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THE Minister for Industry, Innovation and Science, Christopher Pyne, has announced that applications are now open for the latest round of funding for CRCs and CRC Projects (CRC-Ps).

Mr Pyne said the funding rounds were the first held under the Government’s new CRC Programme guidelines.

“Improving collaboration between researchers and industry to cultivate a more innovative and entrepreneurial economy is a key pillar of the new National Innovation and Science Agenda – and that’s why the Government committed to opening this CRC round as part of the agenda”, Mr Pyne said.

“The new guidelines, released in December, mean that funding will be prioritised to those CRCs and CRC-Ps that are aligned with the six Industry Growth Centres and the Government’s nine Science and Research Priorities.

“However, the programme will be flexible enough to address emerging priority areas and consider proposals from other industry sectors.”

Traditional CRCs will support medium to long-term industry-led research; CRC-Ps will focus on shorter term activity with an emphasis on involving SMEs.

"The CRC programme has been successful over a long period of time in solving industry problems, and getting great Australian innovations – like the Cochlear ear implant – to market.

“We’ve placed industry at the front and centre of the CRC Programme so we can build on our strengths in high quality research to improve the competitiveness, productivity and sustainability of Australian industries.”

Funding rounds for CRCs (Round 18) and CRC-Ps (Round 1) open for applications on 1 February. CRC-P applications close on 17 March; CRC applications close on 31 March.

Applications that are industry-led and focused on practical outcomes are encouraged to apply.

Webinar information sessions will be held on 23 and 24 February.

Visit www.business.gov.au/crc for further information on the selection rounds and to register for the webinars.

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