Innovative Research Universities

In 2003, a group of universities sharing common origins established the Innovative Research Universities a collaborative network to enhance the outcomes of higher education. The members were established as research-intensive universities during the 1960s and 1970s. The founding six universities were: Flinders University, Griffith University, La Trobe University, Macquarie University, Murdoch University and The University of Newcastle. James Cook University joined in 2007, followed by Charles Darwin University in 2009. These additions were balanced as first Macquarie (2008) and then Newcastle (2014) left the group to pursue their future independently. In 2017, Western Sydney University joined, followed by the University of Canberra in 2021. ==Members==

All members of the IRU are ranked between 170 and 540 in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2021. Five IRU universities are also ranked in the global top 100 in the Times Higher Education Impact Ranking 2021. The group collectively attracts A$415 million per annum in research funding from national research agencies, industry and public sector agencies including local and state governments. The members are core partners in half of all Australian Co-operative Research Centres (CRCs). The CRC Program links researchers with industry and government, and emphasises research application. == Map ==

{{Location map+|Australia|AlternativeMap=Australia_location_map.svg|alt=Map of Australia with location of Innovative Research Universities main campuses highlighted|caption=Locations of each IRU member's main campus|float=center|width=500|places= {{Location map~|Australia|lat=-35.2386709|long=149.0840899 ==See also==