KEY POINTS
- The CRC Program provides funding to build critical mass in research ventures between end-users and researchers which tackle clearly-articulated, major challenges for the end-users. CRCs pursue solutions to these challenges that are innovative, of high impact and capable of being effectively deployed by the end-users.
- The Guidelines for a new re-invigorated CRC Program were released by the Minister on 28 November 2008 following a review of the Program by Professor Mary O'Kane. The key features include the reinstatement of public good (social & environmental benefits) as a key objective of the Program, variable funding periods of up to ten years, annual selection rounds, inclusion of humanities and social sciences, flexibility of governance arrangements, as well as rigorous independent reviews. Copies of the new Guidelines are available for download from the CRC Program website, www.crc.gov.au.
- The Minister also opened the 11th CRC selection round on 28 November 2008 and it is expected to be finalised in July 2009.
- The Government has committed an additional $15 million to the Bushfire CRC to support its research efforts following the devastating Victorian bushfires. This will provide an additional three years support to the CRC to 2013.
- The Minister announced the 12th CRC Selection round would be held in 2009 with applications to close on 14 August. This follows the Government's decision to hold annual funding rounds, in line with the recommendation from the O’Kane review. The Minister is expected to announce the outcomes of the 12th CRC Selection Round in December 2009.
- Across the Program’s lifetime, 168 CRCs have been funded (including 48 current CRCs), with financial commitments comprising $3.0 billion from the Government and $9.3 billion from consortium partners.
FACTS AND FIGURES
2008-09
|
Number of CRCs:
|
48 (49)† |
|
Agriculture and rural based manufacturing
Environment
Information and Communication Technology
Manufacturing Technology
Medical Science and Technology
Mining and Energy
|
14
10 (11)†
5
7
8
4 |
† The CRC for Australian Weed Management received an extension of funding until December 2008
Comparative funding data
|
Funding Round |
Number CRCs |
Average Grant
$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
|
|
2007-08 |
2006-07 |
2005-06 |
2004-05 |
|
No of CRCs |
58 |
58 |
72 |
69 |
|
Publications |
2,499 |
1,795 |
2,745 |
2479 |
|
Patents filed |
140 |
138 |
125 |
92 |
|
Patents maintained
Australia
Overseas
|
666
201
465 |
688
215
473 |
873
249
624 |
945
309
636 |
|
Spin off companies |
2 |
7 |
12 |
12 |
|
Total students graduated
PhDs
Masters
Other postgraduate degrees
|
289
206
20
63
|
299
195
42
62
|
308
207
24
77
|
441
228
65
148
|
|
Companies involved
Large (>100)
Medium (20-100)
Small (<20)
|
1,237
438
371
428
|
1,176
427
366
383
|
1,279
536
367
376
|
1177
498
338
341
|
|
International alliances |
448 |
410 |
519 |
720 |
|
Economic benefit 2006 |
$1.16 for every $1 invested by through the CRC Program
|
As at 24 March 2009