Advanced manufacturing and hi-tech innovation being the latest economic buzzwords, Australia’s premier applied scientific research institution, the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, better known as CSIRO, is facing its largest upheaval for a decade. And there will be some pain.

The organisation whose research brought you Wi-Fi, gene shears, atomic absorption spectroscopy, the dung beetle, the microwave landing system, over-the-horizon radar, polymer bank notes, Aerogard, carbon nanotubes, the permanent pleat for fabrics and many more inventions is regrouping.