The national body for industry-research collaboration, Cooperative Research Australia (CRA), congratulated Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and his team on winning government on Saturday. CRA also congratulated newly elected parliamentarians.
“We look forward to working with the Albanese government to advance Australia’s capacity for industry-research collaboration to benefit our economy, society and environment,” said CEO Jane O’Dwyer.
“Australia’s innovation system is a rich source of talent and potential, from our world-leading universities to collaborative entities like National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Strategy (NCRIS) facilities, Cooperative Research Centres (CRCs), Drought Hubs, Trailblazer Universities, Growth Centres and so many more.
“The Albanese government has a real opportunity to transform Australia by leveraging that capacity and talent through fostering better coordination and linkages across the system, drawing upon the lessons of programs such as the Cooperative Research Centres to supercharge Australian innovation.
“The new Minister will have on their desk the ACIL Allen Impact Assessment of the CRC Program. We know data presented at our Collaborate Innovate Conference in April, that the present and anticipated economic benefits (to 2025) of the CRC Program over the period of 2012- 2020 are $31 billion. GDP is currently $12.2 billion higher because of the program and GDP increased by $5.61 for every dollar of Government funding, and 22,007 full time equivalent job years have been created because of the Program.
“That is a huge impact. More than 30 years after the Hawke Government established the CRC Program, it perhaps can be viewed as a successful 30-year pilot, whose model, and lessons ripple across the system.
“Its benefits go beyond the translation of research into commercial benefit, to encompass through the public good centres such as The Lowitja Institute, Natural Hazards Research Australia and the Autism CRC that translate research for a public economic, social, or environmental benefit.
“There is a real opportunity for the incoming Minister to bring together participants across the innovation ecosystem to foster better collaboration, cross-government and intergovernmental coordination of innovation and research. Stepping up that cross-fertilisation will improve Australia’s competitiveness as an innovation nation.
“We look forward to working with the Albanese government to foster collaboration across the industry-research sector and unleash the full potential that sits within Australia’s grasp.