Joint Media Release

AUSTRALIA’S RESEARCH PRIORITIES

2 May 2002

The Minister for Education, Science and Training Dr Brendan Nelson and Minister for Science Peter McGauran have announced a major initiative to develop a set of national research priorities.

The priority setting process will commence immediately and be completed by the end of this year, following extensive consultation with industry, universities, research agencies and the general community (timetable attached).

"National priorities will allow Australia to better exploit its competitive advantages, whilst achieving wider economic and social goals," Dr Nelson said.

"Priority setting will give us the opportunity to achieve maximum value from our research effort but most importantly within a national context.

"Specifically we will now be asking the science bodies and organisations to consult with their members in the months ahead to decide their preferred priorities, underpinned by a vision of where they believe Australia should position itself in the future."

Mr McGauran said a key step in the national priority setting process will be the formation of a high-level consultative panel, with membership due to be announced next week.

"An Issues Paper will be released for public comment in the next few weeks as the first stage in an extensive consultation process. This would begin with public consideration of the proposed priority setting framework. The next step would be deciding on the priorities themselves," Mr McGauran said.

"Initially the national priority setting process will focus on science, engineering and technology research, culminating in a limited number of research priorities to ensure critical mass and focused collaboration among research agencies.

"National research priorities are not intended to prioritise all of Australia’s research funds; the exercise is to ensure that these investments address areas of Australia’s needs, opportunities, and strengths.

"The priority areas will apply to Commonwealth Science Agencies and competitive grant programmes. Priorities will be widened next year to include the social sciences and humanities.

"I look forward to working closely with the research community and all interested parties in the coming months as we develop this blueprint for research into the future," Mr McGauran said.

For further information contact Darren Chester (Minister McGauran’s office) on 02 6277 7440.

National Research Priorities – Timetable

• May 2002 – Release of Issues Paper to commence consultation process.

An issues paper outlining the Government’s views on a draft framework by which national research priorities will be set, to be released for public comment.

• June 2002 – Consultative panel to undertake public consultations.

The consultative panel will undertake public consultations and accept written submissions from the research and broader communities, in regard to:

• Early July 2002 – Consultative panel to report to Government

The consultative panel will report to Government in regard to the framework for setting national research priorities.

• Late July 2002 – Release of final framework

The final framework for setting national research priorities to be released for public information.

Individuals and organisations will be given the opportunity to make further submissions concerning their nomination of national research priorities, in light of the framework being finalised.

• August 2002 – Written submissions close on August 9.

Written submissions on nominations for priorities will close on August 9, 2002, at which time an Advisory Committee will be formed to assess nominated priorities and make recommendations to Government.

• September 2002 – Advisory Committee reports to Government.

The Advisory Committee will submit a short-list of national research priorities to the Government.

• October 2002 – Government to announce national research priorities

Copyright  |  Disclaimer  |  Privacy Statement