The Ambitious Australia Report, the final Strategic Examination of Research and Development (SERD), was released on Tuesday, 17 March by the Hon Tim Ayres, Minister for Innovation and Industry and Minister for Science.
The report includes 20 recommendations. These are intended to improve the capacity of Australia’s research, development and innovation (RD&I) system to support the economy and create a more prosperous, healthier, safer and equitable Australia.
Phenomics Australia welcomes the release of the report and its ambition to deliver a more strategic, coordinated, and sustainably funded RD&I ecosystem.
As noted by SERD Review Panel Chair Robyn Denholm:
“Ambitious Australia sets out a coordinated national blueprint to strengthen Australia’s research and innovation system, lift productivity and build the industries that will underpin long-term prosperity. It reflects a consistent message we heard throughout consultations: Australia has world-class talent and research capability, but we must improve coordination, investment and translation to compete at scale.”
The recommendations of the report focus on 6 elements:
- greater focus and scale for RD&I impact
- a world-class foundational research system creating knowledge and expertise
- incentives to build the RD&I businesses and industries of the future
- investment and capital to fuel the innovation cycle
- building workforce capability to power RD&I activities
- government to lead and champion.
Overall, the report underscores that securing NCRIS funding, alongside a coordinated national research infrastructure strategy, is critical to maintaining Australia’s research capability and global competitiveness.
