The Australian Academy of Science has published a plan in which it urges the government to adopt an international science programme worth AU$250 million.
The publication, “Australian science in a changing world: innovation requires global engagement”, was released on 22 November.
The academy proposes an integrated international science programme worth AU$250m over 10 years—0.25 per cent of total Australian government spending on science, research and innovation over a decade.
This would replace Australia’s main programme for supporting strategic international science collaboration, the International Science Linkages programme, which was terminated on 30 June 2011.
That programme aimed to increase Australia’s capacity to attract overseas research and development investment, promote innovation and increase the impact of Australian research.
Recommendations under the new plan include: funding for strategic research partnerships and collaborative innovation projects; an annual “global science and innovation watch” report to inform policy; an expanded network of science and innovation counsellors in Australian embassies; a national advisory board for international science collaboration; scientific programmes to support Australian foreign and aid policy objectives; the creation of a Commonwealth science secretariat and an Asia-Pacific science and innovation community.
“A decade into the ‘Asian Century’, Australia increasingly seeks to improve its links with its Asian neighbors, while maintaining and strengthening links with North America and Europe,” reads the academy publication.