On Monday, the Albanese Government released Australia’s National Science Statement and National Science and Research Priorities. Australian universities have welcomed the Government’s announcement but voiced their concerns about the lack of investment in research and development.
“Universities are ready to play their part and make the Government’s vision a reality for Australia and every Australian”, said Universities Australia Chief Executive Officer Mr Luke Sheehy. However, he also criticised declining Government investment in research and development, saying that it will “jeopardise our ability to continue producing the skills, knowledge and ideas that will power the economy, spur productivity and define Australia’s success in the coming decades”.
“The Government’s commitment before the last election to boost research and development investment to three per cent of GDP is a step in the right direction, but we must see measures in the near-term to support our research system,” said Mr Sheehy.
This theme was repeated by Group of Eight (Go8) Chief Executive, Vicki Thomson, who said that “lifting investment in science and innovation is essential for Australia’s future prosperity,” adding that “adequate funding is an absolute necessity if our national science and research priorities are to translate into tangible outcomes”.
About the Priorities, Ms Thomson said that they are “relevant not only to universities and publicly funded research agencies but provide clear direction to Australian industries and businesses who must be encouraged to consider these priorities as a first indication of how to diversify their R&D investments”.
Australian Technology Network (ATN) Universities Executive Director, Dr Ant Bagshaw, said that ATN universities “play a critical role in the research landscape given their focus on applied research at the cutting edge of industry needs [and] will make further contributions to the nation under the National Science and Research Priorities”.
With Australian universities reliant on international student fees to fund research efforts, the Go8 also raised concerns about the plan to impose enrolment caps on international students, with Ms Thomson saying that “the Government’s plan to cap international student enrolments will have severe consequences for the nation’s research capability”.
The Innovative Research Universities (IRU) response highlighted one of the key imperatives of the Science Statement, Embracing science to advance Australia’s regional and global interests. “The IRU strongly supports the emphasis in the National Science Statement on the importance of research in bolstering Australia’s position in the region and global affairs. The IRU is prepared to collaborate with the government on innovative research partnerships and science diplomacy in the Indo-Pacific,” said IRU Executive Director, Paul Harris.
The impact of enrolment caps on bilateral relationships in the region is yet to be seen and may constrain the ability to deliver on this imperative, despite the Government committing to:
- Identify opportunities for international collaboration to keep Australia at the forefront of new discoveries and emerging technologies.
- Promote scientific collaborations as part of geopolitical relationships, particularly in the Asia Pacific region, and to solving shared problems.
The new National Science Statement lists five imperatives that will shape Australian science investment over the next decade:
- Australian scientists, science institutions, and infrastructure shaping Australia’s science future
- Science at the centre of Australian industry
- A diverse, skilled workforce to underpin the translation of science into new industries
- Embracing science to drive Australia’s regional and global interests
- A science system prepared for future challenges
The five National Science and Research Priorities that will guide government, university and private sector efforts are:
- Transitioning to a net zero future
- Supporting healthy and thriving communities
- Elevating Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander knowledge systems
- Protecting and restoring Australia’s environment
- Building a secure and resilient nation
Australia’s National Science Statement and National Science and Research Priorities are available at:
