ARC Training Centre for the Transformation of Australia's Biosolids Resource

What ARC Training Centre for the Transformation of Australia's Biosolids Resource does

The ARC Training Centre for the Transformation of Australia's Biosolids Resource is an Australian Research Council Industrial Transformation Training Centre hosted at RMIT University, with research nodes at the University of Queensland, UNSW and the University of Western Australia. It was established under a 2019 ARC grant agreement and formally commenced operations in 2020, with a five-year funding term that concluded in July 2025. Its mission is to convert biosolids — the solid by-product of wastewater treatment — into higher-value products and to train the next generation of researchers and industry professionals in this field. The Centre is structured around three research themes spanning resource recovery, agronomic products and decision-support tools, and operates a pilot-scale pyrolysis and biosolids processing facility at RMIT that is described as the first of its kind in Australia.

The Centre's core technology stack centres on biosolids transformation unit operations, including pyrolysis, anaerobic digestion, thermal hydrolysis and hydrothermal liquefaction, with outputs targeted at soil amendments, biochar and nutrient-recovery products. It runs a substantial training program — 41 PhDs, 28 Postdocs, 16 Chief Investigators and 5 Masters/Honours candidates across the life of the Centre — supported by 27+ partner organisations spanning water utilities (South East Water, Melbourne Water, Greater Western Water, Barwon Water, Water Corporation, SA Water), private industry (SUEZ, Richgro), regulators (EPA Victoria) and international networks (IWN). Its business model is grant-funded rather than commercial: core operating revenue comes from the ARC Industrial Transformation Research Program grant, supplemented by partner cash and in-kind contributions, government translation grants (e.g., CRC-P Round 10) and award income. Recognition includes the 2025 AWA R&D Excellence Award, 2022 AWA Victoria R&D Award and 2021 Royal Society of Victoria Medal. With the original term concluded, the Centre has applied to the ARC Research Hub scheme (results expected July 2026) to extend its program.

Name

ARC Training Centre for the Transformation of Australia's Biosolids Resource

Legal name

ARC Training Centre for the Transformation of Australia's Biosolids Resource

Website

https://transformingbiosolids.org.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The ARC Training Centre for the Transformation of Australia's Biosolids Resource is an Australian government-funded research training centre, hosted at RMIT University with nodes at UQ, UNSW and UWA, that develops pyrolysis, anaerobic digestion and thermal-hydrolysis technologies to convert wastewater biosolids into agricultural and resource-recovery products, serving water utilities, regulators and industry partners.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Environmental Research and Training Services

NAICS

Scientific Research and Development Services (5417), Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology) (541715)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Thermal Treatment (Pyrolysis, Gasification, Plasma) for Residual Waste (EUAIACAI)

akta.pro secondary industry

Biogas/RNG Plant Development, EPC & Project Delivery (EUAAAEAH)

Keywords

• Biosolids transformation research
• Wastewater resource recovery
• Research training program
• Circular economy research
• Environmental biotechnology research

Headquarters

HQ city

Melbourne

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Australian Government ARC Funding: Funded by the Australian Government through the Australian Research Council Industrial Transformation Research Program. The Centre operated for a 5-year term from August 2020 to July 2025.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The ARC Training Centre is an Australian Research Council Industrial Transformation Research Program-funded training center that conducts fundamental and applied research on biosolids transformation. It trains PhD candidates, postdocs, and industry-ready researchers while developing novel processing technologies (pyrolysis, hydrothermal liquefaction, anaerobic digestion, drying) and producing high-value products such as biochar and fertilizers from wastewater biosolids. The Centre also develops sustainability frameworks, national guidelines, and risk assessment tools for biosolids management.

Product overview

The ARC Training Centre for the Transformation of Australia's Biosolids Resource is a single unified research training program funded by the Australian Government through the Australian Research Council Industrial Transformation Research Program. The Centre operates through three interconnected research program modules (Improving Technologies, Enhancing Product Applications, and Ensuring Sustainability), supported by a Higher Degree Research Training Program with PhD positions, mandatory 12-month industry placements, Annual Symposium events, and a Pilot Plant Facility at RMIT's Bundoora campus housing specialized processing equipment. The Centre exceeded its original proposal, training 41 PhDs, 5 Masters/Honours postgraduates, and 28 Postdocs over its five-year term, with research spanning biosolids processing technologies (pyrolysis, hydrothermal liquefaction, anaerobic digestion), product applications (fertilizers, biochar, growing media), and sustainability frameworks (guidelines, risk assessment, public perception).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• ARC Training Centre for the Transformation of Australia's Biosolids Resource A world-class research training program delivering innovative technological solutions and knowledge, training the next generation of biosolids practitioners, and guiding best practice in the biosolids sector. The Centre operates as a multi-university collaboration (RMIT, UQ, UNSW, UWA) with 27+ industry and government partners.
• Higher Degree Research Training Program (ICHDR) Fully funded 3.5-year PhD positions providing world-class university-industry integrated research training with mandatory 12-month industry placements, extensive skills development program, and professional development activities for industry-ready researchers in biosolids science.
• Pilot Plant Facility Purpose-built research facility at RMIT's Bundoora West campus housing ten specialized assets including laboratory, bench, semi-pilot and pilot-scale rigs, and gas analysers for chemical, thermal and hydrothermal processing of biosolids research.

Quantifiable outcome

• Developed first pilot-scale biosolids pyrolysis technology in Australia
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered major and core.

• CRC-P ProjectsmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Prof Damien Batstone involved in CRC-P Round 10 award for 'Revolutionising sludge management turning costly waste into a safe product' bringing together industry, regulators and research partners.
• RMIT UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 August 2020Lead university and headquarters location for the ARC Training Centre. Hosts the Centre Director, Deputy Directors, and main research facilities including the pilot plant at Bundoora West campus.
• University of QueenslandcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 August 2020Home to the Australian Centre for Water and Environmental Biotechnology (ACWEB). Hosts Theme 1 Leader Prof Damien Batstone and multiple PhD candidates and postdocs.
• University of New South WalescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 August 2020Hosts the Water Research Centre and Theme 3 Leader Prof Richard Stuetz. Research focus on sustainability assessment and community engagement.
• University of Western AustraliacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 August 2020Hosts Theme 2 Leader Prof Megan Ryan. Research focus on enhancing product applications and agricultural use of biosolids.
• South East WatercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 August 2020Major industry partner, collaborator on pilot pyrolysis technology development. Dr Aravind Surapaneni is both Deputy Director (Industry) at the Centre and Program Manager at South East Water.
• Melbourne WatercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 August 2020Industry partner collaborating on biosolids research and transformation projects.
• Environmental Protection Authority VictoriacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 August 2020Regulatory partner providing expertise on environmental standards and policy frameworks for biosolids management.
• Intelligent Water Networks (IWN)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 August 2020Network of water utilities providing collaborative research platform. Dr Aravind Surapaneni serves as Program Manager for IWN's Biosolids and Resource Recovery Program.
• Greater Western WatermajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 August 2020Collaborated on pilot scale biosolids pyrolysis technology development.
• Water CorporationmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 August 2020Western Australian water utility partner. Hosted 2024 Annual Symposium site visits to Water Research and Innovation Precinct.
• SA WatermajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 August 2020South Australian water utility partner. Sponsored awards at the 2024 Annual Symposium.
• SUEZmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 August 2020Water and waste management company. Sponsored poster awards at the 2024 Annual Symposium.
• RichgromajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 August 2020Australian organic waste processing company. Hosted site visits showcasing biosolids application in commercial operations.
• Barwon WatermajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 August 2020Victoria regional water utility. Tracey Slatter (MD) presented at International Women's Day events.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Emerging players

• CRC for Water Sensitive Cities: Australian cooperative research centre focused on integrated water-cycle management. Operates under a similar ARC/industry co-funded model with academic nodes and trained researcher cohorts, though focused on urban water rather than biosolids specifically.
• Advanced Water Management Centre (UQ): University of Queensland research centre focused on next-generation water and wastewater technology. Overlaps on resource recovery and anaerobic digestion research themes; comparable academic R&D model with industry partnerships.

Direct peers

• Water Research Australia: Australia's collaborative water-industry research organisation, co-funded by water utilities and focused on applied R&D for drinking water, wastewater, and biosolids. Directly comparable as a national water-research entity with industry-utility partnerships and trained-researcher output.
• UNSW Water Research Centre: Theme 3 host institution for the Centre, run by Prof Richard Stuetz. Conducts water and wastewater treatment research including biosolids sustainability, odour, and community engagement - directly overlapping with the Centre's activities.
• Australian Centre for Water and Environmental Biotechnology (ACWEB): Hosted at University of Queensland and led by Prof Damien Batstone (also Theme 1 Leader at the ARC Centre). Conducts parallel research on anaerobic digestion, resource recovery, and water biotechnology, sharing investigators and infrastructure.

Others

• Global Water Research Coalition (GWRC): International alliance of water utilities and research organisations funding collaborative wastewater and biosolids research. Comparable as a multi-jurisdiction research-funding network with shared industry-academic outputs.
• US EPA Biosolids Program: United States EPA programme that develops national biosolids quality and use standards and funds related research. Comparable in regulatory/science co-development of biosolids frameworks, though operating as a government agency rather than a university-hosted centre.
• Water Environment Federation (WEF): US-based international water-quality professional association that publishes biosolids standards and hosts the Residuals and Biosolids Conference. Comparable ecosystem-level role in setting biosolids practice and policy, but as an industry body rather than a research lab.

Broad incumbents

• SUEZ Advanced Solutions (Australia): Global water and waste management operator with sludge/biosolids processing services in Australia. Listed as a Centre partner; commercially operates biosolids treatment at scale, representing the private-sector counterpart to the Centre's research.
• Veolia Water Technologies (Australia): Global environmental services firm that designs and operates biosolids treatment plants including thermal hydrolysis and pyrolysis. Comparable in addressing the same wastewater solids challenge but at a commercial deployment scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights8 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/arcbiosolids
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/transformingbiosolids

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about ARC Training Centre for the Transformation of Australia's Biosolids Resource