29 November 2012
A new whole-of-government approach to research funding – the National Research Investment Plan – will ensure Australians continue to benefit from a record investment in science and research, according to Commonwealth minister, Senator Chris Evans.
…for the first time, a comprehensive national research planning process will enable a coordinated approach to research investment to ensure it meets national needs and provides value for money.
He said the Gillard Government is investing almost $9 billion in science, research and innovation, an overall increase in funding of 35% since 2007.
Universities Australia (UA) welcomed the plan as a much needed coherent framework for how we invest in and utilise the research critical to Australia’s future economic prosperity and the health and wellbeing of Australians. UA chief Belinda Robinson, acknowledged the plan as “an important first step in building a world class national research system”. UA’s comment suggested that a useful second step might be $542 million National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Strategy, which “expired” earlier this year:
The absence of a replacement program for NCRIS is of great concern and has the potential to leave hundreds of millions of dollars’ worth of research facilities stranded, hundreds of our best and brightest researchers without jobs and the abandonment of very substantial investments in world-class research facilities, networks and infrastructure.
Senator Brett Mason, opposition shadows for universities and said the plan offers plenty of generic and motherhood statements but no real action and no funding.
As they say in Texas, it’s all hat, no cattle – all aspiration, no perspiration to make it happen.
