New R&D review to ‘get to the heart of the issues’: Husic

New review will get to the heart of the issues holding back R&D in Australia, says Industry and Science Minister Ed Husic.

The research and development review will get to the heart of the issues holding back R&D, says Industry and Science Minister Ed Husic. Picture: Martin Ollman

The federal government’s new review of research and development “aims to get to the heart of the issues holding back R&D in this country”, according to Industry and Science Minister Ed Husic.

The review, announced in last week’s budget, is the only recommendation on research in the Universities Accord final report the government has acted on to date.

Mr Husic plans to announce the terms of reference for the review, and the members of a panel to conduct it, in coming weeks.

The panel will be expected to report to the government in 12-18 months.

University leaders are urging the federal government to commit to raising the level of R&D investment to 3 per cent of GDP from the current 1.7 per cent.

They hope Labor’s Future Made in Australia plan to boost advanced manufacturing will lead to an increase in local R&D investment.

“We can’t have a Future Made in Australia without ideas made in Australia,” said Universities Australia CEO Luke Sheehy.

Mr Sheehy welcomed the R&D review but said there must also be short-term measures to support the research system. The 3 per cent of GDP goal was the minimum level Australia needed to remain globally competitive, he said.

Mr Husic told The Australian the country “cannot continue to tolerate a slide in a national R&D investment”.

“Stronger R&D performance will propel a Future Made in Australia,” Mr Husic said.

“More great Australian ideas can and should become great products creating secure jobs.

“This review will identify ways our world-class science and research can help us build up key manufacturing and commercial capabilities.”

The main focus of the Universities Accord review was to increase the number of disadvantaged students at university, but it was light on recommendations around research.

Research recommendations the accord review did make included setting up a Solving Australian Challenges Fund, boosting the number of industry-linked PhD students, increasing stipends for PhD students and offering longer-term Australian Research Council grants, but they have not yet been acted upon.