CTx gets largest share of CRC funding round

The federal government has allocated $34 million in funding for the Cancer Therapeutics Cooperative Research Centre (CRC) over the next six years.

The HEARing CRC has also been allocated an additional $28 million in funding, from a total pool of $186 million assigned during the 16th round of the CRC program.

Under the new initiative, three new CRCs - the Rail Manufacturing CRC, Data Decisions CRC and Space Environment Management CRC - will be established.

The existing Capital Markets CRC - which concentrates on developing operational technology for the financial and health industries - and the CRC for Sheep Industry Innovation will also receive additional funding.

The $34 million allocated to the Cancer Therapeutics CRC (CTx) was the largest of the seven grants.

Minister for Industry Ian Macfarlane said the 16th CRC round builds on the long history of industry-driven collaboration under the initiative.

“The CRC Program is a joint effort - since 1991, the Australian Government has committed more than $3.7 billion to CRCs and CRC participants have contributed a further $11.7 billion in cash and in-kind support,” he said.

“In addition to this funding, the Advanced Manufacturing and Manufacturing Industry Innovation CRCs are well positioned to assist the Australian manufacturing industry to adapt to new, high-tech manufacturing processes and will assist in opening new markets,” Macfarlane added.

“These applications displayed merit and are proposing to address issues of national importance. As such I have asked these CRCs to submit a combined proposal for my consideration.”

The government will start taking applications for the 17th CRC program on 3 March, with a deadline for submissions of 3 July.