstream technological competitiveness.
▲ The second Critical Minerals Forum was held in a hybrid format, connecting Pohang, Seoul and Gwangyang in Korea with Perth, Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney in Australia. A view of the forum at POSCO Technical Research Laboratories in Pohang on August 21 (left) and the forum at CSIRO QCAT in Brisbane, Australia (right).