The Academy has recently made a number of submissions to important government consultations on defence science, as part of the Defence White Paper; the cooperative research centres review; boosting the commercial returns from research; and the review to strengthen independent medical research institutes.
With the support of a range of Fellows with expertise in the sector, the Academy provided a submission to the Defence White Paper and the concurrent First Principles Review of Defence.
The Academy argued that short-term budget pressures should not be allowed to impact on Australia’s long-term defence science requirements, and that maintaining defence science capability and access to US defence science is of greater significance than any short-term economic benefit that would arise from outsourcing the activities of the Defence Science and Technology Organisation.
The Academy highlighted the importance of continuing to monitor and respond to the disruptive potential of science and technology and its potential impact on defence and security, along with the strategic threats that climate change will bring. It emphasised the need for risk-based planning to respond to such changes and threats.
The CRC program is the only publicly funded mechanism of scale that brings together researchers and end users to solve pressing, big problems facing the nation.
In the 2014-15 Federal Budget the Australian Government announced that there would be no new Cooperative Research Centres (CRCs) funded in 2014, and that a review would be undertaken to look at future options for the program. As part of the review there was a public consultation process and the Academy put forward a submission.
The Academy’s submission highlighted that the CRC program is the only publicly funded mechanism of scale that brings together researchers and end users to solve pressing, big problems facing the nation. This focus on meeting end-user needs helps ensure that, through a relatively modest investment by government and other partners, the program delivers real solutions that lead to significant economic, social and environmental benefits. The Academy strongly supported the continuation of the CRCs or a similar program.
The Academy put forward a substantial response to a wide-ranging discussion paper, ‘Boosting the Commercial Returns from Research’, issued jointly by the Department of Education and Department of Industry. The Academy’s submission proposed a number of suggestions relating to the need for a long-term research infrastructure plan and funding, accessible intellectual property management, and the need to consult broadly with the sector when developing measures of research commercialisation.
An issues paper was released for comment late last year as part of the Australian Government’s review to strengthen independent medical research institutes. The Academy’s response covered possible efficiencies in the sector, the need for international science collaboration, and career structure and workforce issues.
The National Committees for Physics and Mathematical Sciences prepared submissions for the ARC Centres of Excellence 2017 Consultation. Read the Physics and Mathematical Sciences submissions (PDFs).
A survey of the Academy’s National Committees for Science provided valuable information on the benefits of research infrastructure funding and the impacts of ongoing uncertainty surrounding the replacement of the National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Strategy (NCRIS). The Academy’s Secretary for Science Policy, Professor Les Field AM FAA, drew on the committees’ input when he met with senior officials from the Australian Government Department of Education and Training to discuss the matter. Updates will be provided as further progress is made.
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