Section 2 - Sugar Research and Development Corporation

Rural Research and Development
Corporation Model
The features of the RDC model are:
��the RDCs take a leading national role to
plan, investigate and manage R&D for their
respective industries;
��RDCs are not research ‘grant’ agencies.
Their enabling legislation requires them
to treat R&D as an investment in economic,
environmental and social benefi ts to their
industries and to the people of Australia;
��RDCs strive to deliver high rates of return
on R&D investment by infl uencing the full
range of interactions along the innovation
chain, rather than focussing mainly on
generating new knowledge for its own sake;
��striving for high returns on investment also
leads RDCs to apply signifi cant resources
to translating research outputs into practical
outcomes;
��RDCs are required to conduct their activities
in accordance with strategic R&D Plans and
Annual Operational Plans that take account
of the R&D needs of end-users and other
stakeholders. The plans are approved at
ministerial leve;
��although RDCs fund basic research, a
high proportion of activity is applied to
collaborative R&D projects with both shortterm
and long-term benefi ts;
��RDCs are fully accountable to their major
stakeholders and to the wider community.
INTRODUCING SRDC
Rural Research and Development
Corporations
Australia’s productivity growth puts the nation
in a strong position to meet the growing global
demand for primary industry products. This
growth is driven by investment supporting
innovation in research, development and
extension (RD&E) and generated by the RDCs.
There are 15 RDCs represented by the Council
of Rural Research and Development Corporations
(CRRDC) that prioritise, coordinate and integrate
the demands of industry and government with
the capabilities of research providers.
The RDCs currently invest around $500 million
per year in RD&E to improve the profi tability and
sustainability of rural industries and communities.
RDCs are funded primarily by industry levies,
and Australian Government contributions on
a matching basis up to a limit of 0.5 per cent
of industry Gross Value of Production (GVP).
They promote effective research, development,
innovation and extension of research fi ndings in
priority areas such as climate change and natural
resource management. The ability to tackle
projects jointly increases effi ciency and results
in more effective communication and uptake
of the outcomes contributing directly to the
growth in productivity in Australian agriculture.
The RDCs embrace the Australian Government’s
National and Rural R&D Priorities in their
investment, evaluation and reporting
frameworks. Alignment with these priorities
is a key consideration when setting strategic
directions and making key investment decisions.
SRDC Annual Report 2010–2011 19