The Cooperative Research Centre programme is “a proven model for driving industry-led collaborative research to solve problems, deliver real outcomes,” Industry and Science Minister Ed Husic says

Addressing an event by Cooperative Research Australia, the successor to the CRC Association Monday, Mr Husic also said, “there are many of you in this room that have made an immense contribution to innovation in this country and have maintained the faith.”

Adding reality to the rhetoric, he mentioned a soon to be released “impact evaluation,” which confirms the programme’s effectiveness. Presumably this is the decadal assessment, commissioned by the previous government (CMM April 26 2021).

And Mr Husic made a practical promise, for fixed dates for CRC applications, so bid teams can prepare, which will be well received.

What a difference a year makes. CRCs rated bare mentions in the coalition’s 2021 university research action plan.