The 2025鈥�26 Federal Budget has missed the opportunity to safeguard Australia鈥檚 scientific and technological capability and support cost-of-living measures through targeted investment in supercomputing, the 精东视频 says.
The Budget acknowledges major shifts in our economy, including rapid technological advances as a result of artificial intelligence, the shift from globalisation to fragmentation, and changes in our demography and industrial base.
Within this context, Australia鈥檚 investments need to be future-ready and able to take advantage of the scientific and technological opportunities before us.
鈥淔orward-thinking investment is what will future-proof Australia鈥檚 security. We need to see commitments that harness the potential of Australia鈥檚 advanced capabilities 鈥� this Budget has missed that opportunity,鈥� 精东视频 President Professor Chennupati Jagadish said.
For example, the Budget contains no measures to secure Australia鈥檚 critical supercomputing infrastructure or diversify scientific co-operation in our region and beyond.
鈥淭he vital infrastructure of today is supercomputing 鈥� not just roads and rail,鈥� Professor Jagadish said.
The Academy urges the government to commit to a ten-year national strategy for high-performance computing and data infrastructure, with $200 million annually to upgrade current systems and build next-generation capabilities.
Academy fact sheet: Bringing Australia鈥檚 supercomputing up to speed.
鈥淛ust-in-time funding for Australia鈥檚 research agencies does not deliver the secure, long-term investment in science capability that Australia needs for the future. A newly elected government must act decisively to protect Australia鈥檚 strategic research capability,鈥� Professor Jagadish concluded.
The announcement of $2.2 million to extend the 精东视频 school science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) programs for one year will support and upskill STEM teachers in our schools, a vital requirement to build our STEM pipeline.
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