Crc Committee

The CRC Program commenced in 1991. The objective of the Program is:"To deliver significant economic, environmental and social benefits to Australia by supporting end-user driven research partnerships between publicly funded researchers and end-users to address clearly articulated, major challenges that require medium to long term collaborative efforts." The CRC Program links researchers with industry to focus R&D efforts on progress towards utilisation and commercialisation. The close interaction between researchers and the users of research is a key feature of the Program. Another feature is industry contribution to CRC education programs to produce industry-ready graduates. To date there have been a total of 186 CRCs. Since the inception of the CRC Program, 185 CRCs have been funded. The Australian Government has committed more than $3.3 billion in CRC Program funding and Participants in CRC have committed a further $10.8 billion in cash and in-kind contributions The CRC Committee consists of up to fourteen members including an independent Chair and ten other independent members appointed by the Minister for a period of up to five years and three ex-officio members. Committee Members are selected to ensure the CRC Committee has a broad range of expertise relevant to the needs of the Program in research, education, utilisation, research management, industry and other end users. Committee Members are drawn from industry, research providers and Australian Government departments and agencies responsible for innovation and research. The role of the CRC Committee is to provide recommendations to the Minister about: applications for CRC funding; performance, monitoring and review of individual CRC's activities during their period of operation; and the planning, monitoring and evaluation of the CRC Program.