$3bn for CSIRO

The CSIRO, through a new quadrennial funding agreement with the Australian Government, will receive $3 billion over the four years from 2011.

The CSIRO’s expertise is invaluable across government, with commissions worth well over $100 million every year to assist the work of many Australian Government departments. These government contracts are on top of the new $3 billion in operational funding over four years.

As part of this support, the government is investing $20 million over five years to extend the Tasmanian ICT Centre. The CSIRO is matching that funding with a further $20 million. The Tasmanian government is committing $5 million, with another $5 million to be raised from industry.

With the launch of a new Strategic Plan scheduled for July this year, the focus of the CSIRO’s work will include building an integrated national picture of carbon, water and land use; maintaining Australia’s biosecurity; enhancing national productivity and supporting the growth of the digital economy; and addressing the key national and global challenges of food security, clean energy, climate change and preventative health.