Australia–China SAF collaboration receives funding boost

A new international research initiative to accelerate sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) development has been launched after Adelaide University secured a A$400,000 grant (€237,000) from the National Foundation for Australia–China Relations.
The Australia–China Cooperation for Sustainable Aviation (ACCSA) project will span two years and strengthen collaboration between researchers, aviation industry stakeholders, fuel producers and policymakers in both countries.
Announced in early February, the funding supports conferences, workshops, seminars and targeted outreach in major cities including Beijing, Adelaide, Brisbane, Hong Kong and Sydney.
These events aim to accelerate policy alignment, technology understanding and investment readiness for SAF production and deployment — critical steps as the aviation sector seeks to reduce its carbon footprint.
A key focus of the project is expanding cooperation on feedstock pathways and certification frameworks, ensuring that SAF developed in one country can be used broadly across global supply chains.
By exploring catalytic fast pyrolysis, hydro‑processing and other conversion technologies, the collaboration also seeks to bring research insights closer to commercial reality.
The ACCSA initiative builds on earlier SAF engagement supported by a smaller grant to the University of South Australia, which helped lay a foundation for deeper cooperation. The new project’s emphasis on investment‑relevant outcomes and student exchanges underscores the importance of workforce development as SAF moves from niche demonstration to scalable production.
This international partnership not only reflects growing recognition of SAF’s role in decarbonising aviation — one of the hardest‑to‑abate sectors — but also signals that multilateral research and policy alignment are becoming essential in accelerating sustainable fuel deployment beyond well‑established markets.