Strong year for CSIRO

Other CSIRO science achievements for 2005-06 included:

• New National Solar Energy Centre
  • The new centre based in Newcastle showcases solar thermal technologies such as the innovative SolarGas™ system, which uses a renewable energy source – the sun – to extract from existing fossil fuels a new, clean energy source.
• Helping stop the spread of avian influenza
  • Diagnostic technology to identify H5N1 avian influenza is leading global efforts to track and contain the dangerous virus. The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation commissioned CSIRO scientists from the Australian Animal Health Laboratory to conduct training workshops across Asia.
• Supporting the development of a new titanium metal industry for Australia
  • The Light Metals Flagship is developing new mineral processing technology to halve the cost and reduce the complexity of making titanium that will facilitate the establishment of a local industry.
• Resilin stretches the limits of material science
  • The natural substance that gives many insects their flying and leaping abilities is resilin. CSIRO scientists and their collaborators have discovered and patented a way to create synthetic resilin in a solid form, which is expected to lead to a new class of materials with applications in medicine, sport, leisure goods and other industries.

CSIRO’s publication rates also rose significantly over 2005-06:

• CSIRO now ranks in the top 1 per cent of research organisations worldwide in 13 research fields.
• The number of CSIRO’s published journal articles increased in 2005 by 5 per cent to 1945 with total publication numbers growing by 13 per cent to 4655. Additionally, CSIRO reports for clients grew by 30 per cent to over 10,000.
• CSIRO papers published in the prestigious international science journal Nature, and its affiliates, averaged one a month in 2005 – a new benchmark for the organisation.
• CSIRO’s citation rates grew by double the world average.

The report also highlights the considerable progress made by CSIRO’s National Research Flagships across their six key research areas: Water, Oceans, Energy, Light Metals, Preventative Health and Food. The Flagships are now working with more than 250 industry and research partners with record funding.
CSIRO Chief Executive Dr Geoff Garrett said the Flagships were delivering strongly on their challenging long-term goals.

“Two recent independent, external reviews have confirmed that the Flagships are delivering powerful scientific solutions to national problems and delivering real impact for Australia,” Dr Garrett said.

“The National Research Flagships have drawn on CSIRO’s capacity to assemble large, multi-disciplinary teams to tackle major issues and opportunities.”

On the financial side total revenue grew to $946.8 million (from $893.3 million the previous year), with 11.6 per cent growth in total external revenue to $352.9 million. This included record revenues from intellectual property assets of $37.1 million, invested back into science, a 69 per cent year-on-year growth, representing a four-fold increase over the last four years.  CSIRO also achieved a substantial turnaround in its bottom line, announcing an underlying operating surplus of $303,000 for 2005-06.

In communicating its science, CSIRO’s long-standing school education and outreach program celebrated their three millionth participant during the year. CSIRO’s Total Wellbeing Diet (with Book 2 having been launched last week) sold over 700,000 copies.

Dr Garrett said: “Holistically, if you look at the quality of the science and the outcomes that CSIRO has delivered, and the solid financial performance, 2005-06 has been a strong year for the organisation, and reflects the terrific commitment and efforts of CSIRO’s people.”

A copy of the Annual Report can be downloaded from CSIRO Annual Reports

NOTE: Australian Equivalents to International Financial Reporting Standards

The 2005-06 Annual Report is the first prepared under Australian Equivalents to International Financial Reporting Standards (AEIFRS), in accordance with Australian Government requirements. CSIRO’s operating surplus with AEIFRS adjustments is $14.5m for 2005-06. Before taking into account AEIFRS adjustments CSIRO recorded an underlaying operating surplus for 2005-06 of $303,000. (The restated result for 2004-05 is a $20.8m deficit, compared with the actual $9.2m deficit announced for 2004-05).