ATSE strongly endorses the determination of the benefits arising from university-based research and believes that the ultimate publication of the results of a survey of research impact will assist the public perception of university research, as well as providing the public sector and industry with guidance as to which universities are fostering a research culture in which uptake of research findings is considered important.
A focus on the benefits arising from university-based research will also develop a virtuous circle by firstly encouraging academic staff to be engaged in these activities and secondly, these staff will, both by example and by their undergraduate and postgraduate teaching, encourage their students to be engaged in these activities post graduation. Further, it is essential to demonstrate to key stakeholders the dividends arising from Australia’s investment in research. While ATSE has a particular interest in university research in a range of Fields of Research1 (which are related to the application of science and technology), and its response is couched in these terms, it acknowledges the importance of the application of research in fields other than these.
The definition of ‘benefits” of research provided in the Discussion Paper is very broad and the reference to pages 5-11 of the National Research Investment Plan while useful in giving illustrative case studies does not provide a more precise definition of what the Government wishes to examine as ‘benefits” in the proposed pilot study. In line with the Government’s rhetoric on the need for innovation as a key element in raising Australia’s productivity, ATSE feels that it would be useful to define the information sought as that ‘associated with a key innovation” as the term ‘innovation” is now widely understood and embodies the concept of quality research having been put to use. Recognition is already afforded to research breakthroughs in the research media and translates into ERA rankings. Recognition of significant innovation arising from university research remains a poorly served area.
For most research which leads to innovation ATSE believes it is possible to express the notional benefit in dollar terms. This would be the approach used in the private sector and the assigning of a potential dollar value to the innovations from specific research would provide a basis for comparison. Possibly the definition of benefits should include a notion of the financial contribution of the research to the ongoing Australian economy.