Review of Research Policy and Funding Arrangements

As part of its Boosting the Commercial Returns from Research strategy, the Government has committed to an Agenda for Action that includes a range of actions to enhance the contribution of research in universities and industry to building Australia’s capacity for innovation, productivity and growth, including:

• the development of simpler, more transparent research block grant arrangements which continue to focus on quality and excellence, support greater industry and end-user engagement, and better knowledge transfer with industry,
• working with the Australian Research Council and the National Health and Medical Research Council to ensure rules for competitive grants appropriately recognise industry-relevant expertise or research,
• ensuring that dealing with intellectual property facilitates research-industry collaboration and the commercialisation of ideas,
• improving the assessment of the research system such as improved metrics on engagement and knowledge transfer with industry, research outcomes, and impact, and
• commissioning a review of research training arrangements by the Australian Council of Learned Academies to ensure that it meets Australia’s research needs in the 21st century.

Maximising the economic and social benefits from research requires a strong research base, built through an effective network of research institutions, able to access world-class researchers delivering quality research and research infrastructure. More...