The Australian Government's Innovation Report

Australian Research Council
The Australian Research Council’s (ARC) mission is to advance Australia’s research excellence to be globally
competitive and deliver benefits to the community. It is one of the principal avenues for direct support of pure
and strategic basic research in Australian universities. It also fosters collaboration between Australian researchers
and industry, government and community organisations, as well as the international research community.
The ARC is established under the Australian Research Council Act 2001. Its functions are to administer the National
Competitive Grants Programme (NGGP), which comprises a range of funding schemes for research and provide
advice to the Australian Government on Australia’s investment in science and innovation. For more information
on the ARC’s NGGP refer to Chapter 2, Part 1.
On 30 June 2006, the ARC Amendment Act 2006 received Royal Assent giving effect to a number of changes to
the ARC’s governance arrangements, including the retirement of the ARC Board.
More information about the ARC can be found at: www.arc.gov.au
National Health and Medical Research Council
The National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) is Australia’s leading expert agency fostering
health and medical research. It aims to:
• raise the standard of individual and public health throughout Australia;
• foster the development of consistent health standards between the states and territories;
• foster medical training and public health research and training throughout Australia, including urgent
and emerging areas in need of development; and
• consider ethical issues relating to health.
NHMRC is also responsible for overseeing the national regulatory system established under the Research
Involving Human Embryos Act 2002 and Prohibition of Human Cloning Act 2002. It became an independent statutory
agency within the Health and Ageing portfolio on 1 July 2006.
The Industry Research and Development Board
The Industry Research and Development (IR&D) Board is an independent statutory body supported by a
number of committees that helps administer Australian Government programmes designed to encourage and
support innovation in industry.
The Board aims to increase the level of R&D and innovation in Australian industry and improve the
commercial success of these activities. Its functions include:
• providing technical assessments, merit rankings and monitoring applications under Commercial Ready, the
Pharmaceuticals Partnerships Programme, the Industry Cooperative Innovation Programme, the Renewable
Energy Development Initiative and the Motor Vehicle Producer Research and Development Scheme;
• administering the R&D Start programme, the Biotechnology Innovation Fund, the Commercialising Emerging
Technologies programme, the Innovation Investment Fund, the Renewable Energy Equity Fund, and
the Pre-Seed Fund;
• administering aspects of the R&D Tax Concession;
• providing technical advice on the progress of applications and the eligibility of applicants;
• monitoring the administration, delivery and performance of programmes for which it has responsibility
and advising the Minister of outcomes;
• providing advice to the Minister on industry innovation assistance measures;
• studying issues, opportunities, trends and performance relating to industry research, development and
innovation;
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