Cooperative Research Centres (CRCs) are virtual companies formed through a collaboration of industry and researchers. This includes private sector organisations (both large and small enterprises), industry associations, universities and government research agencies such as the CSIRO and other end users.

The objective of the CRC Program is to deliver economic, environmental and social benefits to Australia by supporting end-user driven research partnerships between publicly-funded researchers and end-users to address major challenges that require medium to long-term collaborative efforts.

CRCs are vital to realising innovation through industry/researcher collaboration and positioning Australia for a future as a science and innovation leader.

In September 2014, the Minister for Industry Ian Macfarlane announced a review of the Australian Government’s CRC Program and appointed former Chair of Innovation Australia David Miles AM to lead it.

The review occurs in the context of the Federal Government decision to reduce funding to the CRC Program in the 2014 May budget by $80 million over the next four years (or 20 per cent of its budget), and the National Commission of Audit recommending the program be abolished.

Now more than ever, the community and government need to understand that investment in science, engineering and technology research in partnership with industry will be a predictor of national innovative capability and productivity.

At Professionals Australia, we believe those either currently or formerly involved with the CRC Program and at medical research institutes related to the CRC Program are uniquely placed to give us informed and intelligent insights into the key challenges involved in CRC projects.

To that end, we conducted a survey which has formed the basis of our submission to the CRC review and our advocacy work on behalf of members working across CRCs and medical institutes.

To read the submission, click here …

Submission to CRC Review – November 2014