KEY POINTS
- CRCs are collaborations between industry, Australian universities and public sector research agencies to develop innovative research concepts into useable products and processes.
- Across the Program’s lifetime, 168 CRCs have been funded (including 49 current CRCs), comprising $3.0 billion from the Government and $9.3 billion from consortium partners.
- The Minister released the Report by Professor Mary O'Kane on the Review of the CRC Program on 5 August 2008. The recommendations go to improving the administration of the Program, its position and integration in the national innovation system, as well as encouraging participation by a broader range of partners across industries/sectors and disciplines for industry and/or broader public benefit.
- The recommendations from the CRC review was considered as part of the Government's response to the Green Paper on the National Innovation System released on 9 September 2008. The Government will respond with a White Paper by the end of the year.
- The next selection process should be finalised by mid 2009.
FACTS AND FIGURES
2008-09
|
Number of CRCs: |
49 |
|
Agriculture and rural based manufacturing
Environment
Information and Communication Technology
Manufacturing Technology
Medical Science and Technology
Mining and Energy
|
14
11
5
7
8
4 |
Comparative funding data
|
Funding Round |
Number CRCs |
Average
$m |
Total
$m |
No of Supplementary Funding |
Total + Supp
$m
|
|
Round 10 (2006) |
10 |
31.9 |
319.5 |
4 |
344.9 |
|
Round 9 (2004) |
14 |
28.6 |
400.4 |
2 |
407.0 |
CRC Program Performance data
|
|
2006-07 |
2005-06 |
2004-05 |
2003-04
|
|
No of CRCs |
58 |
72 |
69 |
72 |
|
Publications |
1,795 |
2,745 |
2479 |
2194 |
|
Patents filed |
138 |
125 |
92 |
91 |
|
Patents maintained
Australia
Overseas |
688
215
473 |
873
249
624 |
945
309
636 |
964
354
610 |
|
Spin off companies |
7 |
12 |
12 |
22 |
|
Total students graduated
PhDs
Masters
Other postgraduate degrees |
299
195
42
62 |
308
207
24
77 |
441
228
65
148 |
429
249
58
122 |
|
Companies involved
Large (>100)
Medium (20-100)
Small (<20) |
1,176
427
366
383 |
1,279
536
367
376 |
1177
498
338
341 |
1,326
559
404
363 |
|
International alliances |
410 |
519 |
720 |
753 |
|
Economic benefit 2006 |
$1.16 for every $1 invested by the Australian Gov’t |
As at 4 December 2007