We facilitate access to CSIRO and others in the national innovation system.

CSIRO's Small and Medium Enterprise Engagement Centre

Through the Small and Medium Enterprise Engagement Centre (SME-EC) we are helping Australian small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to access science and technology.

• 18 April 2011 | Updated 21 October 2011

• Why has the SME-EC been created? 
• What are the objectives of the SME-EC?
• What is an SME?
• What are the benefits to Australian SMEs?
• What are the benefits to our partners?
• What is the benefit to CSIRO?
• What is the benefit to Australia?
• What does it cost? 

The CSIRO Small and Medium Enterprise Engagement Centre (SME-EC) is a team of business and technically qualified managers that work across all parts of CSIRO.

We also work with partner organisations in government and private sector to help Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) effectively navigate and engage with CSIRO and others in the National Innovation System (NIS).

The SME-EC is especially effective at linking with the best researchers in the National Research Flagship Programs.

Why has the SME-EC been created?

SMEs often find it difficult to find and apply the most appropriate science and technology to grow their business because of the scale of CSIRO and the Australian National Innovation System (NIS).

CSIRO has over 6000 staff spread across 56 Australian sites, has staff located overseas and is a part of an extensive array of domestic and international science, technology and innovation networks.

We established the SME-EC to assist SMEs to get the best possible result from engagement with this diverse and powerful system.

What are the objectives of the SME-EC

The objectives of the SME-EC are to:

• increase the number of Australian SMEs that grow their business through the application or use of scientific research and technical services
• assist CSIRO research programs, especially Flagships, to generate impact from scientific research by making it easier to connect with Australian Industry.

What is an SME?

Small and medium sized businesses are most often defined by the number of employees:

• small enterprise: 5 to 19 employees
• medium enterprise: 20 to 200 employees.

The SME-EC seeks to engage with innovative, high-potential, small- and medium-sized businesses for which the application and use of research and technical services can translate into successful business outcomes.

What are the benefits to Australian SMEs?

The SME-EC will help SMEs define their technical issues and to identify the most appropriate way to address those issues using CSIRO or external resources.

When significant interactions with CSIRO are involved, the SME-EC can assist the SME in developing research programs to meet their needs.

The SME-EC can provide guidance for SMEs that may need to access funding for research, such as CSIRO's Australian Growth Partnerships Program.

What are the benefits to our partners?

The SME-EC works with a range of partners to assist Australian SMEs

• government. The SME-EC works with a number of federal, state and local government SME assistance programs to help their clients access science and technology.
• private. The SME-EC can work with private organisations to assist their clients to get the most value from the NIS.
• industry bodies. We assist industry bodies to develop strategies and relationships within the Australian innovation system for the benefit of their members.

What is the benefit to CSIRO?

The SME-EC helps CSIRO to deliver on its roles, which include creating new or significantly transforming industries, delivering innovation for existing industries and providing technical services.

What is the benefit to Australia?

The SME-EC helps deliver the benefits of leading edge science to industry, society and the environment by facilitating interactions between Australian SMEs and the world class resources of the CSIRO and its domestic and international partners.

What does it cost?

There is no cost for Australian SMEs to discuss and evaluate how CSIRO can best address their technical issues. A fee may be required for research work or management of collaborations with parties outside of CSIRO.

To learn more please contact:

The Enquiries Hotline is available 8:30 am to 5:30 pm EST.

Alternatively send mail to:

CSIRO Enquiries
Bag 10
Clayton South VIC 3169
Australia

Find out more about Doing business with CSIRO.