Bushfire CRC/AFAC Program Review released

The report on the review of Australia’s Cooperative Research Centres program was officially released earlier this month by Senator Kim Carr, the Federal Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research.

The report reviewed the CRC program and had a list of options for the Government to consider. The review was undertaken by Professor Mary O’Kane, who was supported by the Collaboration Working Group of the National Innovation System Review. That review is now due to report to the Government by 29 August 2008, providing a Green Paper to be released shortly thereafter.

Cooperative Research Centres Associaion (CRCA) CEO Mr. Michael Hartmann believed the report to be “solid and well considered” and said the review team had “done a tremendous job”.

“Through drawing common views together Professor O’Kane has compiled a series of recommendations that will drive the continued evolution of this successful Program.

“The report highlights the positive return on investment that the Program provides its investors," he said.

Senator Carr lauded the success of the CRC program, and emphasised the Government commitment to revive public interest research.

"The CRC program was established under the Hawke Government in 1990. Over that time it has been extraordinarily successful, with the Australian Government committing nearly $3 billion to establish 168 CRCs," Senator Carr said.

"This review has provided a timely opportunity for all stakeholders to assess the focus of the program. It has given everyone a chance to think about how we can improve CRCs to ensure they deliver the best possible outcomes for researchers, industry and the entire Australian community."

The main issues addressed by the recommendations include:

• The overall emphasis and objective of the Program.
• The need for flexibility and simplification in administration.
• CRC lifespan and life cycles.
• Governance models and legal arrangements.
• Links and synergies with other Government Programs.
• Stronger selection, review and evaluation protocols.

The review also recommended the creation of a new program to develop closer relationships between industry and research.

"We need to make a greater effort to bring researchers and innovative companies together – it is vital to a healthy innovation system, but an area in which Australia has been falling further behind our competitors over recent years," Senator Carr said.

Mr. Hartmann said many of the recommendations were in line with the CRC Association’s submission to the review of the National Innovation System.

“We agree with the refocus of the Program objective and the reclaiming of the public benefit emphasis. We also concur with the philosophy of flexibility and the need to ensure that CRC funds are spent on research rather than being squandered on legals, transaction costs and administration.

"We note with interest the ‘auxiliary’ CRC concept, and the potential for a successful CRC to morph into an ARC Centre of Excellence; and we support the drive for international collaborations.

“From the outset we have supported this review as it was always going to be about evolution rather than merely change. The CRC Association is the representative voice of its members, and as such we will now thoroughly examine each recommendation and provide our response to the Government,” Mr. Hartmann said.

Bushfire CRC CEO Gary Morgan and Australasian Fire and Emergency Service Authorities Council(AFAC) CEO Naomi Brown said the review provided a "strong basis for a secure future for the CRC program".

The report can be accessed here (pdf - 108 pages).