Today's funding cuts at CSIRO are disappointing and a step in the wrong direction for Australia's research system.
Our national science agency has today announced cuts of up to 350 full-time equivalent research roles and that some research activities will be deprioritised to ensure a sustainable future for the organisation.
"We support CSIRO's ambition to sustainably deliver the science Australia needs to meet the challenges of the decades ahead. However, that will require greater investment, not less," Science & Technology Australia CEO, Ryan Winn said.
"CSIRO has announced a renewed emphasis on inventing and deploying technological solutions to tackle national problems. But without a continued investment in fundamental research and discovery, there will be no future innovations to deploy."
"These cuts are compounded by the fact that CSIRO also needs to invest an additional $80 to 135 million per year to ensure essential research infrastructure and technology facilities can be maintained. It is crucial these facilities receive sustained funding to ensure they don't fall into disrepair again."
Sustainability for Australia's research infrastructure will also be a key focus for the next National Research Infrastructure Roadmap, currently under development. This process must call for long-term and sustained funding for Australia's crucial research infrastructure system.
This is particularly important, as these CSIRO cuts come only weeks after cuts were proposed at Australia's Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO) and we are concerned more government agencies will experience cuts soon.
The Strategic Examination of Research & Development (SERD) is due to report to the federal government before the end of the year. Making cuts before receiving these recommendations could create greater gaps in our capability.
"Australia has the opportunity to supercharge our research system and set the country on a pathway to prosperity through transformational innovation leading to new and expanded businesses and industries," Mr Winn said.
"These cuts demonstrate the importance of long-term planning and sustained resourcing, considering the impact of inflation, for our national science capability. We hope the SERD recommendations will deliver this."
