Investor Updates
Australia sets Strategic Research Priorities
25 June 2013
The Australian Government has named 15 strategic research priorities to drive investment in key economic, environmental and social challenges, underpinning the nation’s reputation for innovation and collaboration between Government, research institutions and industry.
The priorities are designed to help Australia maximise opportunities in the Asian Century. They centre around five main areas: living in a changing environment, promoting population health and wellbeing, managing our food and water assets, securing Australia’s place in a changing world, and lifting productivity and economic growth.
Prime Minister Julia Gillard unveiled the priorities with the Minister for Tertiary Education, Skills, Science and Research, Dr Craig Emerson; the Minister for Science and Research, Senator Don Farrell; and Australia's Chief Scientist, Professor Ian Chubb.
Under the Government's National Research Investment Plan, the Strategic Research Priorities, which replace the 10-year old National Research Priorities, will be updated every three years.
The priorities follow extensive consultation across the Australian research spectrum, from academia to industry.
The May Budget included an additional $321.2 million to support Australian researchers and research facilities to drive innovation and support high-quality jobs growth.
The Strategic Research Priorities relate to the Government’s support of publicly funded research in Australia.
The research priorities complement the Government’s Industry Innovation Precincts policies, which focus on commercial development and investment and which are led largely by industry.
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