THE establishment of 70 new research institutes in the past decade with total
budget commitments of about A$5.5 billion has been an impressive
achievement. But it is now time to ring some changes, says the father of
Australia鈥檚 Cooperative Research Centre (CRC) Programme, Ralph Slatyer.
Speaking in Brisbane at the recent CRC Association conference Slatyer, a
former chief scientist, called for greater flexibility in funding and a more
adventurous approach towards selecting the areas future research centres should
cover.
The CRC programme was the big Australian science policy success of the 1990s.
And the review of progress at the recent conference was very positive. One
significant outcome has been the movement of postgraduates through the centres
into career positions. Slatyer estimated that about 300 researchers from CRCs
are now in posts in industry, government agencies or research organisations.
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There are also many instances where CRC research has led to clear economic
benefits. The Australian Pipeline Industry Association (APIA), for example, paid
tribute to the work of the CRC for Welded Structures. The centre鈥檚 R&D is
鈥渄elivering savings of over A$110 million in new private sector pipeline
development around the country鈥�, said APIA executive director, Allen Beasley. He
praised the CRC鈥檚 work at the forefront of research into high pressure pipes,
saying it had allowed high strength steel to be used with confidence, and had
paved the way for the A$1.5 billion gas pipeline from Papua New Guinea to
Queensland, a key element in that state鈥檚 recently announced energy policy.
But while looking back on the successes of the programme, Slatyer also looked
forward to improvements in the funding and balance of the programme. His
original recommendation, that each new CRC should receive about A$2
million a year of government money, with similar amounts to be found from other
sources, has become the norm. Already that base-level figure should probably
should be at least A$3 million in today鈥檚 shrinking dollars.
Slatyer, however, argued for much more flexibility. The guidelines for
applicants give a very clear signal that A$2 million a year is the right
amount, he said, so most proposals ask for that. But, depending on the specific
needs of the field concerned, annual grants ranging from A$1 million to
A$5 million dollars would be more logical.
He also called for a better balance to the programme. Selection criteria
favour established industries, so mining and energy, agriculture, health and
environmental management are well represented. 鈥淏ut what about the knowledge
economy?,鈥� Slatyer asked. Such fields as biotechnology, information technology,
and new materials deserve greater emphasis, he said.
A DECISION to join an international telescope project has given astronomy in
New Zealand a huge boost. At a total cost of about NZ$2 million, the
University of Canterbury in Christchurch has agreed to become a founding partner
in the Southern African Large Telescope (SALT).
Work on SALT is due to begin in September. It will be the largest optical
telescope in the Southern Hemisphere, with a mirror about 10 metres across. The
South African government put up half the money for the project two years ago. A
range of partners has joined since, notably the Polish Academy of Science and
universities in Germany and the US.
In NZ, benefits will flow beyond the direct involvement of astronomers.
Optical designers, engineers, scientists and technicians will work on an
instrument to be used in conjunction with the new telescope.
Australian astronomy is more diverse than in NZ, so the Australians passed up
the chance to be involved in SALT for the European large telescope project in
Chile. The South African instrument is a specialised design for spectrographic
surveys, which suits the NZ astronomers. And the early commitment will ensure
that SALT can be built to accommodate their needs. By contrast, Australia鈥檚
belated involvement in the European venture meant joining a project already
largely designed around the requirements of Northern Hemisphere research groups.
That could be a problem in future.