The Australian Academy of Science welcomes one-off funding of $233 million for CSIRO and $40.8 million for ANSTO in the Government's mid-year economic and fiscal outlook (MYEFO) as a first step towards supporting focused and sustainable government-funded science agencies.
President of the Australian Academy of Science, Professor Chennupati Jagadish AC, said while the funding is welcome, what's desperately needed is a plan to turn around the long-term decline in overall R&D funding in Australia.
The Academy expects the Denholm Report - the outcome of the independent review of the Australian R&D system - to recommend that Government reverse declining R&D investment and implement policies that recognise R&D as a national strategic asset able to grow the economy, strengthen national security and improve intergenerational wellbeing.
"More than 10 years of decline in science funding cannot be restored in one budget. The Academy urges the Albanese Government to consider the recommendations of the Strategic Examination of R&D and commit to long-term R&D reform and investment.
"To prosper in an era of massive technological, geopolitical and environmental disruption, we have no choice but to invest in today's currency of power and prosperity: science and technology. These are not luxury investments.
"Cuts in MYEFO to the Global Science and Technology Diplomacy Fund (GSTDF) illustrate a profound lack of understanding of the vitality of international research-industry partnerships," Professor Jagadish said.
The GSTDF supports strategic international science, research and technology collaborations with Asia-Pacific partners in Australian Government priority areas including advanced manufacturing, AI, quantum computing, hydrogen production and RNA technologies.
"The cut to the GSTDF is shortsighted. It was only in September that Minister Ayres publicly expressed his enthusiasm for the fund and acknowledged Australia is stronger, smarter, safer and more resilient when it is engages in international research collaboration," Professor Jagadish said.
