Robyn Denholm to lead national R&D review

An expert panel led by businesswoman Robyn Denholm, who chairs lobby group the Tech Council of Australia and electric car maker Tesla, will conduct a year-long Strategic Examination of Research and Development (R&D) in the nation.

According to The Australian Financial Review – which got advance notice of the announcement by industry minister Ed Husic on Monday – the review will consider changes to government R&D spending to see a better return on investment. 

Its terms of reference include how well R&D is addressing national priorities, industry-researcher collaboration, and the mobility of researchers.

“This review is designed to give us an evidence-based pathway to stronger growth,” The AFR quotes Husic as saying.

“We said after the pandemic we would boost our manufacturing self-sufficiency. That is a big challenge, but Australian know-how can help us do things smarter and sharpen our edge against international competition.”

The panel will also be made up of former Australian chief scientist Ian Chubb, surgeon Fiona Wood, and CEO of LaunchVic Kate Cornick.

Welcoming the review, the Australian Academy of Science said it was an opportunity to position Australia in an era of intense international competition, and ensure that the system “delivers maximum economic and social benefits”.  

The group’s president, Professor Chennupati Jagadish, said, “My expectation is that the Strategic Examination will make recommendations to bring strategy and coherence to R&D measures and funding across government, industry and higher education that are essential for jobs creation, productivity, national security and competitiveness.

“If we get the R&D settings right, every single Australian is a winner”.

The academy added that government investments were diluted by being spread over 14 portfolios and 151 programs. and R&D investment by government and business was “no longer globally competitive” and “close to the bottom of OECD countries”.

Tech Council CEO Damian Kassabgi said a strategic approach to R&D will increase competition, attract investment and contribute to a more productive and resilient economy.

“The decline in productivity is one of Australia’s biggest economic challenges,” he said.

“To continue enjoying our standard of living, which is among the highest in the world, Australia needs to focus on improving productivity growth.”

Australia’s overall R&D spend as a proportion of GDP has slumped from 2.2 per cent a decade ago to 1.68 per cent.

Between 2007 and 2019, business spend on R&D has also fallen, from 1.37 per cent of GDP in 2007 to 0.92 per  cent in 2019. 

Australia’s lagging R&D investment was the subject of a recent campaign and report by @AuManufacturing and BDO, Towards 3% R&D, which can be downloaded for free here.

Picture: credit UNSW

Further reading

Towards 3% R&D, Australia’s R&D slide – download our e-book

Government and business R&D stagnating

Government says Australian R&D is strong – it is not

Towards 3% R&D – budget responds to slump in Australian innovation effort