As Australia’s national science agency, CSIRO has been unwavering in solving the nation's greatest challenges through innovative science and technology for more than 100 years.
In the past year, we’ve continued this commitment through investment in breakthrough research, like launching our CarbonLock Future Science Platform, and strengthening our collaborative partnerships, resulting in the launch of three new missions. We also maintain world-class research infrastructure to enable Australian industries translate science into solutions, investing in a $25 million upgrade to our cotton research facilities in New South Wales.
This year, we worked with more than 3,100 partners in government, research and industry to deliver an 8.4:1 return on every dollar invested into CSIRO, equating to $10.2 billion in economic, environmental and social benefit to the nation.
2022-23 at a glance:
- CSIRO grew to 6,316 people, led by the success of our Impossible without You recruitment campaign, while consolidating our footprint to 49 sites throughout Australia and 2 globally. We increased the number of women in CSIRO leadership positions to 42.9 per cent, an increase of 4.2 per cent from the previous year.
- In line with our Reconciliation Action Plan commitments, we launched our CSIRO Indigenous Research Grants program and our Indigenous Graduate Program to increase research, collaboration and recruitment opportunities with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders.
- We launched 3 new collaborative, ambitious missions:
- Towards Net Zero aims to help Australia’s hardest to abate sectors – including steel, sustainable aviation fuel, and agriculture – halve their emissions by 2035.
- Minimising Antimicrobial Resistance aims to halt the rising death rate and economic burden of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in Australia by 2030.
- AquaWatch Australia aims to co-design and deliver a 'weather service for water quality' to help safeguard freshwater and coastal resources in Australia and around the world.
- We collaborated with 3,100 industry and government entities, including nearly 1,600 small-to medium-sized businesses (SMEs), and we supported nearly 100 entrepreneurial teams through our ON programs.
- Main Sequence venture fund, created by the CSIRO Innovation Fund, invested in 8 new companies, helping to create more than 2,120 deep technology jobs.
This year’s Annual Report shows CSIRO continues to create a better future for all Australians.