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INTERNATIONAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY: ITS VALUE TO AUSTRALIA AND THE ROLE OF THE ACADEMIES
24 November 1997

'Building international networks is something Australian scientists have had to be good at to overcome the "tyranny of distance". As a result, Australia has a valuable resource of a high-quality base of science, engineering and technology with extremely strong links to the rest of the world' said Professor Michael Pitman and Professor Greg Tegart in the introduction of the report to be launched at the Annual General Meeting of the Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering on Monday 24 November in Sydney.

The Academies assert that there are powerful benefits to Australia from international collaboration in science and technology due to better access to state of the art information and from the recognition overseas that Australia is an inventive nation characterised by very able scientists and technologists.

Measured by collaborations in published papers, Australia's scientific links have increased substantially over the past decade and are predominantly with the US and Europe, though collaboration with the Asian region has shown the strongest growth.

Access to major facilities (telescopes, synchrotrons etc) has been a valuable part of Australia's strategy for scientific collaboration, both overseas and in Australia (eg, the Australia Telescope).

Informal networks make a strong contribution to collaboration and individuals are the key resource in developing links. In rapidly developing fields, publication is behind the state of art knowledge. The most effective exchanges of know how depend on having something to trade, and the trust from long term involvement.

The government, as the major funder of research in the public sector, has a substantial responsibility for international cooperation and has supported it. Further, international cooperation and participation is necessary to discharge global responsibilities (for example in climate, health, biodiversity and standards).

The Academies believe there are three areas where there is a need to overcome 'market failure'. These are the generation of truly international linkages by top performers in science and technology, facilitating industry's access to global developments in technology and building awareness overseas of Australian capability.

The Academies have substantial experience in international science and technology programs and can assist in bringing partners together from both the public and private sectors.

The Academies support comments in the report Priority Matters by the Chief Scientist on international science and technology. Professor Pitman said

'Consultations here and overseas have shown the richness of Australian interactions due to long-term commitment by individual scientists and technologists. Government and institutional support has been a critical factor and must continue.'