Public Support for Science and Innovation

The Australian Government asked the Commission to evaluate the economic, social and environmental returns on this investment. The main message from the Commission's report is that there are widespread economic, social and environmental benefits to Australia from supporting science and innovation. However, the Commission identified a number of stresses in the science and innovation system that need resolution. The Commission proposes changes to certain business programs, including the R&D tax concession. It believes there is a better chance of stimulating R&D in the business sector if changes are made to the design and scope of the tax concession. The Commission also makes findings in relation to program evaluation, governance issues and intellectual property frameworks. The Commission canvasses some options that might increase the possibility of net benefits from the recent Government decision to adopt the Research Quality Framework. The Commission favours a scheme that is more strongly weighted against the poorest research performers than apparently currently envisaged. But as the Research Quality Framework evolves, the Commission suggests the use of a lower cost, risk minimisation approach that only applies to poor performing areas in universities