Modernising the Research and Development Corporation system
The Australian Academy of Technology and Engineering welcomes the invitation from the Australian Government Department of Agriculture to respond to Modernising the Research and Development Corporation (RDC) system.
Currently, Australia has no architecture for identifying water R&D priorities and funding them. There are no processes that take account of what water research is being done, nor any systematic evaluation of its merits. Outputs from water R&D have fluctuated over the last 30 years, largely governed by the changing nature of funding programs. Productivity has been greatest when funding programs are well-designed, well-resourced and relatively stable.
ATSE and the Australian Academy of Science have agreed to undertake a joint study to outline a vision for Australian water research and development. The two academies are motivated to do so because of the growing importance of water security in Australia and the lack of appropriate funding mechanisms for water R&D. The study will produce a discussion paper that will:
- Highlight the significant economic, social and environmental value of water in Australia
- Demonstrate the value of Australian water R&D conducted in the past
- Review historic patterns in Australian water R&D funding arrangements and quanta
- Outline future water R&D priorities for Australia
- Recommend institutional arrangements and funding quanta for a national water R&D funding facility.