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More targeted funding will increase productivity and competitiveness, says the government

29/11/2012

Australia proposes new research funding plan

Grants should be linked to “value for money”

Helen Tunnicliffe

THE Australian government has launched a new roadmap for funding research designed to prioritise those areas most beneficial to the country.

The 2012 National Research Investment Plan says innovation increases living standards, improves the health of the population, creates more sustainable communities and helps address global challenges. For that reason, says Chris Evans, the minister for science and research, public funds should be directed at that research which is most likely to provide the greatest benefit and provide “value for money” for the country. The government hopes that more targeted funding will increase Australian productivity and competitiveness.

The new plan, which was compiled by the Australian Research Council (ARCom), sets out a national process for awarding investment. This marks a change from the past, when funding decisions have been made individually or as larger policy initiatives. The document sets out a ‘national research fabric’ of five key areas for funding – the physical, natural, human, technology and information domains.

Research investment should be based on seven key principles, including; addressing national economic, social and environmental challenges; supporting Australian researchers to allow them to compete on a global scale, and delivering a strong, cohesive research fabric, such as by improving the quality and quantity of researchers and improving research infrastructure.

The plan also suggests several action points for further consideration in the future, such as increasing the duration of grants to improve research efficiency; examining how the future demand for research skills can be met; more closely integrating research and the needs of the business sector; and looking at a process to more closely link funding to the government’s research priorities.

“To remain competitive, we need to improve the way we use our research to boost productivity, grow the economy and deliver better social, economic and environmental outcomes for all Australians. The investment plan will enable our research sector to better respond to the needs of industry and to improve national wellbeing by boosting productivity and addressing the nation’s key challenges,” says Evans.

He adds that to get the best out of Australia’s research, the government must make the right investments.

The plan has been slammed by the opposition, with shadow minister of universities and research Brett Mason saying that detail is lacking and that most of the action points are just ‘agreements to create policies’.

“It’s been another hallmark of this government that it’s big on grandiose rhetoric but has no idea and no money to implement them,” he adds.