KEY POINTS
- The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) is a Commonwealth statutory authority established under the Science and Industry Research Act 1949.
- CSIRO carries out scientific research to assist Australian industry and to further the interests of the Australian community; and to contribute to national and international objectives and responsibilities of the Australian Government.
- CSIRO is in the top one per cent of world research institutions in 13 of the 22 fields covering all research in science and the humanities (based on total citations over the last eleven years; sourced from Thomson-Reuters-ISI Essential Science Indicators database, March 2009).
- The average citation rate for CSIRO’s research publications is currently 13.06 which is greater than the Australian average of 10.82 and the world average of 9.91. This is an increase in average number of citations per paper from 11.95 for 2007-08, 11.09 for 2006-07, 10.46 for 2005-06 and from 9.87 for 2004-05.
- CSIRO is Australia’s leading patenting enterprise, holding approximately 3,900 granted or pending patents.
- In 2009-10 CSIRO’s estimated budget is $1.1059 billion comprising $401 million in external revenue and $704.9 million in appropriation.
- CSIRO has approximately 6,300 staff. These staff are located at 54 major sites throughout Australia and a number of sites overseas. Additionally CSIRO has a presence at another 33 sites either through short term tenure or hosted arrangements. Approximately 2,600 or about 40 percent of CSIRO staff are co-located or adjacent to university campuses.
- CSIRO initiated the National Research Flagships program in 2003 to address major national challenges. Nine Flagships now operate, forming extensive partnerships across the National Innovation System, supported by a dedicated Flagship Collaboration Fund.
- 62 percent of staff hold university degrees, including more than 2000 doctorates and 500 masters.
- In collaboration with university colleagues, our staff co-supervise and/or sponsor approximately 650 postgraduate research students.
- CSIRO’s Science Education Centres engage over 380,000 students, parents and teachers each year and other outreach activities include the Double Helix Club (25000 members), Scientists in Schools Program and the Discovery Centre in Canberra.
- CSIRO hosts three major National Research Facilities (the Australian Animal Health Laboratory, the Australia Telescope and the Oceanographic Research Vessel Southern Surveyor) and manages 10 national reference collections including the Australian National Insect Collection Australian National Herbarium, the Australian National Fish Collection and the Australian National Wildlife Collection.
FACTS AND FIGURES
CSIRO carries out scientific research to assist Australian industry, to further the interests of the Australian community and to contribute to national and international objectives and responsibilities of the Australian Government. To achieve this, CSIRO is focused on:
- addressing major national challenges and opportunities
- creating new or significantly transforming industries to increase the competitiveness and sustainability of Australian industry
- delivering incremental innovation to improve the efficiency and competitiveness of existing industries
- providing fact based solutions that meet community needs and knowledge that informs Government policy
- advancing the frontiers of science
In pursuit of these goals, CSIRO’s research activities are looking to address issues related to biodiversity and biosecurity, climate, energy, water, food production and supply, information and communication technologies, manufactured devices and processes, materials, mineral resources, oceans, promoting health, security, sustainable agriculture and forestry, sustainable communities, and understanding the universe.
CSIRO encourages or facilitates the application and use of the results of its own or any other scientific research. Secondary functions specified in the Science and Industry Research Act 1949 include international scientific liaison, training of research workers, publication of research results, and dissemination of science and technology.
CSIRO’s Quadrennium Funding Agreement (QFA) covers the period 2007/8 to 2010/11. Over that period CSIRO will receive appropriation funding of $2,776.3m ($663.2m, $668.1m, $704.9m and $712.5m respectively) to fund its operations and a further $27.5m over the period 2008-09 to 20010-11 ($7.7m, $9.9m and $9.9m) as a capital injection to fund construction of the SKA. In addition to Government appropriation, CSIRO’s revenues from all other sources in 2009-10 is estimated in the Portfolio Budget Statements at $401m to give a total estimated revenue of $1.1059m.
CSIRO allocates approximately 46 percent of its appropriation funding to the National Research Flagships program. The ten Flagships address major challenges and opportunities in water, climate, energy, health, food, minerals, light metals, manufacturing and oceans.
Through the Flagship Collaboration Fund, CSIRO funds significant research collaborations that are aligned with the Flagships’ ambitious long-term goals, involving universities, CRCs and industry. Since 2005 approximately $28m (of a total budgeted to 2010-11 of $114m) has been allocated to fund large scale research clusters, smaller projects, postgraduate scholarships and fellowships, supplemented by approximately $42m from our partners.
CSIRO is a mission-driven, applied research organisation with a great depth and breadth of expertise: CSIRO is in the top one per cent of world research institutions in 13 of the 22 fields covering all research in science and the humanities (based on citation rates). CSIRO is the top ranked Australian organisation in three of these fields.
CSIRO transfers knowledge to industry and the community by issuing over 4,500 scientific publications, 10,000 client reports and around 260 media releases every year. In addition, CSIRO has a number of dedicated programmes to engage specifically with small to medium enterprises through research services and direct investment. Some 150 spin-off companies are based on CSIRO generated intellectual property.
CSIRO offers some 50 specialised technical and analytical services. These include analyses for air pollutants and satellite imaging of natural resources through to fire testing of materials and diagnosis of exotic animal diseases. CSIRO is also Australia’s leading patenting enterprise, holding approximately 3,900 granted or pending patents.