Now for the interviews...

Tony Peacock, CRCA

The Cooperative Research Centres Program was ultimately unaffected by the recent MYEFO process and the current round has resumed. Submission of exemplar projects and interviewing of bidding syndicates has been delayed but will be completed during December. Seven bids have been invited to interview. They are

• CRC for Living with Autism Spectrum Disorders
• Safeguarding Biodiversity CRC
• Prostate Cancer CRC
• The CRC for Cell Therapy Manufacturing
• Resilient Regions CRC
• The CRC for Alertness, Safety and Productivity
• The Vision CRC (supplementary application).

The interview process is highly structured to give every bid an equal chance to get over the line. Everyone has an opinion on how to face up to the interview, but remember that the dynamics of every interview will be different and there is no secret to them. As I gear up for a round of mock interviews to assist bids in their preparation, here are my suggestions.

Shave two minutes off your presentation: The format for interviews is a 20-minute presentation followed by interviewing for up to 2 hours. The presentation is timed and you will be stopped if you go over time. You will probably have the Chair lead the presentation and have several speakers. Some of them will probably not be experienced presenters. The more senior they are (and you should try and get the most senior representatives possible to the interview), the less likely they will have been kept to a strict speaking limit in recent years. So prepare to run for 18 minutes so your last speaker doesn't have to deliver the killer lines speaking like a chipmunk to get through the words.

Show your passion: My view is you've made the case to the CRC Committee's "brain" at this stage through the written application. The interview is a good time to reach for their "heart" by demonstrating how much your proposal can achieve.

Answer the question – once: You may have some issues you really want to point out, but make sure you listen to the question and answer it directly. It is best for the Chair to confirm who will answer. But don't succumb to the temptation to add to the answer of a colleague - it tends to look like they didn't answer correctly and it leads to others jumping in to add to answers. Pretty soon, the answer has been given five different ways and you risk not getting through the panel's full set of questions. If in doubt, you can ask the interviewers "Did I answer your question?" If yes, move on.

Don't use jargon: We all develop our own language. But the acronym for "research higher degree" in one interview might mean "rabbit haemorrhagic disease" in the next. The majority of interviewers will not be from your sector, so be mindful of the language you use. But don't think all the questions will be generalities, the CRC Committee arranges the peer review and generally a content expert or two join the panels. So be prepared to answer at the big picture level and the detail, if required.

Don't code your peer review answers: One week before your interview, you will receive up to 10 questions from the Committee, usually based on the peer review. You must handle these questions in your presentation, which most groups have already completed. Some of the questions might be covered in your presentation already; some might be very general; some might be extremely specific points of clarification. Having seen many ways of handling them, I recommend you do it in specific slides towards the end of your presentation. Coding your slides with numbers to refer to the questions never works in my view. You need to make it clear what your response is, without over responding.

Be a team that will add value: One of the biggest issues for the panel to come to grips with is whether this group of people will work cooperatively and achieve much more than if they worked separately on a series of projects. Does it look like you'll add value? Or does it look like this gathering is the first time you've got together and there is no feeling of synergy? It's a hard one to give advice on - it's "the vibe".

Play the long game: The interview is 120 minutes long. You are probably tired from travel and preparation. But you are pitching for millions of dollars that will be the lynchpin to an enterprise worth dozens of millions, maybe even hundreds. I lie not in saying I've seen: nose picking; tantrums; gaming on smartphones or ipads; sleep (surprisingly often); looks of extreme frustration at a colleague's answer; looks of extreme frustration at the interviewers; looks of extreme frustration for no apparent reason. You don't need to smile like a game show host throughout, but all participants should engage and listen to answers as well as the questions. Explain where you are coming from as you answer - "..as someone who will use the results in our products, I think..."

Good luck to all those participating in the upcoming interviews. Remember it is an opportunity, not a threat.

Capital Markets CRC launches European Research Centre

Capital Markets CRC, in partnership with European universities and industry participants announced the launch of a European Research Centre in Rome this week. Representatives from Italy, UK, France, Germany and Bulgaria were present at the announcement.

The new Centre aims to address the shortage of high frequency capital markets data in Europe for academic research and offer insights into European financial markets.

"The Centre will facilitate research into many important issues currently faced by European financial markets including the impact of market fragmentation, high frequency trading and dark pools", said Professor Frino, the CEO of CMCRC.

The European Centre will commence operations in January 2013.

US interest in CRC model for research

A meeting of United States Research and Development stakeholders has recommended that the US adopt a model based on the Australian Cooperative Research Centres model for agricultural R&D funding.

Key aspects of the recommendation are that academic research institutions are required to deliver products or services to society and that research institutions leverage funds from multiple sources such as industry, commodity groups and federal agencies.

In order to provide stability of funding and allow more time for research, it is suggested that large grants are provided under flexible funding arrangements over a long-term period. Aspects such as commercialisation, technology transfer, and education are considered important.

Heather Burrow, former Beef CRC chief executive, delivered a presentation on Australia's CRC mechanism at the conference.

Read the article

CEO of Young and Well CRC wins award

Associate Professor Jane Burns, Chief Executive of the Young and Well CRC, was named in the Financial Review and Westpac 100 Women of Influence Awards 2012 in the Innovation Category.

Jane has worked in suicide and depression prevention for many years and was instrumental in the establishment of the Young and Well CRC.

Co-Mo team growing for men's health

This Movember, a Cooperative Research Team is collectively tending its top lip to raise money for men's health issues. You can see updates or donate funds here.

"It was such a relief when Jane Burns asked me to join the "Co-Mo" team", said CRC Association CEO, Tony Peacock. "I thought she meant "comb-over" initially. But she just wanted me to grow a moustache for the month. Phew."

Movember raises money for a range of men's health organisations, including those for mental health and prostate cancer. The Young and Well CRC is supported by a number of recipients of Movember funding. The Prostate Cancer CRC is still in the bidding phase and hoping to gain support in the current round.

The month is shaping up as a real battle. General Manager of the CRC Program, Anthony Murfett, has thrown his extremely testosterone-fueled lip into the fray, and expects to at least take out the "most like a porn star" category. The Chairman of Young and Well CRC, Mark Mentha, is currently leading the fund raising stakes. "I may call for a steward's inquiry" said Professor Peacock, "the recent spate of companies calling in the administrators must surely be at least the equivalent of blood doping to Mr Mentha".

Please consider giving a donation via the Co-Mo team to help men's health.

Donations

Victorian Postdoctoral Research Fellowships

In 2013, the Victorian Government will award up to six Victorian Postdoctoral Research Fellowships to strengthen Victoria’s innovation capability and global networks.

The Victorian Postdoctoral Research Fellowships will be awarded to early career Victorian researchers in the physical sciences, life sciences (apart from human health and medicine), mathematical sciences, engineering and information and communications technology.

The three-year Fellowships provide an indexed salary of A$71,000 pa plus superannuation, a cost of living allowance while overseas and allowances for travel, maintenance, financial advice and resettlement in Victoria. The cost of living allowance will vary depending on the overseas location.

Fellows will spend two years overseas as a guest researcher in a leading research institution or university, followed by one year working with a Victorian company or research organisation.

Applications close 5 February 2013.

More information

C-ITS CRC Bid wins international public video competition

A video outlining a vision for Co-operative Intelligent Transport Systems (C-ITS) has won the 2012 ITS World Congress Public Video Competition.

The video was produced by the C-ITS CRC Bid Consortium and outlines the possibilities of developing C-ITS to provide safe and sustainable transport systems.

The award was announced in late October at the 19th ITS World Congress in Vienna, Austria.

The C-ITS CRC Bid Consortium was unsuccessful in its submission for funding.

Watch the video

CRC Business Managers' Forum

The presentations from the recent successful Business Managers' Forum held in Canberra are available on the CRCA Members website.

May 15-17 2013
The CRCA's Annual Conference

Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre

Sponsorship enquiries can be directed to Justin Holsinger at EventCorp

Upcoming Events for Members

14/15 November
CRCA Communicators Forum (includes a session on social media use).

Get involved

Consortia are developing for CRC bids in the next (2013) round. CRCA is happy to help you connect with other potential bidders. Let us know about your interest and we can pass it on to others in the areas of:

• Asian markets
• Cybersecurity
• Geothermal Energy
• Online Education
• Soils
• Safety
• Complex Project and Program Management

as well as potential re-bidding CRCs and a range of early stage bids. Participation in a CRC is not limited to any specific group or region. You must have an Australian small-medium enterprise and an Australian University involved.

Benefits of CRCA Membership

Every CRC is a Member of the CRC Association. But Membership is not limited to CRCs. Associate and Affiliate Members enjoy a range of discounts and offers as well as the CRCA's networking and representation services.

CRCA Members access substantially discounted and/or flexible fares with Qantas. To take advantage or organise a briefing, contact Jodi Walton at Campus Travel.

Westpac is the CRCA's preferred bank. They are great supporters of innovation in general and CRCs in particular. To find out what they can do for you, contact Rose Stellino.

CRCA also gets you discounted recruitment services through The Recruitment Alternative.

Events

6-9 November 2012
Perth
Innovation Week
KCA Annual Conference linked with Univation and the Western Australian Department of Commerce’s Innovator of the Year

14-15 November 2012
Melbourne
Congress Lowitja 2012
Knowledge Exchange and Translation into Practice

November 2012
Brisbane, Canberra, Adelaide and Perth
National Object Library Workshops
A project to create a National Object Library to meet the needs of infrastructure and building projects
Contact

6-10 August 2013
Melbourne
Prostate Cancer World Congress

Associate Members

Essential Energy

Alertness, Safety and Productivity CRC bid

Safeguarding Biodiversity CRC bid

Affiliate Members

The Recruitment Alternative

Capital Hill Consulting

FAL Lawyers

Hynes Lawyers

Queensland University of Technology

RMDStem

University of South Australia

Innovativity Program

Real-world three-day Program to help Australian organisations profit through innovation.

November 20, Adelaide
November 27, Melbourne

Cost: (Domestic) $1932

Register

Online courses

Part-time Graduate Certificate in Research Commericalisation and Master of Research Management & Commercialisation

Closing date:
Semester 1 2013 - 18 January 2013

Cost: (Domestic) $1932

e-Grad School, QUT

Science Media Savvy

A new resource to help scientists work effectively with the news media. Supported by CSIRO.

ScienceMediaSavvy.org

Members of the Cooperative Research Centres Association