AUSTRALIA: Push for research funding overhaul

A leading scientist says Australia is squandering its intellectual wealth through a federal system of short-term grants rewarding publication of academic papers ahead of long-term research to develop and manufacture new products, writes Rosslyn Beeby for The Canberra Times.

Cooperative Research Centres Association Chief Executive Professor Tony Peacock has called for an urgent shake-up of federal funding to encourage more PhD graduates to work in industry and use their skills to boost Australia's declining productivity.

The call comes as new figures show Australia's manufacturing industry continues to slide, with exports dropping almost 4% last month. Peacock said Australia was not optimising its investments in research, development and innovation because of a funding system skewed to favour '"publication over innovation".
Full report on The Canberra Times site