Fed: Vice-chancellors push for funding commitment

AAP General News (Australia)
12-18-2003
Fed: Vice-chancellors push for funding commitment

CANBERRA, Dec 18 AAP - University vice-chancellors today began pressing the federal
government for a commitment to future research funding.

Australian Vice-Chancellors Committee (AVCC) president Deryck Schreuder released a
policy statement outlining the future of research in Australia in response to the government's
various research reviews.

Professor Schreuder commended the government on its past initiatives, saying they had
provided a renewed investment in Australia's capacity to undertake world-class research.

"Unfortunately most of Backing Australia's Ability (BAA) is set to end in 2006 and
the university sector is facing the real possibility of the withdrawal of nearly $700
million from our national innovation system," he said in a statement.

"Australia now needs a renewed commitment to the future and the Prime Minister has
indicated that science and innovation remains one of the government's strategic priorities."

He said that although relatively small in size, Australia had one of the best economies
in the world in global terms and rated among the top 20 countries for research output.

"This is a significant achievement and for Australia to continue maintaining and advancing
its world ranking, future strategic investment in research is fundamental," Professor
Schreuder said.

"The need to reinvest in our research and innovation base is well understood by our
major trading partners and competitors.

"The United States and Canada continue to strengthen their research capacity and the
European community has set a target for investment in research to reach three per cent
of GDP by 2010.

"We must progress with the rest of the world and the government must renew its investment
to provide a strong, effective research base and put in place the research funding framework
needed to maintain our international position."

AAP dep/sb/apm/jlw

KEYWORD: RESEARCH

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