On Wednesday night’s edition of The Business, presenter Ticky Fullerton questioned the Minister for Industry, The Hon. Ian Macfarlane, on “abolishing” the Cooperative Research Centres Program, or at least “butchering it”. Thankfully this is not the situation.
“CRCs are far from abolished” said CRC Association CEO Dr. Tony Peacock.
“The recent budget cuts hurt, no doubt about it. But we have 36 CRCs working flat out, and a pipeline of new ones in development”.
Minister Macfarlane gave an example of Boeing’s advanced manufacturing earlier in the interview. The CRC for Advanced Composites Structures (CRC-ACS) were integral to that development and they are now working with Airbus on “welding” of composites. Past reviews and studies have continuously demonstrated the extraordinary value of CRCs to Australia.
Dr Peacock said the CRC Association couldn’t agree more with Minister Macfarlane when he says “collaboration is key”.
“CRCs aren’t afraid of finding even better ways of maximising the collaboration between industry and public researchers. We have an outstanding track record but if we can identify improved pathways in the coming review, we’ll embrace them.”
Dr. Peacock will spend five weeks early in 2015 looking at world’s best practice in university–business relationships, with the support of the Monash University Churchill Fellowship.
Information: Jordan Gardner, CRC Association
Phone: 02 6273 1124
Mobile: 0432 926 823
Email: jordan.gardner@crca.asn.au.