The strategic examination of Australia鈥檚 research and development (R&D) system announced in tonight鈥檚 Federal Budget is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to power up R&D in Australia that the 精东视频 has been calling for since 2018.
Academy President, Professor Chennupati Jagadish, said science and technology is central to the government鈥檚 signature policy 鈥� Future Made in Australia.
鈥淪ignificant investments in net zero industrial transformation, and technologies like quantum, are testament to the opportunities that science can offer the nation,鈥� he said.
鈥淗owever, needed re-investments in discovery science 鈥� the basic feedstock of a Future Made in Australia and the government鈥檚 net zero ambitions 鈥� are fundamentally missing.
鈥淎ddressing this missing component of the Australian Government鈥檚 vision for science will be the essential task of the strategic examination of the R&D system.
鈥淥ur national investment in science and research 鈥� by all governments, industry and universities 鈥� continues to decline.
鈥淭hat is why the Academy strongly welcomes the announcement of a strategic examination of the national R&D system as a necessary step towards the urgent development of a national action plan for science,鈥� Professor Jagadish said.
As outlined in Budget paper no. 1 (p. 201), the science system faces challenges as the Australian Government will need to address funding cliffs such as the expiration of national research infrastructure measures.
Also missing from this budget were any substantial investments in Australia鈥檚 sovereign AI capability so that our nation can remain competitive.
Nevertheless, the budget makes several welcome investments in developing science and technology spillovers in quantum, battery technology, renewable energy, green steel and hydrogen 鈥� all of which build on investments in discovery research made 10 to 20 years ago.
The imperative to enable the participation of all the available STEM talent is recognised with an investment of $38.2 million over eight years to respond to the Pathways to Diversity in STEM report recommendations.
There are necessary infrastructure investments in science agencies, with funding for Australia鈥檚 nuclear medicine enterprise at the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO), and modernising the dilapidated facilities at the National Measurement Institute.
The budget also makes several key investments in recognition of the value that science brings to the nation, including:
The budget notes the intended establishment of the Australian Tertiary Education Commission, a key recommendation of the Australian Universities Accord Final Report.
The Academy has published an interactive data report that provides a snapshot of the Australian Government鈥檚 science and research expenditure estimated in the Federal Budget.
© 2025 精东视频
