CSIRO seeks private donors as funding gaps force job cuts

CSIRO chief executive Doug Hilton told the National Press Club in Canberra that Australia’s investment in research and development – about 1.6% of GDP – lags far behind comparable nations that spend around 5%. More than 80% of the agency’s 800 buildings are now unsuitable, and a backlog of essential repairs adds pressure to its operations.

The agency is defending a programme of job reductions, including the recent announcement of up to 350 research positions being cut and a further quarter of remaining layoffs coming from its environmental research unit, which covers climate‑adaptation science. Federal budget allocations provide $387 million over four years, but Hilton said additional resources are needed to maintain impact.

To bridge the funding shortfall, CSIRO is courting philanthropists and businesses for private donations, aiming to direct extra money toward high‑impact projects and sustain key scientific work beyond health research.