The Federal Government’s main program to drive collaborative research and development between the public and private sectors was the Cinderella science scheme in this year’s Budget.

The Government maintained its support for the Cooperative Research Centres program but did not give it any additional funding despite a 25 per cent increase in investment in innovation.

“Australia’s CRCs are the cornerstone of the national innovation system,” said Michael Hartmann, CEO of the Cooperative Research Centres Association. “Collaboration figures prominently in the Budget and in the Government’s roadmap, ‘Innovation Agenda to 2020’. But the Government deferred extra funding for the CRC program.”

However, Mr Hartmann said programs, such as the Collaborative Research Networks scheme and the new Commonwealth Commercialisation Institute, along with tax reform to encourage business investment in research and development, would promote collaboration, especially in small to medium sized enterprises.

The CRC program was established in 1991 by the Hawke Labor Government. Cooperative Research Centres unite universities, industry and government agencies in research on topics ranging from bush tomatoes to jet aircraft.
 

For further information contact:   
Michael Hartmann, Chief Executive Officer CRC Association         Ph 0438 081 968