Research ‘too concentrated’ in capital cities, inquiry told

Australia’s policymakers must develop a modern “knowledge economy” plan to move more government research funding to regional cities, a federal parliamentary inquiry has heard.

Andrew Beer, dean of research and innovation at the University of South Australia, told a public hearing in Canberra that “questions have to be asked” about ways to introduce long-term strategies to decentralise federal research investment.

“We know that R&D expenditure across Australia is concentrated in the capital cities,’” Beer said.