The Australian Government's Innovation Report

In August 2005, the Minister for Education, Science and Training, established an expert standing committee to
oversee the ongoing implementation, monitoring and review of NCRIS and appointed the NCRIS Committee,
chaired by Dr Michael Sargent.
In February 2006, the Minister for Education, Science and Training, the Hon Julie Bishop MP, announced the
release of the NCRIS Roadmap, which identified 16 capability areas in which Australia should aim to develop,
or further develop, research capability through significant infrastructure. The Minister subsequently approved
the NCRIS Investment Framework in April 2006, which outlines the process for developing investment plans
for the capabilities identified in the Roadmap. A single national, collaborative proposal (incorporating a business
plan) will be developed to address each priority capability.
The NCRIS Roadmap identified 10 areas for funding in 2006-07:
• evolving biomolecular platforms and informatics;
• integrated biological systems;
• characterisation;
• fabrication;
• biotechnology products;
• networked biosecurity framework;
• optical and radio astronomy;
• integrated marine observing system;
• structure and evolution of the Australian continent; and
• platforms for collaboration.
A further group of two high priority capabilities were identified (population health and clinical data linkage, and
terrestrial ecosystem research network) as requiring further scoping to take place within the research community
before it would be feasible to develop a full investment proposal. The scoping process for these capabilities has
begun and development of a full investment proposal is expected to commence in late 2006 or early in 2007.
The remaining four capabilities described in the roadmap will be reviewed for possible implementation in 2007.
In 2005-06, NCRIS funding was provided to the Australia Phenomics Facility ($1.3 million), the Australian
Proteomics Analysis Facility ($1 million), the National Neuroscience Facility ($0.975 million), the Australian
Computational Earth Systems Simulator ($0.76 million), the Bandwidth Foundry ($0.6 million) and the Australian
Genome Research Facility ($0.563 million).
More information about NCRIS can be found at:
www.dest.gov.au/sectors/research_sector/policies_issues_reviews/key_issues/ncris/
Major National Research Facilities Programme
The Australian Government’s Major National Research Facilities (MNRF) Programme supported the establishment
of research facilities in Australia and provided access to overseas facilities.
Under Backing Australia’s Ability, the MNRF Programme received funding of more than $150 million over five years
from 2001-02 to 2005-06. As a result, 15 facilities (selected through a competitive process) covering a range of
disciplines including genomics, proteomics, earth sciences, astronomy, wine, neuroscience and nano-technology
were funded.
The facilities in operation have generated research results and outputs, including publications, and have established
linkages with industry. The Australian Phenomics Facility, for example, reported the identification of the Roquin
gene (from the san roque mice strain developed at the facility) that affects the proper function of the autoimmune
system. Researchers are now investigating the relevance of this gene in human disease including Lupus and
Type 1 Diabetes. Many MNRFs have developed direct collaborations with industry to commercialise intellectual
property developed by independent users of the facility and to develop fee-for-service contracts to undertake
development of products for industry customers.
Chapter 2 - Initiatives for a dynamic national innovation system 49