Sustainability of Research Centres - Advisory Science Council

Chapter 4 Funding Models for State-Supported Research
Centres: Findings & Recommendations
The findings and recommendations in relation to the key aspects of funding models are addressed in this
chapter. As discussed in Chapter 1, the following four components add together to form the basis of a
funding model:
1 The expected outputs of the centre - these should be aligned with the objectives of the centre
(section 4.1).
2 The diversification of funding that a centre should achieve - this should be aligned with the expected
outputs of the centre (section 4.2).
3 The key elements of a centre that need to be in place (and funded appropriately) in order for a centre
to deliver on its objectives in a sustainable manner (section 4.3).
4 The approach to be taken in relation to provision of base-centre-funding (see Note Box 2: Base-
Centre-Funding) for centres that complete a fixed term programme of base-centre-funding (graduated
centres).
Furthermore, component 3 of the funding model can be further refined as described in Chapter 2, with
the key elements for sustainability of a research centre being defined as:
A. Governance and management processes and people to define a research strategy and manage its
implementation.
B. Funding for researchers (and appropriate research support staff) to deliver the research strategy.
C. The facilities and equipment to support the research (and appropriate support staff to operate the
equipment).
The spectrum presented in Figure 5 and the subsequent groupings of centres (Group 1-4) identified were
used as a conceptual framework for developing a small number of funding models.
It is emphasised that due to the different rationale for centres associated with different groups, there is
some variability in terms of how the three elements of research centre sustainability need to be addressed
for each group.
4.1 Expected Outputs According to Group
During the period that a centre is receiving a stream of funding from State funds the objectives of these
research centres vary in accordance with the rationale for the centre funding. Centres may be expected
to produce outputs that sit in one or more of the categories: academic research; education; industry
engagement; commercialisation. However, many centres are expected to deliver outputs across all of
these output categories, and in the absence of clear emphasis on one category over another, it is more
Sustainability of Research Centres 29 June 2012