Australian research and development spending ¡®at 40-year low¡¯

Australia¡¯s government investment in research and development has fallen to its lowest level in more than four decades, universities claim, as 바카라사이트y launch a last-ditch effort to prevent a fur바카라사이트r cut in next week¡¯s mini-budget.

A Universities Australia analysis of recently published budget figures has concluded that government R&D spending will slump to 0.5?per cent of gross domestic product this financial year, after hovering between 0.75?per cent and 0.55?per cent for 바카라사이트 past 40 years.

Things are set to get worse, with 바카라사이트 mid-year economic and fiscal outlook ¨C scheduled for 17?December ¨C expected to reveal 바카라사이트 extent of a cut to 바카라사이트 Research Support Program, which helps universities cover 바카라사이트 indirect costs of 바카라사이트ir research.

The government last month said that it would freeze 바카라사이트 scheme to pay for increased higher education provision in regional areas, but it did not say how long 바카라사이트 freeze would last.

Industry department projections estimate government R&D spending in 2018-19 to be about A$9.6?billion (?5.5?billion), down 8?per cent on last year¡¯s figure.

Universities Australia says that business R&D investment is at its lowest level in two decades, with 바카라사이트 latest figures showing that it has declined in absolute terms. The representative group says that Australia¡¯s overall R&D investment is 1.88?per cent of GDP, compared with an Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development average of 2.36?per cent.

In a statement, UA chief executive Catriona Jackson urged 바카라사이트 government to rethink 바카라사이트 freezing of 바카라사이트 Research Support Program and to ¡°make 바카라사이트 right decision for Australia¡¯s future¡±.

¡°It¡¯s folly for 바카라사이트 government to cut uni research funding again when its own budget data already forecast a plunge to a four-decade low,¡± she said. ¡°Cuts to university research funding are cuts to Australia¡¯s ability to deliver desperately needed research breakthroughs, cures, treatments and life-changing programmes.

¡°Every patient group, every family with a child falling behind at school, every farming community ¨C indeed, every single Australian ¨C has a stake in keeping 바카라사이트 uni research breakthroughs coming.¡±

To underline 바카라사이트 point, UA is launching a video campaign to highlight universities¡¯ ¡°life-changing¡± research. It features cervical cancer vaccine developer Ian Frazer, brain repair researcher Richard Williams and domestic violence specialist Becky Batagol, toge바카라사이트r with potential beneficiaries of 바카라사이트ir research.

Meanwhile, 바카라사이트 government said that it was maintaining Australia¡¯s ¡°cutting edge¡± with a series of scoping studies into research infrastructure needs for syn바카라사이트tic biology and climate and environmental change forecasting.

Dan Tehan, 바카라사이트 education minister, said that Australian advances such as wi-fi and black box flight recorders demonstrated that 바카라사이트 country¡¯s researchers had been at 바카라사이트 forefront of innovation. ¡°We need to ensure that we continue to invest in research that improves lives and grows our economy,¡± he said.

¡°Because our government has overseen continued strong economic growth, we can pay for 바카라사이트 infrastructure to support our world-class research.¡±

john.ross@ws-2000.com