Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation

Also known as Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Australia, CSIRO

The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) is an Australian Government agency that is responsible for scientific research and its commercial and industrial applications. From its headquarters in Canberra, CSIRO maintains more than 50 sites across Australia, as well as in France and the United States, and employs 6,618 staff as of 2024.

Key facts

Government agency.agency_name: Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO)
Government agency.logo: CSIRO Logo.svg
Government agency.logo_width: 100px
Government agency.image: CSIRO - Black Mountain Site.jpg
Government agency.image_caption: CSIRO Black Mountain Laboratories
Government agency.motto: We imagine. We collaborate. We innovate.
Government agency.headquarters: Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
Government agency.formed: 1916
Government agency.preceding1: Advisory Council of Science and Industry (1916–1920)
Government agency.preceding2: Institute of Science and Industry (1920–1926)
Government agency.preceding3: Commonwealth Institute of Science and Industry (1926–1949)

~33 min read

Article

29 sections

Contents

Structure
Research and focus areas
Research Business Units
National facilities and collections
National facilities
Collections
Services
History
Evolution of the organisation
Achievements
Inventions
Historic research
Domain name
Governance and management
Chairs
Chief executives
Controversies
Total Wellbeing Diet
802.11 patent
Genetically modified wheat trials
Climate change censorship: Clive Spash
CSIRO–Novartis–DataTrace scandal
Alleged bullying, harassment and victimisation
CSIRO and climate change
Trademark dispute with Cisco
See also
Notes
References
External links

Federally-funded scientific research in Australia began in 1916 with the creation of the Advisory Council of Science and Industry, which was renamed to Commonwealth Institute of Science and Industry in 1920. However, both bodies struggled due to insufficient funding. In 1926, research efforts were revitalised with the establishment of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), which strengthened national science leadership and increased research funding. CSIR grew rapidly, achieving significant early successes. In 1949, legislative changes led to the renaming of the organisation as Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO).