May 20, 2016
The Australian Greens Science and Research Policy released today is a strong acknowledgement of the importance of research to the transitioning economy.
Australia’s leading research intensive universities, the Group of Eight says the policy outlined a series of initiatives to boost spending on research, including improved indirect cost support for basic research.
“We must never lose sight of the fact that the majority of research in Australia is undertaken in our universities and that it is research which will underpin the so called innovation economy.” Chief Executive Vicki Thomson said.
“A major priority must be to ensure that Australia can perform research at internationally benchmarked standards of quality on a financially sustainable basis. Recognising the full costs of research—the direct costs and the indirect costs of administrative and capital overheads—enables better internal resource allocation, transparency of cross-subsidies, improved asset management and sustainable performance quality.
“The Go8 strongly supports measures which will increase our national spend as a percentage of GDP on research as outlined by the Greens policy, however the fact is that research remains underfunded and this has implications for the capacity of Australia to be an innovative and competitive economy.”
The Group of Eight, which receives two thirds of research funding to Australian universities and spends some $6 billion on research annually will, during the current election campaign, be looking to the two major parties to adopt a similar strategic commitment to research sustainability as a driver of our innovation economy.
Media contact: Go8 Chief Executive Vicki Thomson 0417 808 472
Note: The Go8 is Australia’s premier group of research intensive universities, consistently the highest ranked in Australia and with seven of its eight members in the world’s top 100. The Go8 educates 26% of Australia’s students. One in three international students who choose to come to Australia study at a Go8 university. It receives $2.5 Billion in research funding, two thirds of research funding to Australian Universities, and each year it spends some $6 Billion on research.
