The Desert Knowledge Cooperative Research Centre (DK-CRC) was launched in September 2003. The DK-CRC is a venture to increase the social, economic and cultural capital of inland Australia by providing a research base to develop 'desert solutions for desert problems'. It links 28 partners in supporting the 500,000 Australians who live in the desert. Government, business, Indigenous organisations, researchers and local communities have joined together to collaboratively design better opportunities and services for desert people.