Urban water research brokers - A forum for cooperation

Australia is a world leader in its approach to and investment in water research and management, and its ability to generate national dialogue and consensus on challenging water issues is respected by other nations. 

The scale and complexity of challenges that the urban water sector must address are increasingly crossing scientific disciplines, industry sectors and jurisdictional boundaries – Australia’s future investment in urban water research needs to be coordinated, goal oriented, sustained, and supported by industry, State and Commonwealth governments to better inform this reform process.

A significant portion of Australia’s urban water research investment is managed by industry (Water Services Association of Australia, Water Quality Research Australia), the Commonwealth Government (National Centre of Excellence in Desalination, Australian Water Recycling Centre of Excellence, National Centre for Groundwater Research and Training, National Water Commission) and State Government (Smart Water Fund, Urban Water Security Research Alliance, Goyder Water Institute) entities.

These entities are typically not R&D providers themselves but engage industry and researchers to identify and negotiate research priorities, and then commission and manage R&D project investments to achieve a set of objectives. Collectively, Australia’s utility sector and these urban water research ”brokers” are managing an investment estimated at approximately $250 million cash over the next five years.

Using these urban water brokers as a starting point, efforts are underway to explore the opportunity to design and implement a more cooperative and efficient national approach to urban water research investment and management. 

Following OzWater 2010, an Urban Water R&D Broker forum was initiated. The forum provides a mechanism for the CEOs and directors of these entities to understand and share information on their respective business models, discuss and agree core areas of interest, and discuss opportunities for alignment of effort and joint funding initiatives.

The broader urban water community will have an opportunity to hear more about the R&D Brokers at OzWater 2011, where forum participants are organising a workshop to discuss the concept of Urban Water Brokers and explore the broader communities’ views on a range of initiatives.

If you would like to understand more about the work of the Forum please contact Michele Akeroyd, Program Manager, Water Quality Research Australia at Michele.Akeroyd@wqra.com.au