Round 10 of Cooperative Research Centre Project grants isn’t all that innovative

For a start, there is $10m available, way under half the money for rounds eight and nine. The reduced funding means probably no more than three or four bids will get up. But competition will not be as fierce as usual, only projects developing recycling products and solutions qualify.

Innovation observers suggest this is a setback for the programme. With the future of the research and development tax incentive still stalled in the Senate, industry is looking to CRC Ps, which are funded to answer immediate industry needs. They won’t be seeing much with this round.