Innovation is the “next frontier” in Australia’s partnership with China, Chris Evans, Australia’s minister for research, told the China Nine University Presidents’ Forum.
There is strong research collaboration between the two nations, he emphasised, but it is important that it leads to more innovation.
“We need to apply and commercialise the outcomes of our research for the mutual benefit of both our nations,” he added in his speech in Sydney on 2 August.
The strategic significance of collaboration between Australia and China has been recognised formally through the establishment of the government-level Australia-China Science and Research Fund.
Each country is contributing $AU9m over three years to increase research engagement in areas of strategic priority, and several research exchanges have taken place. Now it is time to take the next step, Evans said, and push for commercialisation of research results.