Backing Australia's Ability

Previous policy

• Investing for Growth, December 1997 increased support for business innovation by providing $1.26 billion over the four years from 1998–99, including additional funding for R&D grants, venture capital and technology diffusion.
• Knowledge and Innovation, December 1999 announced a new policy and funding framework for higher education research and research training.

  Science and Innovation Committee

• Prime Minister of Australia, chairman
• Minister for Industry, Tourism and Resources, Ian Macfarlane
• Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts, Richard Alston followed by Helen Coonan since July 2004
• Minister for Education, Science and Training, Brendan Nelson followed by Julie Bishop since January 2006
• Minister for Finance and Administration, Nick Minchin

  An Innovation Action Plan for the Future

• an additional $736 million for Australian Research Council competitive grants, doubling funding by 2005–06
• an additional $583 million for research infrastructure
• an additional $176 million for world class centres of excellence in information and communications technology and biotechnology
• providing $155 million to support investments in major national research facilities
• $535 million over five years for the R&D Start Program
• reforming the R&D tax concession
• * a premium rate of 175 per cent for additional R&D activity
• * a tax rebate for small companies
• an additional $227 million for the Cooperative Research Centres Program, and encouraging greater access by small and medium enterprises
• an additional $151 million to universities, to create 2000 additional university places each year, with priority given to ICT, mathematics and science – to be backed by adjustments to existing immigration arrangements to attract more migrants with ICT skills
• $130 million to foster scientific, mathematical and technological skills and innovation in government schools in those States where the Enrolment Benchmark Adjustment is triggered.
• $246 million for a new Systemic Infrastructure Initiative, to upgrade the basic infrastructure of universities, such as scientific and research equipment, libraries and laboratory facilities

  Building our future through science and innovation

• $1 billion for a new Commercial Ready programme
• $542 million for a new National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Strategy
• an additional $305 million for CSIRO National Research Flagships
• an additional $200 million for National Health and Medical Research Council to assist independent medical research institutions
• an additional $100 million or the Commercialising Emerging Technologies programme
• $38.8 million for a new Maths, Science and Innovation Teaching initiative that will involve research bodies and undergraduates in primary and secondary school classes
• $7.2 million to co-ordinate and focus research in support of Australia's counter-terrorism needs