To really get R&D going, what we need is central planning – and lots of it, according to a new report to Government.
Robyn Denholm and colleagues set out how government can power up productivity in a new paper for their Strategic Review of Research and Development, which they are writing for Industry Minister Tim Ayres.
Their core case is changing from diverse public sector objectives to centralised command and control across the economy. “There is a lack of coordination across Commonwealth, state, and territory governments, and between academic and industry stakeholders” they warn.
“Each level of government operates with distinct and sometimes conflicting priorities, strategies and programs. This stems from siloed policymaking, where departments independently pursue narrowly focused initiatives.”
The national government alone has 150 funding programmes across 14 portfolios, supported by 215 individual funding streams, they lament.
And so, they suggest, to achieve research and development “scale and impact” Australia should focus investment in five areas for up to 30 years. Their report does not prescribe which but mentions there already is “substantial” activity in health, defence, agriculture and resources.
There would be goals and subgoals, set out in ten-year plans.
And with that out of the way their paper moves on to the very public-sector stuff, who will get to run things. They suggest, “a Commonwealth level governance board” approving plans for R&D focus and “developing whole of system strategies for enabling instruments.” Plus, each focus area would have its own boards and all of them would have secretariats working with Commonwealth agencies that manage portfolios.
And while that was ticking over the government would also fund “investigator-led research,” infrastructure and expand venture and capital “to accelerate commercialisation.”
Such a structure would align Australia with best global practice “mission-orientated R&D”, which they demonstrate with a detailed table of how the Israelis, UK, US and the Euros organise their efforts.
“A stronger emphasis on translation in focus areas would shape the RD&I system architecture by setting clear goals and fostering alignment among researchers, entrepreneurs, business leaders and investors,” is the pitch.