Collaborative research and development (R&D) activities involve researchers working closely with industry, community and/or other stakeholders to address research problems, as promoted by the Australian Cooperative Research Centre (CRC) Program. Case study analysis of two collaborative research activities undertaken by the CRC for Sustainable Sugar Production has identified some important positive and negative features of collaborative research. These findings and the results of a survey of CRC Sugar stakeholders will contribute to the development of a framework to systematically evaluate the performance of collaborative research activities. The proposed evaluation framework is expected to contribute knowledge regarding the value of collaborative research, as well as benefit researchers, stakeholders, funders, and research managers, and allow them to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of collaborative research activities.