The Australian Academy of Science welcomes the focus on improving Australia’s international scientific engagement in the five Country Strategies recently released by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in response to the Australia in the Asian Century White Paper.
The Strategies for Indonesia, China, Japan, India and South Korea all note that better scientific engagement is essential to building relationships.
Academy Foreign Secretary, Professor Andrew Holmes, said the clearly documented success of existing research collaborations arose from previous strategic funding commitments by Australian Governments to support scientific collaboration.
“Identifying the value and importance of scientific collaboration is certainly a useful step forward but where is the national strategy to ensure the $9 billion we spend on research every year is well spent?” he asked.
“Without national coordination and good awareness of international developments, we are unable to maximise our research with respect to the 96 per cent of quality research that occurs overseas.”
In 2011 the highly effective, 10-year International Scientific Linkages program came to an end, removing a key source of strategic support for collaboration, and Australia’s access to important international scientists, science and infrastructure. The Australia-China Science and Research Fund is due to expire in June 2014, and the Australia India Science and Research Fund is due to end by June 2015.
“It is critical that the next Australian Government adopts a policy and implements a targeted program to again provide strategic support for Australia’s international collaboration,” Professor Holmes said.
“Australia has a closing window of opportunity. Our intellectual and scientific capital gives us a competitive advantage — international scientists, particularly in Asia, want to collaborate with us.
“But without proactive engagement we will be significantly less competitive on the international stage in 10 years’ time, given global research investment trajectories, growth in student education in developing countries, and increasing international competition for collaboration.”
The Academy’s submission to the Country Strategy consultation is available at:
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