The Cooperative Research Centre programme is “working well, delivering on objectives, and meeting an identified need,” so well it only needs “ minor adjustments” and should continue – with more money

A review, commissioned by the Commonwealth from consultants ACIL Allen, also finds that while it is too early to tell, “indications” for the newish, shorter-term CRC Project scheme, “are very promising.”

The overall conclusions are broadly in-line with the 2015 Miles Review of CRCs, and suits the circumstances, then and now, of governments focused on applied research (CMM May 20 2015).

Among changes the new review suggests are;

* a larger committee advising on applications

* liaison officers to improve relationships between industry and research partners in CRCs

* maximum 12 months between applications closing and round winners announced

The report also proposes 15 years of funding, instead of ten, “where a longer funding period is desirable to secure the best return on investment.”

New CRC Ps

Round 13 was announced Thursday, with 21 universities participating in 19 projects. CMM faves are, a COVID 19 vaccine patch (Uni Sydney, Uni Queensland and partners), crypto-currency secure transaction (RMIT participates) and a collision avoiding smart helmet for motorbike riders (Macquarie U, Uni Canberra, Western Sydney U).

Applications open

CRC Round 24 applications close March 7 and CRC P Round 14 on March 2.