BY TONY PEACOCK, CHIEF EXECUTIVE, CRC ASSOCIATION COOPERATIVE RESEARCH CENTRES: THE CURRENT STATE OF PLAY (NOVEMBER 2015)

CONTEXT THIS SEMINAR IS BASED ON ASSUMPTIONS AND BEST GUESSES BY THE COOPERATIVE RESEARCH CENTRES ASSOCIATION. THE AIM IS TO HELP COMPANIES, UNIVERSITIES AND RESEARCHERS BE COMPETITIVE IN FUTURE FUNDING ROUNDS. THE CRC ASSOCIATION IS NOT PRIVY TO GOVERNMENT PROCESSES OR MINISTERIAL INTENTIONS.

CRC Programme History: Established 1990; Industry-led collaboration; 17 selection rounds completed; 212 CRCs funded; ~ $4b Commonwealth: ~ $14b Participants; 36 Active CRCs.

CRCs: 1.5% of Commonwealth R&D spend; No legislation; Reviewed every 5 years.

Source: OECD Science and Technology Score Board 2013

REVIEWS AND STUDIES OFFICIAL REVIEWS MYERS (1995) MERCER AND STOCKER (1998) HOWARD PARTNERS (2003) O’KANE (2008) MILES (2015) MAJOR STUDIES ALLENS CONSULTING (2005) INSIGHT ECONOMICS (2006) ACIL ALLENS (2012)

THE MILES REVIEW (2015) 18 RECOMMENDATIONS IN THREE AREAS: REFOCUS LIFT PERFORMANCE SIMPLIFY ADMINISTRATION ALL RECOMMENDATIONS ACCEPTED

REFOCUS “SCIENCE AT THE HEART OF INDUSTRY” CLOSE INTERACTION WITH INDUSTRY GROWTH CENTRES INTRODUCTION OF CRC-PROJECTS (CRC-P) DELIVER OUTCOMES IN GROWTH AREAS INDUSTRY SHOULD BE INTEGRAL

LIFT PERFORMANCE 14-MEMBER COMMITTEE → 5-MEMBER ADVISORY GROUP REVISED SELECTION CRITERIA: EXCELLENCE OF RESEARCH; MANAGEMENT TEAM; EDUCATION PROGRAM; INDUSTRY IMPACT. MAXIMUM OF 10 YEARS FUNDING

SIMPLIFY ADMINISTRATION SIMPLE FIRST STAGE ALL CRCS TO BE COMPANIES LIMITED BY GUARANTEE CRC-P SIMPLE AGREEMENT VIA “ACCEPTABLE ENTITY” IP STREAMLINED DISCONTINUE PRIORITY PUBLIC GOOD STREAM

EXPECTATIONS GUIDELINES SOON; FUNDING ROUND SOON; CRC ANNUAL ROUND; CRC-P TRI-ANNUAL ROUND; MIXTURE OF TOP-DOWN AND BOTTOM-UP CRCS; CRC PROGRAMME TO REMAIN IMPORTANT.

ADVICE HINTS FROM MILES EXCELLENCE OF RESEARCH; MANAGEMENT TEAM; EDUCATION PROGRAM; INDUSTRY IMPACT. HINTS FROM MARCUS CLARK MEASURABLE OUTCOMES AND IMPACT.

ADVICE FROM PEACOCK EXCELLENCE OF RESEARCH WHAT WILL YOU ACTUALLY DO? MANAGEMENT TEAM IS IT AN A-GRADE TEAM THAT WILL DELIVER? EDUCATION PROGRAM OFTEN DIFFERENTIATES BIDS; SOMETIMES AN AFTER THOUGHT INDUSTRY IMPACT IS THE WHOLE TEAM (NOT JUST MANAGEMENT) FOCUSED ON IMPACT? IS THE INDUSTRY REALLY IN THE LEAD?

ADVICE FROM PEACOCK GET READY APPLICATIONS CAN’T BE RUSHED RELATIONSHIPS TAKE TIME AND TRUST HAVE A GO

Including Science – Business Match-Up 8 March