Evaluation of selected project clusters in the R&D portfolio : Final report BCA002

Abstract

This report presents the results of economic analyses of clusters of investments within the Sugar Research & Development Corporation’s (SRDC’s) research and development portfolio.

The principal purpose of this economic assessment was to contribute to a process being undertaken for the Council of Rural Research & Development Corporations (CRRDC) that aims to demonstrate through examples the outcomes and benefits that have emerged or are likely to emerge from the 15 Rural Research and Development Corporations (RDCs). Valuation of these benefits, along with identification of investment expenditure, is required in order to demonstrate their contribution to Australian rural industry as well as environmental and social benefits to Australia.

Cluster selection satisfied the random selection process of the CRRDC. This entailed the definition of the population of projects in the program, clustering projects into groups, and a process of random sampling of the clusters so defined.

Information from the original project proposals in each cluster, milestone reports, final reports and other relevant reports were assembled with assistance from SRDC. Discussions were held with Principal Investigators for each research area as well as sugar industry personnel as appropriate.