A new research program will develop innovative approaches to make it harder for criminals to create, distribute, store, and view child exploitation material.

The Child Exploitation Material Reduction Research Program will establish multi-disciplinary teams to explore new solutions to reduce availability of child exploitation material.

The Minister for Home Affairs Peter Dutton said the program will directly support the work of the newly created Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation (ACCCE) which is based in Brisbane.

"We are using $800,000 taken from the proceeds of crime to fund the research program over two years, using the ill-gotten gains of criminals to directly support research that will ultimately protect and reduce harm to our children," Mr Dutton said.

"Funding the program is a further testament to the Morrison Government's commitment to combating child exploitation."

Mr Dutton today opened a roundtable event for potential applicants to the Child Exploitation Material Reduction Research Program.

The event was co-hosted by the Australian Institute of Criminology and the ACCCE and was an opportunity for potential applicants to meet key stakeholders, hear about issues in tackling the problem and help generate ideas.

"We are bringing together academics, law enforcement, policy makers and industry to undertake research that will focus on ways to reduce creation and distribution of child exploitation material," Mr Dutton said.

The approach to market was released via AusTender in October, with research proposals to be submitted by 27 November.