Setting priorities for publicly funded research: the CSIRO Priorities
Method

Garrett Upstill; Tom Spurling

Just Accepted

This article has been peer reviewed and accepted for publication. It is in production and has not been edited, so may differ from the final published form.

Setting priorities for publicly funded research: the CSIRO Priorities Method

Garrett Upstill , Tom Spurling

Abstract

The CSIRO Priorities Method is a way to rank and display research priorities for public funded research. This paper describes the development and evolution of the Method, which was employed in CSIRO throughout the 1990s and, since that time, in several other research organisations in Asia and Europe. The Method comprises three elements: a framework, a process, and a results screen and has been used for priority setting at a national, organisational, program and project level. Its key attributes are its simplicity, robustness and adaptability. This paper fills a gap in the literature about this Method, by summarising its development and use and by providing references to new online sources.

HR25003 Accepted 01 March 2025