One model for cooperative government-academia-industry research is that of the Australian Coal Association Research Program (ACARP).¹ ACARP, which began in 1992, is funded by a 5 cent per tonne tax paid by the Australian black coal industry that generates $A10 million-$A15 million annually. The funds are paid to Australian Coal Research Ltd. (ACR), a company established by the industry to manage all aspects of the program. Each year, ACARP’s industry-chaired committees select approximately 80 research projects for funding from about 300 proposals submitted under a competitive solicitation. The amount of leveraged matching funding for these projects from sources outside ACARP has been at an average ratio (external:ACARP) of more than 2.5:1 over the last three years. The research projects, which are conducted by university, industrial, and government-affiliated researchers, are monitored by industry representatives.

The Australian government also supports the Cooperative Research Centre (CRC) for Mining (CRCMining),² an incorporated entity created in 2003. CRCMining is projected to receive $A27 million in funding from the Australian government over seven years. This will be matched by about another $A100 million of funding from 12 industry and 4 university partners. CRCMining is one of about 60 CRCs in Australia, 8 of which are concerned with mining and energy. Each CRC is incorporated and operates under a formal agreement with the Australian government of up to seven year’s duration. Under this agreement, the government agrees to provide a certain level of funding each year to the CRC, and CRC participants agree to undertake certain activities and contribute specified personnel and resources.