Professor Chennupati Jagadish, President of the Australian Academy of Science, has welcomed the commencement of the Australian Government's Strategic Examination of Research and Development (R&D) hailing it as an opportunity to position Australia in an era of intense global competition and build a system that is fit for purpose.
"If we get this right, the Strategic Examination of Research and Development will give us a roadmap to position and power our R&D system so it delivers maximum economic and social benefits," Professor Jagadish said.
"My expectation is that the Strategic Examination will make recommendations to bring strategy and coherence to R&D measures and funding across government, industry and higher education that are essential for jobs creation, productivity, national security and competitiveness.
"If we get the R&D settings right, every single Australian is a winner," he said.
Current Australian Government investments are spread across 14 portfolios and 151 programs - diluting their impact and effectiveness. R&D investment by government and business are no longer globally competitive.
"Australian R&D investment places us close to the bottom of OECD countries, which is no place to be for a nation that needs to accelerate decarbonisation, digitise, protect its borders and upskill its people."
Since 2018, the Australian Academy of Science has been calling for a review of the nation's research and development system because the complex web of policies, funding instruments, institutions and incentives currently in place are not serving our national interest.
The broad terms of reference and diverse membership of the independent panel appointed to oversee the Strategic Examination highlight the need for both the business and research sectors to work together.
"I welcome the appointment of the independent panel including the Chair Robyn Denholm, and panel members Professor Ian Chubb AC FAA FTSE, Professor Fiona Wood AO, and Dr Kate Cornick.
"The Academy is especially pleased to welcome the appointment of Professor Ian Chubb-a Fellow of the Academy and an experienced and knowledgeable adviser to governments who has a comprehensive understanding of R&D systems in Australia and abroad," Professor Jagadish said.
The Academy will support the independent panel with data and insights from Australian Science, Australia's Future: Science 2035. This initiative independently being conducted by the Academy is evaluating the capacity and capability of the Australian science system to meet our national ambitions.
