Australia’s scientific and technological community has expressed strong support for the Australian Research Council’s (ARC) ambitious new proposals to simplify grants programs, enhance support for early career researchers, and embrace higher-risk, high-reward innovation.
Unveiled by ARC Chairman Prof. Peter Shergold AC, the discussion paper outlines a transformative approach to research funding.
Key proposals include consolidating existing ARC programs into streamlined funding streams, expanding support for early and mid-career researchers, and fostering a greater emphasis on bold, high-impact research with the potential to drive significant innovation.
“This paper is a bold reimagining of the ARC’s role, with the potential to reinforce its essential place as the foundation of Australian research and innovation,” said Science & Technology Australia (STA) Chief Executive Officer Ryan Winn.
“It seeks to untangle a funding system that can often be labyrinthine for researchers and reconfigures it to better align with Australia’s long-term needs—supporting fundamental discovery research, elevating early career and Indigenous researchers, and demonstrating confidence in Australian innovators developing the products, services, and industries of the future.”
The discussion paper follows extensive sector consultation and remains open for submissions until 13 April.
STA President Prof. Sharath Sriram welcomed the ARC’s responsiveness to stakeholder feedback. “We are pleased that the ARC has incorporated sector perspectives in its consultation process and listened to the voices of scientists and technologists,” he said.
“Clear communication of these proposed changes is now critical, ensuring the research community has adequate time to engage and provide informed responses.”
Emphasising the ARC’s central role in Australia’s research and innovation ecosystem, Prof. Sriram noted the importance of positioning the sector for future breakthroughs—whether in new technologies, climate change mitigation, biodiversity conservation, or fundamental scientific discovery.
“With the Strategic Examination of R&D currently underway, now is the time for a fearless discussion on the future of our research and innovation system,” he said.
“To secure Australia’s prosperity, health, and wellbeing, we must establish a robust and forward-thinking research framework.”
Science & Technology Australia is the nation’s peak body representing more than 235,000 scientists and technologists. We’re the leading policy voice on science and technology.
Support Our Journalism
The global Indian Diaspora and Australia’s multicultural communities need fair, non-hyphenated, and questioning journalism, packed with on-ground reporting. The Australia Today—with exceptional reporters, columnists, and editors—is doing just that. Sustaining this requires support from wonderful readers like you.
Whether you live in Australia, the United Kingdom, Canada, the United States of America, or India you can take a paid subscription by clicking Patreon
