A $100 million ‘Technology Challenge’ pilot program would be established in Australia under the Australian Democrats’ plan for science and innovation, released today.
Under this program, specific research goals would be set, for research which would make an important contribution to the national interest (such as, for example, a cure for melanoma), and the Government would accept competitive applications from companies and institutions.
"The current suite of science and innovation support is very fragmented. Government support cuts in and out and there are still many companies and research institutions that get stranded along the way," Democrats’ Spokesperson on Science and Research, Senator Natasha Stott Despoja said.
"For specific projects of high national importance, the Government could provide long term strategic support until, hopefully, a solution is on the market," Senator Stott Despoja said.
Other key planks of the Democrats’ science and innovation policy include:
• A review of existing Government support with a view to reducing the number of programs and making support more flexible and user-friendly;
• Lengthening the terms of basic research grants to up to seven years;
• Increased support for researcher salaries, with the amalgamation of existing awards and fellowships into one flexible scheme, topped up with a funding of $500 million over five years;
• An additional $600 million over four years for CSIRO baseline funding; and
• ‘Apprenticeships’ for aspiring technology venture capitalists.
"Science and innovation is absolutely critical to our future competitiveness but neither major party has really shown a lot of innovation in their approach to these issues," Senator Stott Despoja said.
"Instead of offering tax cuts, the major parties could have made a significant investment in our future productivity. The policies the Democrats are putting forward today would provide a significant boost to our national innovation system," Senator Stott Despoja said.
The policy is available at: www.natashastottdespoja.com/aspx/portfolios_science_research.aspx
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