Funding for medium to long-term, industry-led research collaborations

To be eligible you must:

• be a medium to long term industry-led collaborative research project to solve industry-identified problems and improve the competitiveness, productivity and sustainability of Australian industries 
• include an industry-focused education and training program, which must include, but is not limited to, a PhD program which complements the research program and increases engagement, technology development, skilled employees and R&D capacity within industry entities
• implement strategies which build the R&D capacity within SMEs
• deploy research outputs and encourage take-up by industry

Eligible activities must relate directly to the project and may include:

• new research
• proof of concept activities
• pre-commercialisation of research outcomes
• industry-focused education and training
• conferences, workshops and communications
• collaboration with international organisations providing national benefits to Australia

You can only spend grant funds on expenses outlined in your grant agreement. You can find more information on eligibility in the CRC Program Grant Opportunity Guidelines.

We can't consider your application if you don't satisfy all eligibility criteria. Only eligible applications will proceed to the assessment stage.

We can only accept applications where you can provide a declaration from each partner on the template provided and where you can demonstrate the ability to at least match (in cash or in-kind) the grant funds requested. 

We assess your application against the eligibility criteria and then against the assessment criteria. Only eligible applications will proceed to the assessment stage.

The CRC Advisory Committee will assess all eligible Stage 1 applications and make recommendations to the Minister on which applications are suitable for progression to Stage 2. The Minister will invite the most meritorious Stage 1 applicants to submit a Stage 2 application and attend an interview with the CRC Advisory Committee.

The Minister decides which applications are successful.

Round 22 dates (approximate only)

• Stage 1 opened 30 April 2020
• Stage 1 closed 29 July 2020
• Stage 2 opens November 2020
• Stage 2 closes January 2021
• Interviews held – February 2021
• Outcomes announced March 2021
• Funding starts 1 October 2021

We will only award funding to applications that are competitive against all assessment criteria, as these represent best value for money.

Assessment criterion 1 – Project alignment with the program objectives (25 points)

You should demonstrate this by describing:

1. the industry-identified problem and how this is impacting the competitiveness, productivity and sustainability of Australian industries, including links to Government priorities (10 points)
2. how your project will foster high quality research through industry-led and outcome-focused collaborative industry-research partnerships (10 points)
3. the additionality or value add of the proposed project in relation to the existing approach industry has to solving the problem (5 points)

Assessment criterion 2 – The quality of your research project (25 points)

You should demonstrate this by describing:

1. the research you will do and the methodologies you will use, including describing the role of your partners in the research (10 points)
2. how the research will address the identified industry problem, build on the current body of knowledge and enhance the adoption of new technologies (5 points)
3. the education and training opportunities your project will provide, including a PhD program, to build capability and capacity in the industry and research sectors (10 points)

Assessment criterion 3 – Capacity, capability and resources to deliver your project (25 points)

You should demonstrate this by describing:

1. how you will manage and monitor your project and your partners, explaining the governance and planning arrangements, including security (8 points)
2. a plan to manage and monitor the project, including risk management of but not limited to security (in particular any associated national security issues), involvement of international partners and intellectual property protection (10 points)
3. your access to required resources, including personnel with the right skills (project/business/commercialisation management) and experience (names/qualifications and achievements), funding, security, infrastructure, technology and intellectual property (5 points)
4. why your collaboration is the most appropriate to solve the identified problem with specific reference to any existing collaborations (2 points)

Assessment criterion 4 – Impact of the grant funding on your project (25 points)

You should demonstrate this by describing:

1. the likelihood your project would proceed without the grant and how the grant will impact the project in terms of scale and timing (5 points)
2. the total investment the grant will leverage and why the Australian Government should invest in your project (10 points)
3. the commercial potential of your project, including the expected commercial outputs such as new products, processes or services, and/or any expected spill over benefits (10 points)

If your Stage 1 application is successful, we'll invite you to submit a Stage 2 application and attend an interview with the CRC Advisory Committee.

In Stage 2, we'll invite you to submit a Stage 2 application addressing CRC Advisory Committee feedback on your Stage 1 application. We'll also ask you to attend an interview with the CRC Advisory Committee.

If you're unsuccessful at either stage, we’ll notify you in writing and give you the chance to discuss the outcome with us.

All funded CRCs must be established and governed as an incorporated company, limited by guarantee (the CRC Entity).

Successful applicants must enter into a grant agreement with the Commonwealth. The grant agreement will specify the reporting requirements, payment schedule and milestones necessary to receive payments.

We'll make payments according to an agreed schedule set out in the grant agreement. Payments are subject to satisfactory progress on the project. We'll make an initial payment on execution of the grant agreement if we're satisfied you have made significant progress in finalising the partners’ agreement.

The CRC Program supports industry-led collaborations between industry, researchers and the community. It’s a proven way to link researchers with industry. The focus is on research and development that will have commercial uses.

The program aims to:

• improve the competitiveness, productivity and sustainability of Australian industries, especially where Australia is competitive and in government priority areas
• use high quality research to solve industry-identified problems
• encourage and help SMEs to take part in collaborative research

Industry Growth Centres

CRCs, CRC Projects and Industry Growth Centres work together to improve industry research engagement. Growth Centres can help you to identify industry research challenges and encourage collaboration with the right industry members. Find out more in our:

• background information for CRC applicants [275 KB]
• Industry Growth Centres Initiative web page

CRC Association

The CRC Association is a not-for-profit organisation to promote the Cooperative Research Centres Program. Find out more on the CRC Association website.