RD&E Planning and Priorities

Strategic planning is central to the FRDC’s business. Each year the FRDC reviews its R&D activities to look for actual or potential changes to the business environment to ensure the R&D portfolio is balanced and well directed.

FRDC’s investment planning is done with reference to the priorities of the Australian Governments and industry priorities as determined through the Australian Fisheries Management Forum (AFMF) and the FRABs.

National RD&E Framework

Over the past three years Australian governments and primary industries have come to the conclusion that to remain globally competitive Australia needs a more national and co-ordinated approach to rural research, development and extension.

The current system is seen to be prone to duplication and fragmentation. This leads to rising overhead costs and constraints on technology investment. To address these challenges, Australian Governments through their Primary Industries Ministerial Council (PIMC) and the Natural Resource Management Ministerial Council has moved to create a National Research, Development and Extension Framework. Sitting underneath the National Framework will be 14 sectoral strategies.

The development and implementation of the National Fisheries and Aquaculture RD&E Strategy is being led by a working group that includes FRDC, Victorian Department of Primary Industries, the Department of Primary Industries and resources SA, and Tasmanian Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment. One of the primary goals of this group is to better understand how the processes behind RD&E expenditure - would fit within a national framework. These processes include national priorities, the FRDC’s R&D Plan, Commonwealth and state government priorities, plus sector plans.

FRDC R&D Plan

The R&D Plan is the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation’s strategic plan for research and development (R&D) relating to the fishing industry. As the principal source of information about the FRDC’s policies, programs and operations, the plan:

• describes the FRDC;
• defines its business environment; 
• lays down, against the business environment, the FRDC’s planned outcomes for the period 2005 to 2010; and 
• outlines the framework for R&D investment that will address national strategic challenges and priorities, and contribute to achieving its planned outcomes.

The current FRDC R&D Plan runs from 1 July 2005 through to 30 June 2010. For more on this plan, please click here. For a snapshot of the current priorities from the R&D Plan.

Developing a new FRDC R&D Plan

In early 2009, FRDC commenced writing the 2010 to 2015 R&D Plan. The development of the Plan is being undertaken alongside the development of the national RD&E Strategy. This is important- to reduce duplication and ensure that the Plan has alignment to the national strategy.

The development of a new R&D Plan will allow FRDC to examine the current and future business and operating environments and develop a Plan which will maximise FRDC’s ability to invest strategically in RD&E activities.

As part of the development of both the R&D Plan and the National RD&E Strategy, FRDC will consult widely with its stakeholders and an “open door” approach is being taken on submissions and contributions. Contact jo-anne.ruscoe@frdc.com.au (02) 6285 0400 to find out how you can contribute.