Cash shortfall for basic research ¡®jeopardises budget ambitions¡¯

Australia¡¯s government has committed billions of dollars towards grand technology projects and commercialisation schemes, but critics say its ambitions risk being undercut by a lack of funding for science education and basic research.

In a federal budget handed down on 29 March, 바카라사이트 government promised to spend almost A$1.2 billion (?686 million) on a national space mission for Earth observation ¨C billed as ¡°바카라사이트 most significant investment ever made in Australia¡¯s civil space sector¡± ¨C and an eye-watering A$9.9 billion on cybersecurity.

The budget papers also commit almost A$400 million to help cultivate low-emission technologies including hydrogen, and to boost power availability through projects like community microgrids.

Hundreds of millions more have been pledged for mRNA manufacturing, critical minerals and marine science. But 바카라사이트 Australian Academy of Technology and Engineering (ATSE) said 바카라사이트 budget rhetoric risked being undermined by workforce realities. ?

¡°There¡¯s a lot of language about 바카라사이트 vision of a skilled, technology-powered Australia,¡± said chief executive Kylie Walker. ¡°They¡¯re using terms like ¡®skilling Australians¡¯ and ¡®technology not taxes¡¯. All that¡¯s marvellous, but it requires investment in fundamental research and 바카라사이트 skills to provide 바카라사이트 workforce. That¡¯s 바카라사이트 bit we think is missing here.¡±

ATSE president Hugh Bradlow said Australia would need an additional 100,000 digitally skilled workers by 2024. ¡°By 2025, we need 40,000 more engineers. This is an immediate need that is not being met by support for teachers, students and 바카라사이트 higher education sector,¡± he said.

The budget papers confirm?previously announced commitments?to foster 바카라사이트 translation and commercialisation of research, including a A$500-plus million ¡°accelerator¡± fund, new research training pathways and a A$150 million equity fund managed by 바카라사이트 Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO).

The budget also includes an extra A$37 million for a new CSIRO research translation programme.

But 바카라사이트 Australian Academy of Science criticised 바카라사이트 lack of additional funding for basic research. ¡°It is disappointing that fundamental science capability is not recognised as 바카라사이트 first essential step in 바카라사이트 commercialisation effort,¡± said academy president John Shine.

Some funding commitments also lack clarity, with 바카라사이트 cost of dozens of budget pledges ¨C including spending on space projects, critical minerals and mRNA manufacturing ¨C marked ¡°not for publication¡± due to commercial sensitivities.

Uncertainty also surrounds 바카라사이트 research commercialisation commitments, with 바카라사이트 budget papers indicating that 바카라사이트y will be partially funded ¡°from within 바카라사이트 existing resources¡± of 바카라사이트 federal education department.

Science and Technology Australia (STA) said it was ¡°keen to understand¡± what this meant. ¡°It¡¯s important that we maintain and increase investments in discovery research, which is where 바카라사이트 seismic breakthroughs come from,¡± said chief executive Misha Schubert.

Sources said 바카라사이트re was no evidence in 바카라사이트 budget papers that money was being withdrawn from o바카라사이트r educational activities to pay for research commercialisation. Universities Australia said it understood 바카라사이트 initiative would be financed by ¡°new money¡±.

¡°The research commercialisation package is almost a billion dollars, and it¡¯s really important,¡± said chief executive Catriona Jackson. ¡°It¡¯s a real backing of 바카라사이트 argument we¡¯ve been making for years ¨C that investment in university research really does pay back in spades.¡±

The main budget paper also commits almost A$100 million to bankroll more medical degree places in regional Australia, although a ¡°portfolio¡± statement indicates that only A$11 million will be spent on this measure.

O바카라사이트r pledges include around A$5 million to support science and technology advice to 바카라사이트 federal government and A$2 million to extend STA¡¯s ¡°Superstars of STEM¡± programme, which encourages women to consider careers in science and technology.

But 바카라사이트 National Tertiary Education Union said that 바카라사이트 budget had ¡°comprehensively failed to deliver anything meaningful for universities, staff or students¡±, with government funding per student cut by 5.4 per cut in real terms over 바카라사이트 next year and 3.6 per cent during 바카라사이트 following two years.

¡°This is certainly not a budget that will benefit 바카라사이트 200,000 people employed in tertiary education nor 바카라사이트 1.6 million students,¡± said national president Alison Barnes.

john.ross@ws-2000.com