New Knowledge, A Discussion Paper on
June 1999 |
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| Contents |
| Foreword Australia's capacity to generate new knowledge is fundamental to the strength and health of our society. It must underpin our economic growth and our capacity to effectively solve social problems. It is necessary to ensure that we continue to make a significant contribution to a more humane and progressive world, and that we can share in the advances in knowledge taking place in other countries. The existing framework for Commonwealth support of higher education research and research training was put in place over a decade ago. It is timely to review and reform our approach to ensure we realise the economic and social benefits of the knowledge created and developed in our research institutions. As we move into a new century we must ensure that Australia's research and research training system keeps pace with the global revolution in knowledge production and use, is attractive for research and development (R&D) investment, and provides opportunities for our best and brightest research talent. We are living today in the midst of two great research-based technological revolutions: in information technology and in biotechnology. Provided our research is conducted within an entrepreneurial culture and within settings which effectively address issues of intellectual property and encourage investment, there is no reason why our research strengths cannot lead to many new enterprises and the jobs that will accompany them. Such spin-offs are also possible from other research domains as well. Research that is responsive to the needs of industry and developed in a collaborative way should also help create an entrepreneurial climate attractive to venture capital. Our universities have a key role to play in securing these benefits, both nationally and within their regions, and the proposals in this paper are designed to facilitate and encourage this role. Australia's public investment in research is large by world standards, and private investment is growing, but our national research effort is still only a relatively small proportion of world investment. It is essential that we maximise the gains from the resources we have available—making sure that we do not spread our efforts too thinly, that we take priority setting seriously, that we are conscious of the need to build up critical mass in areas of opportunity, and have rigorous incentives for excellence. The proposals in this paper aim at these objectives: encouraging strategic focus within the research effort and rewarding those who provide excellence in research and research training. The centrepiece of the drive for excellence and innovation in this paper is an invigorated and strengthened national competitive grants system based on investigator initiated research. The key is a restructured Australian Research Council providing strategic advice to government and administering more flexible programmes with strengthened capacity to encourage innovative research linked to industry. The Chair of the present Council, Professor Vicki Sara, has played an important leadership role in the development of the proposals in this paper and I express my thanks to her. The other major pillar of the policy framework set out here is an enhanced strategic and priority setting role for institutions, both in relation to research and research training. Under the proposed funding arrangements, institutions will be rewarded for their achievements in attracting research-related income from all sources (including industry) and for their success in attracting research students through the quality of their research training achievements. A system of portable research scholarships will give Australia's brightest young researchers the opportunity to select the best institution for their crucial training years, providing a powerful incentive for excellence in these environments and challenging institutions to identify their areas of excellence. The policy framework set out in this paper provides incentives for increasing diversity in research patterns and plans. Australia is a large and diverse country and it is entirely appropriate that our research effort reflects this unique character and builds on its opportunities. Regional universities have a vital role to play in regional economic, social and cultural development. Clear strategic plans which are conscious of the needs of and opportunities for regional industries will provide the framework for effective and dynamic research development in which universities can be regional leaders in stimulating business growth and new enterprises, and in supporting vibrant regional societies. The proposals in this paper, while confronting all institutions with the challenge of being excellent, provide the basis for regional research missions which can be of immense benefit in spreading prosperity. In its report to the Government on Learning for Life: Review of Higher Education Financing and Policy1, the Committee chaired by Mr Roderick West canvassed a number of issues about research and research training within our universities. That committee identified the need to develop greater flexibility and responsiveness in the policy and funding framework for universities. We need a framework that will encourage and support collaboration, accompanied by the exchange of technology and information, across the academic, industry and community sectors, between research institutions and users, research providers and business, across institutions and the nation and internationally. The Government believes that a broad ranging discussion within the research and wider community on the policy framework for research and research training is the best way to develop this framework. This paper complements the Government's initiatives announced recently in biotechnology, and health and medical research. It reflects this Government's commitment to ensuring that Australian research is at the cutting-edge of world research activity. The proposals canvassed in the paper are intended to benefit all parties participating in the generation and application of research—research students, researchers, institutions, industry and the community. In issuing this paper on the policy framework for research, the Government is canvassing ways that research and the provision of research training can be enhanced. We invite comment from interested parties on how best to progress the reforms that are needed. The direction set for higher education research now will influence Australia's performance for years to come. We welcome your participation in the process. The Hon. Dr David Kemp MP 30 June 1999 |
| _______________________ 1 Review of Higher Education Funding and Policy 1998, Learning for life: review of higher education financing and policy, final report, AGPS, Canberra |
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