The appointment of an independent Australian Research Council Board will strengthen the integrity of Australia’s research funding processes and the nation’s research capability.
As Australia’s leading research -intensive universities, the Group of Eight advocated strongly for ARC reform and the establishment of an independent Board to approve research grants within the National Competitive Grants Program.
Group of Eight Chief Executive Vicki Thomson said:
The appointment of the independent Board, chaired by Professor Peter Shergold AC, will improve accountability and transparency in decision making. The importance of this cannot be overstated.
The need to depoliticise ARC funding, while maintaining national security oversight of grants through parliament, was highlighted by the Go8 as key to maintaining our international reputation, and our capacity to attract and retain world leading researchers.
The Go8 is the major stakeholder in the ARC funding programs, receiving nearly 70 per cent of all funding allocations. The Go8 undertakes 70 percent of the nation’s university research, investing $7.7 billion in research annually. It is imperative that the funding of this research reflects world’s best practice.
Australia’s future prosperity depends on the capacity of our world-class researchers to undertake cutting edge research to meet our national priorities and support our economy and society.
The Go8 looks forward to working with the ARC Board to deliver research in the national interest.