STA warns: science success “crucial” to Australia’s safety

The pandemic proves investing in science pays off says peak lobby Science and Technology Australia

“We must invest deeply in science and scientists. Their success is crucial to our safety,” STA suggests in its budget bid.

How deeply? Deep enough to pay for (among other initiatives)

* a $2.4bn research translation fund, like the MRFF which is expected to spend $650m in ’22-‘23

* increasing “discovery research” by increasing annual grants to the Australian Research Council (now $823m pa to research projects)  and National Health and Medical Research Council ($863m) to $1bn each.

* “long-term funding certainty” for the National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Strategy