Industry and government - Flinders University Staff

Cooperative Research Centres (CRC) Program information

The Cooperative Research Centres (CRC) Program supports industry-led collaborations between industry, researchers and the community. It’s a proven model for linking researchers with industry to focus on research and development towards use and commercialisation.

It aims to:

improve the competitiveness, productivity and sustainability of Australian industries, especially where Australia has a competitive strength and in line with government priorities
foster high quality research to solve industry-identified problems through industry-led and outcome-focused collaborative research partnerships between industry entities and research organisations
encourage and facilitate small and medium enterprise (SME) participation in collaborative research.

There are two components of the CRC Program.

CRC Grants (CRCs) offer medium to long term (between 3 and 10 years), large scale funding for industry-led research collaborations to address significant industry problems. Grants typically have a large number of collaborating organisations and can receive between $30M-$75M of commonwealth funding (matched by participant contributions). Commonwealth funding covers up to 50% of eligible grant project costs. Applicants must at least match the grant funding sought through cash and/or in-kind contributions.
CRC Projects (CRC-P) are short-term (up to 3 years) industry-led collaborative research initiatives supported by up to $3M of commonwealth funding (matched by participant contributions).

Both CRCs and CRC-P collaborations must at least match the amount of the commonwealth grant funding through cash and/or in-kind contributions. In-kind contribution include the non-cash resources provided by a participant to conduct the activities of the CRC or the CRC-P and may be staff or non-staff resources.

CRCs and CRC-Ps will receive funding for a single, specified term to undertake the activities or project in the funding agreement.

The CRC Program supports collaborative research that aligns with Australian Government priorities and areas of focus. This includes alignment with the National Reconstruction Fund (NRF) priority areas, Science and Research Priorities, and/or specific industry sector focus areas that are identified for priority funding in CRC-P and CRC rounds from time to time.

Relevant industry peak bodies and sector stakeholders should be consulted during bid development to ensure alignment with industry competitiveness plans. For current details on stakeholders involved in CRC assessment, refer to the CRC Program website here.

For more information, see the Cooperative Research Centres Program website.

Cooperative Research Centre Projects (CRC-P)

The minimum grant amount is $100,000 and the maximum grant amount is $3 million.

The grant amount will be up to 50% of eligible grant project value.

The lead applicant must be a SME.

The maximum grant period is 3 years.

Must have at least:

Two Australian Industry Entities including at least one SME (less than 200 employees)
One Australian Research Organisation.

Key Dates

CRC-P Round 19

Round opens:	18 March 2026
Round closes:	12 May 2026 5:00pm AEDT
Outcomes announced:	October 2026
Funding commencing:	October-November 2026

CRC-P Round 20

Round opens:	Second half 2026
Round closes:	Second half 2026
Outcomes announced:	Early 2027
Funding commencing:	Early 2027

Cooperative Research Centres (CRC)

There are no minimum or maximum grant amounts for CRCs. Commonwealth funding is typically in the order of $30M-$75M over 7-10 years – with this funding matched (or exceeded) by participant contributions.

The maximum grant period is 10 years.

Must include a collaboration between at least three Australian industry organisations and two Australian research organisations.

Must be industry-led and aim to solve industry identified problems and improve the competitiveness, productivity and sustainability of Australian industries.

Must include an industry-focused education and training program, including a PhD program that builds capability and capacity.

Participating in a CRC at Flinders

CRC grants provide a mechanism to leverage significant industry investment to secure commonwealth funding to build capability and critical mass, and to tackle major industry challenges, through large-scale research collaborations between researchers, industry and end-users.

The involvement of Flinders University in any CRC bid will involve a significant investment of time (from researchers) and other in-kind resources, and of university cash. All CRC involvement must be endorsed by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research), with the support of the relevant College Executive Deans. Flinders University will only support CRC proposals where financial returns are appropriate and there is a strategic case to do so.

The Flinders University CRC Participation Guidelines explain the steps for Flinders to be involved in a CRC, including the approvals required and timelines to consider. CRC Participation Guidelines and Participation Request forms are in the ‘Supporting documents and links’ below.

Key dates for CRC Participation at Flinders University

CRC Round 28 2027

CRC Grants Round 28 will be an ‘AI Accelerator’ funding round. Approximately $50 million will be available to support at least one new AI CRC that drives the commercialisation of AI by businesses and researchers across Australia.

Round 28 will open in 2027 and is also open to applications from other industry sectors and research disciplines.

Read more about the priorities in Round 28 under 'Future rounds'.

A scoping paper on the AI Accelerator round is also available.

Flinders process at a glance:

Step	Action	Who	Key Output
1 - Signal to RDS (Flinders)	Email crc@flinders.edu.au with intent and initial consortium details	CRC Lead Researcher (CLR)	RDS alerted and engagement begun
2 - CRC Participation Request (CPR) – Initial (Flinders)	Complete and submit CPR Initial form	CLR + RDS	Strategic triage - RDS advises if approved to progress
3 - CRC Participation Request (CPR) - Detailed (Flinders)	Complete and submit CPR Detailed form	CLR + RDS	Full assessment - RDS advises outcome
4 - DVCR Pitch (Flinders)	Present bid to DVCR, RDS and College Deans	CLR + DVCR + College Deans of Research	DVCR approves or declines participation
5 - Stage 1 Bid Submission & Deadline (CRC)	If participation approved by DVCR, finalise bid documents (including confirmed in-kind and cash contributions) and submit to RDS. RDS checks completeness and alignment, coordinates final sign-off, facilitates DVCR signature on the CRC Partner Declaration, and: For Flinders-led bids: RDS manages final certification and submission to the Department of Industry, Science and Resources; For bids led by other organisations: RDS coordinates execution of the Partner Declaration by Flinders.	Bid Team + CLR +RDS	Stage 1 bid submitted to Commonwealth
6- Stage 2 Bids Open (CRC)	If invited, prepare and submit Stage 2 application addressing feedback	Bid Team	Stage 2 application submitted to Commonwealth
7 – Stage 2 Bids Close (CRC)	Commonwealth deadline for Stage 2 submission	Bid Team	Stage 2 submission closed
8 – Stage 2 Interview (CRC)	Present bid at interview with CRC Advisory Committee	Bid Team + CLR	Interview assessment completed
9 - Stage 2 Outcome (CRC)	If invited: update bid + reconfirm Flinders commitment	Bid Team + CLR	Commonwealth notifies successful CRCs

Key dates at a glance:

Step	Round 28
CRC Participation Request (CPR) – Initial (Flinders)	Est. Jan 2027
CRC Participation Request (CPR) - Detailed (Flinders)	Est. March 2027
DVCR Pitch (Flinders)	Est. Early April 2027
Stage 1 Bid Submission & Deadline (CRC)	Est. Late April 2027
Stage 2 Bids Open (CRC)	Est. July 2027
Stage 2 Bids Close (CRC)	Est. Sep 2027
Stage 2 Interview (CRC)	Est. Late 2027
Stage 2 Outcome (CRC)	Est. Early 2028