SYDNEY, Dec. 9 (People’s Daily Online) -- Australian government announced the National Innovation and Science Agenda On December 7, 2015. It is estimated that around AU$2.3 billion will be invested in national scale research infrastructure in the next 10 years.

Among the AU$2.3 billion, AU$1.5 billion will be spent on the National Collaborative Research Infrastructure (NCRIS).

“Ongoing National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Strategy funding from 2017 18 provides much needed long-term certainty, which drives collaboration between 35,000 researchers, government and industry, and supports research in areas like food production, health and sustainable cities,” said Simon Birmingham, the Minister for Education and Training.

He pointed out that high quality research drives innovation that saves lives, answers social and environmental imperatives, improves economic productivity and growth, and creates the jobs of the future.

In addition, there will be sharper incentives in research funding with new funding arrangements for universities that equally reward research excellence and partnership with industry.