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Fact SheetUpdate March 20049. Strengthening Research Capability
Strengthening Research CapabilityThere have been significant changes to Australia’s research landscape in recent years. Following the release of the Government’s 1999 Knowledge and Innovation policy statement, funding to the higher education research sector underwent considerable reform. The new system involves a performance-based system for block funding of university research and research training activities administered by the Department of Education, Science and Training (DEST), and a peer-reviewed competitive grants administered by research granting agencies, including the Australian Research Council (ARC). The Knowledge and Innovation statement was followed in 2001 by Backing Australia’s Ability (BAA), which provided $3 billion over five years for national innovation. The package included a significant funding boost for the higher education sector, with an additional $583 million in research infrastructure funding and an additional $740 million available from the ARC in competitive research grants. In December 2002, the Australian Government announced four national research priorities which set a clear path for new and emerging opportunities in Australian research while building on our existing strengths. This was followed in 2003 by a number of reviews relating to research and research training, including a review of closer collaboration between universities and Publicly Funded Research Agencies; development of a National Research Infrastructure Strategy; and a comprehensive evaluation of the Knowledge and Innovation reforms. On 24 March 2004 the Minister for Education, Science and Training, the
Hon Dr Brendan Nelson MP, released the reports from three reviews: the
Review of Closer Collaboration Between Universities and Major Publicly
Funded Research Agencies, The Final Report of the National Research
Infrastructure Taskforce and the Evaluation of Knowledge and Innovation
Reforms Consultation Report. The reports can be accessed from the
Departmental Research website
Greater collaboration between universities and Publicly Funded Research AgenciesThe Australian Government established a high level taskforce to examine scope for greater collaboration between universities and major Publicly Funded Research Agencies (PFRAs) including the extent to which such developments can improve research outcomes, achieve more efficient and effective use of resources and strengthen institutional performance. The review involved all Australian public universities and four major PFRAs – the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO), the Defence Science and Technology Organisation (DSTO) and the Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS). The taskforce considered the potential for greater synergies between universities and PFRAs, possible models for closer collaboration, scope to promote a greater focus on commercialisation of research through collaboration and possible alternative funding models to promote excellence across the national research effort. The report,
Review of Closer Collaboration Between Universities and Major Publicly
Funded Research Agencies
Development of a national strategy on research infrastructureThe National Research Infrastructure Taskforce was announced in Our Universities: Backing Australia's Future. The Taskforce was chaired by Dr Mike Sargent AM, Deputy Chancellor of the University of Canberra, and included representation from research performing agencies, research funding agencies and other research stakeholders. The Taskforce's report sets out its findings and recommendations regarding Australian Government investment in major research infrastructure in universities and publicly funded research agencies. The Final Report of the
National Research Infrastructure Taskforce
Evaluation of Knowledge and Innovation reformsA comprehensive evaluation of the effectiveness of the Knowledge and Innovation reforms was undertaken in 2003 by an External Reference Group (ERG) chaired by Professor Chris Fell. The evaluation reviewed the operation and impact of the current block grant research programmes, the Research Training Scheme (RTS), the Institutional Grants Scheme (IGS), and the Research Infrastructure Block Grants Scheme (RIBG). The External Reference Group’s report,
Evaluation of Knowledge and
Innovation Reforms Consultation Report
Affiliation of the Australian Institute of Marine Science with James Cook UniversityOn 5 December 2003, the Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS)
The affiliation will strengthen this centre of research excellence. Three research programmes will form the core activities to be undertaken by the joint venture once it is established – aquaculture, coastal processes and marine modelling, and marine biotechnology. Other programmes may be added during 2004. Agreement has been reached on two priority areas for application of funding provided to AIMS by the Australian Government to facilitate establishment of the joint venture. a fibre optic cable link, which will be a state of the art communication link between the two institutions. It will also promote shared use of infrastructure, including the supercomputer facilities at James Cook University. It will provide long term and unlimited low cost connectivity between the University and AIMS. With a proposed budget of around $1.3 million, the work will be completed in the early part of 2004. extra research student places will bolster the already strong world wide reputation of North Queensland in marine science research. Contact DetailsMedia inquiries:Virginia Cook Other inquiries:Ian Lucas Email: Backing Australia's Future |
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Any comments or
queries should be sent to:
highered@dest.gov.au
Department of Education, Science and Training
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