The National Research Alliance has called on the Prime Minister to urgently fund the National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Strategy (NCRIS), warning that Australia’s major science research facilities are preparing to close down within the next two months.
In an open letter to the Prime Minister (PDF), the Alliance of Australia’s major science and research bodies said more than 35,000 Australian and international researchers use the 27 national facilities, which employ more than 1,700 highly skilled scientists and support staff. These facilities underpin much of Australia’s $30 billion annual spend on science. More than half of them are also used by industry partnerships.
But with just four months to go until the end of the financial year and no certainty that funding will continue, the mothballing of these world class facilities will soon begin.
© 2024 Australian Academy of Science
