2019-05-07 P&E Agenda - Item 3 - Attachment 1 - Noosa Sustainability Institute - Concepts and Options Report

Basic Structure
   No requirement to develop a detailed strategy to ensure outputs are taken up by Noosa
    community/ businesses/ Council etc. Could use existing strategies to provide guidance and
    alignment for proposed research.
   Funding is predominantly sourced from Council and/or the institution (e.g., University) associated
    with the project.
   Project approval requirements are simplified as the Institute is a “shop front” only with a
    predominantly web-based presence.
   The Institute only takes project submissions submitted by researchers. The Institute does not
    directly set any research agendas or objectives (leaving this to the Council and Researchers).
   Projects are approved by select Council members.
   Institute has a part time Manager/officer to help run the basic elements of the Institute.
Aims
   To promote research projects that are undertaken by individual or small groups of researchers
    from research and/or education institutions.
   Limited or no interactions between research projects or uptake of previous research outcomes
    required.
   The Institute can facilitate some community education information on sustainability measures.
   The Council can use the Institute to promote activities undertaken by, or supported by Council
    to improve the Noosa environment or community.
Pros
o   Simple management requirements.
o   Project approval requirements are simplified as institute operates as a shop front only.
o   Limited input required from the Council as a whole.
o   No requirement for a board or steering committee.
o   Institute structure can be run predominantly using a virtual, on-line structure.
o   Low funding requirements for operation of the Institute.
o   Only a simple communication model via the Institute’s web pages is required.
o   Data management costs is modest as it would be expected that this would be provided by the
    researcher’s institution.
Cons
o   There is limited or no interactions between research projects.
o   The limited oversight due to the limited management means that the Institute has only modest
    control on the research undertaken or the outputs obtained.
o   Can be difficult to gain community input or uptake of research findings.
o   Transfer of information to Council or the community is not directed and therefore may be limited.
o   The short-term engagement of researchers means that there is limited retention of background
    IP and research knowledge in the Noosa region.




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