Media Statement - 4th September 2008
Senator Kim Carr, Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research, today released the Strategic Roadmap for Australian Research Infrastructure outlining Australia's research infrastructure needs over the next five to 10 years.
The
roadmap was developed by the Department of Innovation, Industry,
Science and Research and the National Collaborative Research
Infrastructure Strategy committee in consultation with the research
community and State and Territory governments.
"The Rudd
Government is committed to boosting the nation's innovation capacity to
promote our economic and social development," Senator Carr said.
"The
Government's objective is to work with universities, government
organisations, non-profit research bodies and the private sector to
invest in those research facilities that achieve the greatest return
for Australia.
"Strategic, collaborative investment of this kind
provides a mechanism for increasing the effectiveness of the national
innovation system as a whole.
"It is important that the
Government invests in infrastructure that meets the highest priority
research needs; is accessible by researchers right across the
innovation sector and enables research outcomes to be translated into
national benefit."
Senator Carr said the roadmap would form an
important input to the Government's White Paper response to the Review
of the National Innovation System.
Key conclusions in the roadmap include:
• Collaborative infrastructure funding is needed to support research into an environmentally sustainable Australia, biological discovery and health, frontier science and technology and safeguarding Australia;
• Increased emphasis should be placed on eResearch infrastructure, as information and communication technology underpins all areas of research and is an important enabler of collaboration between researchers within Australia and overseas;
• The infrastructure needs of humanities, arts and social sciences research should be addressed in view of the widespread contribution by these disciplines to national outcomes; and
• A structured process is needed to identify and assess major 'landmark' infrastructure investments, such as further development of the Square Kilometre Array.
Further details regarding the roadmap are available at http://www.innovation.gov.au/ScienceAndResearch/Pages/default.aspx.