The Cooperative Research Centre for Developing Northern Australia (CRCNA) is on the hunt for the next suite of high-impact research proposals to develop Northern Australia as the organisation opens its latest competitive EOI funding round today.
Industry organisations, researchers and research institutes, SMEs and community sectors are encouraged to submit their research proposal as part of the Expression of Interest call.
This year the CRCNA is looking for projects which address research priorities relating to the beef, rice, forestry, aquaculture, broadacre cropping, horticulture, sugar, health and Traditional Owner-led development sectors.
CRCNA Chair Sheriden Morris said the organisation is looking to build on the foundational work funded through previous EOI rounds and CRCNA-commissioned research.
“Our sector situational analyses have delivered a comprehensive overview of the various impediments and opportunities facing many of our critical agricultural and health service delivery sectors.
“We now know what is and isn’t working and can move forward and invest in the next round of research to drive the recommendations and next action steps outlined by many of these research reports.”
These reports, including our recently completed work on the Northern Australian beef, rice industry and broadacre cropping sectors, are all available to read on the CRCNA’s website.
Those interested in applying can do so via the online EOI form, which must be submitted by 5pm AEST Wednesday 30 September 2020.
To date, the CRCNA has invested more than $11 million towards 39 projects with a total value exceeding $34 million.
Some of the successful projects funded by the CRCNA’s previous competitive funding rounds include:
- A biosecurity audit to boost protection for Queensland prawn farms.
- A project to improve the Kakadu Plum / Gubinge supply chains in the NT and northern WA.
- Work to boost by 200 per cent the export of Calypso mangoes from QLD and NT into China.
- A project supporting the development of an Indigenous freshwater prawn breeding business in northern Western Australia.
- The development of a new telehealth system for remote communities in the NT and northern WA.
- A collaboration across the NT and northern WA to develop the Tropical Rock Oyster R & D capacity across Northern Australia.
- A project to grow and develop the north’s condiment crop industry.
Ms Morris said to be successful, EOIs had to identify the industry problem and explain how the proposed research was going to fix it.
“Importantly, the EOI must set out what the broader impact will be for the wider north Australian community by showing how the research will lead to increased investment, more jobs and wealth, improve the wellbeing of the community or improve supply chain efficiencies.”
The CRCNA has three dedicated Project Managers based in Townsville, Broome and Darwin available to assist with enquiries about the latest funding call.
Read the 2020/21 EOI Guidelines.
Media enquiries
Carla Keith, CRCNA Communications Manager 0499 330 051
