Commissioned by the Minister for Education, Science and Training
(Development of a National Research Infrastructure Strategic Framework)
The National Research Infrastructure Taskforce was announced by the Hon Dr Brendan Nelson MP as part of Our Universities – Backing Australia’s Future, the Government’s response to the Higher Education Review. Dr Nelson asked the taskforce to develop a National Research Infrastructure Strategic Framework to inform government investment in research infrastructure for universities and publicly funded research agencies.
The Government's response to The National Research Infrastructure Strategic Framework: Final Report of the National Research Infrastructure Taskforce was released on Friday, 7 May 2004.
The final report of the National Research Infrastructure Taskforce was released by the Hon Dr Brendan Nelson, the Minister for Education, Science and Training at the National Press Club Telstra Address on Wednesday, 24 March 2004.
| The National Research Infrastructure Strategic Framework: Final Report of the National Research Infrastructure Taskforce
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A high quality research sector is an essential component of national competitiveness. Australia has highly effective mechanisms to promote research excellence using competitive peer reviewed processes and through direct funding to higher education institutions and public sector research agencies. Lack of access to adequate, relevant research infrastructure for Australian researchers will, however, limit the outcomes from and quality of Australian research. To maximise return from investment in research, Australia must provide researchers with access to modern and relevant research infrastructure. To underpin this, appropriate levels of funding for research infrastructure must form a key component of any national research system.
The central finding arising from this report is the need to strengthen, plan and prioritise research infrastructure needs. The Framework proposes funding principles, establishment of processes to link investments in research infrastructure to research strategies and priorities, and the establishment of two bodies – a National Research Infrastructure Council and a Strategic Research Council.
Background
The National Research Infrastructure Taskforce was announced by the Hon Dr Brendan Nelson MP as part of Our Universities – Backing Australia’s Future, the Government’s response to the Higher Education Review. Dr Nelson asked the Taskforce to develop a National Research Infrastructure Strategic Framework to inform government investment in research infrastructure for universities and publicly funded research agencies.
Early in its work the Taskforce established processes to engage the research community. The Taskforce established a website and public sharespace and issued an Invitation for Submission in August 2003.
In August the Taskforce undertook initial consultations in each capital city to ensure that the research community was aware of and understood the scope of the Taskforce’s work and to encourage submissions. The initial consultations involved meetings in each capital city with members of the research community and with state and territory governments.
Submissions closed on 29 August 2003. More than 120 submissions were received mainly from universities, publicly funded research agencies, thematic groups and researchers.
In October 2003 the Taskforce undertook a second round of consultations, again in each capital city, to strengthen and shape this Framework. The Taskforce’s draft Discussion Paper, which set out the Taskforce’s interim views, was provided to stakeholders who attended the consultations. The Taskforce then released the final version of the Discussion Paper.
Terms of Reference - PDF 
(79.29 KB) RTF 
(25KB)
Invitation for Submissions
Discussion Paper - PDF (194.65 KB) RTF (396KB)
Submissions Received