- 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.
- As of 1 May 2010 the average citation rate for CSIRO’s research publications for the period 1 January 2000 to 28 February 2010 was 13.83 which is greater than the Australian average of 11.14 and the world average of 9.99. This is an increase in average number of citations per paper from 12.56 for 2008, 12.17 for 2007, 11.09 for 2006, 10.46 for 2005 and 9.87 for 2004
- CSIRO is Australia’s leading patenting enterprise, holding approximately 3,900 granted or pending patents
- In 2010-11 CSIRO’s estimated budget is $1.2041 billion comprising $483.2m in external revenue and $720.9m in appropriation.
- CSIRO has approximately 6,680 staff. These staff are located at 56 major sites throughout Australia and a number of sites overseas. Additionally CSIRO has a presence at another 33 sites either through short term tenure or hosted arrangements. Approximately 40 per cent of CSIRO staff, are co-located or adjacent to university campuses.
- CSIRO initiated the National Research Flagships program in 2003 to address major national challenges. Ten Flagships now operate, forming extensive partnerships across the National Innovation System, supported by a dedicated Flagship Collaboration Fund.
- 62 per cent of staff hold university degrees, including more than 2,000 doctorates and 500 masters.
- In collaboration with university colleagues, CSIRO staff co-supervise and sponsor approximately 840 postgraduate research students.
- CSIRO’s Science Education Centres engage over 385,000 students, parents and teachers each year and other outreach activities include the Double Helix Club (28,000 members), Science by Email (38,000 subscribers) Scientists in Schools and Mathematicians in Schools Program, the Discovery Centre in Canberra and CarbonKids program.
- CSIRO hosts three major National Research Facilities (the Australian Animal Health Laboratory, the Australia Telescope and the Oceanographic Research Vessel Southern Surveyor) and manages 10 national reference collections including the Australian National Insect Collection, the Australian National Herbarium, the Australian National Fish Collection and the Australian National Wildlife Collection.
Facts and Figures
CSIRO carries out scientific research to assist Australian industry, to further the interests of the Australian community and to contribute to national and international objectives and responsibilities of the Australian Government. To achieve this, CSIRO is focused on:
- addressing major national challenges and opportunities;
- creating new or significantly transforming industries to increase the competitiveness and sustainability of Australian industry;
- delivering incremental innovation to improve the efficiency and competitiveness of existing industries;
- providing fact based solutions that meet community needs and knowledge that informs Government policy; and
- advancing the frontiers of science.
In pursuit of these goals, CSIRO’s research activities are looking to address issues related to biodiversity and biosecurity, climate, energy, water, food production and supply, information and communication technologies, manufactured devices and processes, materials, mineral resources, oceans, promoting health, security, sustainable agriculture and forestry, sustainable communities, and understanding the universe.
CSIRO 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 2007-08 to 2010-11. Over that period CSIRO will receive appropriation funding of $2,757.1 million ($663.2m, $668.1m, $704.9m and $720.9m respectively) to fund its operations and a further $27.5 million over the period 2008-09 to 2010-11 ($7.7m, $9.9m and $9.9m) as a capital injection to fund the construction of the Square Kilometre Array (SKA). In addition to Government appropriation, CSIRO’s revenues from all other sources in 2010-11 is estimated at $483.2m to give a total estimated revenue of $1.2041 billion.
CSIRO allocates approximately 47 per cent of its appropriation funding to the National Research Flagships program. The ten Flagships address major challenges and opportunities in water, climate, energy, health, food, minerals, light metals, manufacturing and oceans.
Through the Flagship Collaboration Fund, CSIRO funds significant research collaborations that are aligned with the Flagships’ ambitious long-term goals, involving universities, Cooperative Research Centres (CRCs) and industry. At the end of 2009-10 almost $56 million has been disbursed from the Fund and approximately eighty four percent of the initial $114 million 2007 Federal Budget funding has been committed to approved scholarships, fellowships, project and clusters.
CSIRO transfers knowledge to industry and the community by issuing over 5,000 scientific publications, 9,500 client reports and around 260 media releases every year. In addition, CSIRO has a number of dedicated programmes to engage specifically with small to medium enterprises through research services and direct investment. Some 150 spin-off companies are based on CSIRO generated intellectual property.
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.