National Research Priorities - Department of Innovation, Industry ...

• Eligibility under the Cooperative Research Centre (CRC) program was broadened to include the
humanities, arts and social sciences, following the 2008 review of the program (which took place as
part of the broader review of the National Innovation System). The two most recent selection rounds
(in 2010 and 2011) have included ‘Social Innovation’ as a priority area.
• The 2011 Strategic Roadmap for Australian Research Infrastructure (DIISR, 2011) included
‘Understanding Culture and Communities’ as a priority area in mapping Australia’s capability areas for
strategic investment in research infrastructure (refer Box 1 below).
BOX 1: 2011 STRATEGIC ROADMAP FOR RESEARCH INFRASTRUCTURE
The 2011 Strategic Roadmap for Australian Research Infrastructure articulates the priority research
infrastructure areas of a national scale (capability areas) to further develop Australia’s research capacity
and improve innovation and research outcomes over the next five to ten years.
The capability areas described in the 2011 Roadmap were identified through a broad consultative process,
which sought input directly from researchers and other stakeholders regarding future research directions
and research infrastructure requirements at the national, collaborative scale.
The 2011 Roadmap used Australia’s National Research Priorities as an organising framework for
considering capability areas, but also included an additional capability area, Understanding Cultures and
Communities, reflecting the importance of the humanities, arts and social sciences.
The capability areas identified in the 2011 Roadmap contribute in a multitude of ways to Australia’s NRPs
and generally support research across more than one research priority, thereby demonstrating the benefits
of a national, collaborative approach to research infrastructure investment.
The 2011 Roadmap identified three research outcome areas with the potential to contribute specifically to
the additional capability area of ‘Understanding Cultures and Communities’:
• Urban Settlements – understanding the physical, social, economic and ecological aspects of urban
settlements is essential to improve the environmental sustainability of cities and other urban areas, and
in improving economic prosperity and quality of life.
• Population Health Research Platforms – understanding the interplay of social, environmental and
biological factors in causing and controlling major health problems.
• Cultures and Communities – understanding of identity, cultures, histories and change and delivering
solutions to challenging questions and complex issues facing society, including in health, the
environment, social cohesion and security.
A PROPOSED NEW NATIONAL RESEARCH PRIORITY
During the preliminary consultations, stakeholders considered possible wording for a new NRP and
underlying priority goals that would better acknowledge the strategic goals of HASS in the national research
endeavour. An upper limit of seven priority goals was set, so as not to exceed the existing maximum
number of priority goals under an NRP.
Stakeholders indicated their preference that the existing HASS-related priority goals within the existing four
NRPs be kept, but noted that the wording of these priority goals might need to be altered to avoid overlap
with new priority goals. Stakeholders also indicated the important role that the NRPs play in articulating
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