- 1.Commonwealth Science Council – Science and Research Priorities
Members of the Commonwealth Science Council have recommended that the Government adopt the proposed science and research priorities and associated practical research challenges to ensure publicly-funded research addresses the most important questions facing Australia.
Following the first meeting of the Science Council, the Chief Scientist, assisted by the National Science, Technology and Research Committee (NSTRC), led further consultation on the priorities in order to develop a series of underpinning practical research challenges within each priority area.
Informed by evidence, working groups of experts from industry, research organisations and government identified practical challenges to direct research effort within each priority area. The challenges reflect the problems that need to be faced by the research and business communities as Australia shifts its capacity in each area from where it is to where it needs to be. The NSTRC will now assess existing research activity against the priorities and practical challenges. It will analyse current capabilities, capacity, investment and activities in order to provide an evidence base for each identified practical challenge. This process will help map the capacity of the system to address gaps or capitalise on opportunities.
The Government is expected to finalise the Priorities and associated practical research challenges shortly.
Following the first meeting of the Science Council, the Chief Scientist, assisted by the National Science, Technology and Research Committee (NSTRC), led further consultation on the priorities in order to develop a series of underpinning practical research challenges within each priority area.
Informed by evidence, working groups of experts from industry, research organisations and government identified practical challenges to direct research effort within each priority area. The challenges reflect the problems that need to be faced by the research and business communities as Australia shifts its capacity in each area from where it is to where it needs to be. The NSTRC will now assess existing research activity against the priorities and practical challenges. It will analyse current capabilities, capacity, investment and activities in order to provide an evidence base for each identified practical challenge. This process will help map the capacity of the system to address gaps or capitalise on opportunities.
The Government is expected to finalise the Priorities and associated practical research challenges shortly.
2.Commonwealth Science Council – 2nd Meeting
The Government announced the new Commonwealth Science Council, as part of its Industry Innovation and Competitiveness Agenda in October 2014. The Council is the pre-eminent source of advice to Government on science and technology issues facing Australia.
The Council is chaired by the Prime Minister, and includes the Ministers for Industry and Science, Education and Training, and Health, Australia’s Chief Scientist, five eminent scientists and five eminent business representatives.
The Council held its second meeting on 13 April 2015. Discussion items included:
The Council is chaired by the Prime Minister, and includes the Ministers for Industry and Science, Education and Training, and Health, Australia’s Chief Scientist, five eminent scientists and five eminent business representatives.
The Council held its second meeting on 13 April 2015. Discussion items included:
• Government actions in response to the Chief Scientist’s Science, technology, engineering and mathematics: Australia’s future report. The Minister for Industry and Science, working with the Minister for Education and the Chief Scientist will develop a discussion paper and consult on the implementation of the Government’s STEM policy
Department of Industry and Science Page 6 <Innovation Policy Report – May 2015>
- Science and Research Priorities and associated practical challenges developed through expert working groups were discussed, and capability mapping for each of these will now be undertaken through the National Science, Technology and Research Committee
- Implementation of the Boosting the Commercial Returns from Research strategy
- Progress of the Research Infrastructure Review.
The Council agreed a forward work programme, with key items for further consideration to include:
- the formal Government actions to respond to the Chief Scientist’s report: Science, technology, engineering and mathematics: Australia’s future
- implementation of the Science and Research Priorities, considering capability mapping for each of the practical challenges
- progress of the Boosting the Commercial Returns from Research strategy
- the final report of the Research Infrastructure Review.
The Council will next meet in the second half of 2015.
Source: Innovation Policy Report May 2015
