A $2.4bn research translation future fund leads Science and Technology Australia’s budget-submission. Other asks include:

*  in common with other groups, for national R&D to be 3 per cent of GDP

* 4 per cent increases for four years for national research funding agencies

* a 20 per cent collaboration premium in the R&D tax incentive

* the reinstatement of the demand driven system for funding undergraduate places

* grants to incentivise the Australian film industry to present characters who are female STEM professionals

STA points to the success of the Medical Research Future Fund as a reason to create a similar resource “aimed at complementing the curiosity-driven scientific research supported by the Australian Research Council.” The lobby suggests funding it from savings from “efficiencies and improvements” to the R&D Tax Incentive Scheme.

“Experience around the world and here in Australia has shown that public investment in science reaps large returns. If science and technology are to play a part in Australia’s prosperity, the time to invest is now,” STA president and UNSW dean of science, Emma Johnston says.