KEY POINTS
- The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) is a Commonwealth statutory authority established under the Science and Industry Research Act 1949.
- CSIRO carries out scientific research to assist Australian industry and to further the interests of the Australian community; and to contribute to national and international objectives and responsibilities of the Australian Government.
- CSIRO ranks in the top one per cent of world scientific institutions in 13 of 22 research fields and ranks amongst the world’s top ten institutions in three fields: plant and animal sciences; agricultural sciences; and environment and ecology.
- CSIRO is Australia’s leading patenting enterprise, holding over 3,900 granted or pending patents.
- In 2007-08 CSIRO’s estimated budget is $1,030.1m made up of $366.9m in external revenue and $663.2m in appropriation.
- CSIRO has approximately 6300 staff located at 54 major sites throughout Australia and on overseas sites. Additionally CSIRO has a presence at 33 sites either through short term tenure or hosted arrangements. Approximately 2,600 or about 40 percent of CSIRO staff are co-located or adjacent to university campuses.
- In addition, CSIRO is currently supporting DRET in its development of the government’s election commitments to establish a solar thermal research institute and support research into the development of clean coal technologies.
- CSIRO hosts three major National Research Facilities (the Australian Animal Health Laboratory, the Australia Telescope, the Oceanographic Research Vessel Southern Surveyor) and manages 10 national reference collections including the Australian National Insect Collection Australian National Herbarium, the Australian National Fish Collection and the Australian National Wildlife Collection.
- Senator Carr announced on 3 September 2008, that Dr Megan Clark will take over as the new Chief Executive for a five year term commencing in January 2009.
FACTS AND FIGURES
The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) is a Commonwealth statutory authority established under the Science and Industry Research Act 1949.
CSIRO carries out scientific research to assist Australian industry and to further the interests of the Australian community; and to contribute to national and international objectives and responsibilities of the Australian Government. CSIRO also encourages or facilitates the application and use of the results of its own or any other scientific research. Secondary functions specified in the Science and Industry Research Act 1949 include international scientific liaison, training of research workers, publication of research results, and dissemination of science and technology.
CSIRO’s Quadrennium Funding Agreement (QFA) covers the period 2007/8 to 2010/11. Over that period will receive total appropriation funding of $2,765.7m ($663.2m, $677.0m, $699.3m and $726.2m respectively). In addition to Government Appropriation, CSIRO‘s revenues from all other sources in 2007/08 is estimated in the Portfolio Budget Statements at $366.9 million to give a total estimated revenue of $1,030.1m.
CSIRO hosts three major National Research Facilities (the Australian Animal Health Laboratory, the Australia Telescope, the Oceanographic Research Vessel Southern Surveyor) and manages 10 national reference collections including the Australian National Insect Collection Australian National Herbarium, the Australian National Fish Collection and the Australian National Wildlife Collection.
CSIRO ranks in the top one per cent of world scientific institutions in 13 of 22 research fields and ranks amongst the world’s top ten institutions in three fields: plant and animal sciences; agricultural sciences; and environment and ecology (based on citation rates as provided by Institute for Scientific Information (ISI) Web of Knowledge July 2007)
CSIRO transfers knowledge through nearly 5,000 scientific publications, over 13,000 client reports and around 260 media releases annually.
CSIRO offers some 50 specialised technical and analytical services. These include analyses for air pollutants and satellite imaging of natural resources through to fire testing of materials and diagnosis of exotic animal diseases.
CSIRO is Australia’s leading patenting enterprise, holding over 3,900 granted or pending patents.
Some 150 spin-off companies are based on CSIRO generated intellectual property and expertise. Intellectual Property revenues from ‘running royalties’ in 2006-07 were $35.2 million done slightly from the record high of $37 million in 2005-06.