Author: Talia Avrahamzon

Research Australia’s Submission: Strategic Examination of R&D

Research Australia, as the national alliance and peak of health and medical research, and innovation, is pleased to have the opportunity to make this submission as part of the Strategic Examination Research & Development (SERD).  This coming year offers a real opportunity to address the challenges identified in the Discussion Paper, through both the SERD and the Australian Government’s development of the National Health and Medical Research Strategy, which Research Australia has advocated for since 2021. We have the unique opportunity to reform and reimagine a whole of R&D system that sets up a future Australia. One that is responsive, affordable, and sustainable. Given more than a quarter (26%) of Australia R&D is spent on health and medical research, there needs to be a dedicated focus in the Strategic Examination of R&D on health and medical research, development and innovation.

Read our Summary of Key Recommendations here.

Read our full Submission here.

Health and Medical Research, Development & Innovation Critical to Unlocking Australia’s Future R&D Potential

Research Australia, the national peak organisation for health and medical research & innovation, as part of its submission to the Strategic Examination of R&D Discussion Paper, is calling for a strong and coordinated national approach to health and medical research, development and innovation (RDI), urging the Australian Government to align the forthcoming National Health and Medical Research Strategy (National Strategy) and the Strategic Examination of Research and Development (SERD).

As the national alliance representing the entire health and medical research pipeline, Research Australia has long advocated for a strategic framework to support the sector’s growth. With 26% of national R&D investment dedicated to health and medical research, this sector must be recognised as a pillar of Australia’s innovation economy.

“2025 presents a generational opportunity to reform Australia’s R&D system to ensure it is more responsive, sustainable and future-focused,” said Nadia Levin, CEO & Managing Director of Research Australia. “We must not treat the National Strategy and the SERD process as separate. Their alignment is essential to achieving transformative outcomes.”

Research Australia’s submission to the SERD highlights the economic urgency of diversifying Australia’s export base. Despite being among the world’s wealthiest countries, Australia ranks 99th in global economic complexity (a decrease from 91st in 2022) out of 145 countries. Over-reliance on a narrow export portfolio, exposed starkly during the COVID-19 pandemic, places the country’s economic resilience at risk.

Health innovation offers a powerful solution. The sector not only improves health outcomes and reduces costs across the health system, but also creates new revenue streams through commercialisation, clinical trials, precision medicine, and digital health.

“Bold and ambitious reform made over the next 18 months both through the SERD and National Strategy will determine whether we create a robust policy framework that embeds health RDI into Australia’s long-term innovation infrastructure,” Ms Levin said.
“It is incumbent on us all – researchers, innovators, funders and policy makers – to ensure we do not continue with fragmented, short-term and piece-meal approaches to reforming our sector”

A strong, integrated approach will unlock new opportunities for sovereign capability, export growth, and enhanced national productivity, positioning Australia as a regional hub for world-class health innovation.

Read Research Australia’s full submission to the Strategic Examination of R&D, including a summary of key recommendations here.

The submission has been developed drawing on previous Research Australia submissions, the contribution of members and broader input. Research Australia thanks all member organisations who contributed to the development of this submission.

Research Australia’s Federal Election Statement

Research Australia is calling on all candidates ahead of the 3 May 2025 Federal Election to commit to bold and ambitious reforms that will strengthen Australia’s health and medical research & innovation now and into the future.

We know that 2025 has enormous potential to be a year of reform for our sector. With the development of the National Health and Medical Research Strategy, the Strategic Examination of R&D, and the implementation of the HTA Review, our sector has a unique opportunity to reform and re-imagine the sector in order for us to thrive.

Through ongoing, extensive consultation with you, our members, Research Australia has developed four Priority Reforms to help achieve this:

·    A whole of systems approach to health and medical research

·    Smarter investment in health and medical research

·    An enabled, supported and diverse health and medical research workforce

·    Advancing Primary Prevention Policy

You can read Research Australia’s 2025 Federal Election Statement here.

Research Australia’s Submission in Response to the National Health and Medical Research Strategy

Research Australia were please to submit a response to the National Health and Medical Research Strategy Survey. The National Health and Medical Research Strategy offers a timely, much needed, and unique opportunity to reform and reimagine a whole of system that sets up a future Australia. One that is responsive, affordable, and sustainable. Research Australia has advocated for the Strategy since 2021, and we are committed to its success.

According to Research Australia, the National Health and Medical Research Strategy must

  • Be developed by the sector for the sector;
  • Be led by a long-term vision and a theory of change;
  • Facilitate coordinated, sustainable investment in research;
  • Strengthen the connection between research and healthcare;
  • Support emerging innovative health industries;
  • Embed collaboration across the sector through leadership, governance and systems; and
  • Ensure accountability through embedding monitoring and evaluation of measures of success

Research Australia recommends and welcomes the opportunity to contribute to:

  • The development of a long-term vision supported by a Theory of Change for the sector, across the whole pipeline;
  • Identification of interconnected Priority Reforms with key action areas to enable systemic reform;
  • Identification of leadership and governance structures in partnership with the sector to ensure accountability during the implementation of the Strategy;
  • Identification of accountable and transparent processes to identify research priorities;
  • Development of a Strategy Monitoring and Evaluation Framework with outcome measures defined jointly by the sector and government; and
  • Alignment with other relevant reforms, frameworks and policy agendas at a Commonwealth and jurisdictional level

Read our submission here.

RESEARCH AUSTRALIA WELCOMES FEDERAL GOVERNMENT’S NATIONAL SUICIDE PREVENTION STRATEGY AND ANNOUNCEMENT FOR ADDITIONAL FUNDING INTO BOTH SERVICES AND RESEARCH

The national peak body for health and medical research innovation, Research Australia, welcomes the release of the National Suicide Prevention Strategy 2025-2035 (the Strategy) by the Federal Government and National Suicide Prevention Office, as well as the Government’s announcement of $69 million in funding to support suicide prevention initiatives and research.

The Strategy outlines a comprehensive plan to guide unified, government-wide efforts in suicide prevention.

Research Australia, with input and expertise from across the membership, made a submission during the consultation process in late 2024.

It is pleasing to see that some of Research Australia’s recommendations have been embedded into the final Strategy. In particular, the Strategy and Government’s announcement recognises the importance of research and data-driven approaches as well as the need to further embed lived experience into research and policy, data improvement aiming for better data linkages and evidence translation. The Strategy also includes actions to address social determinants pertaining to suicide and further upskill mental health and social service professionals.

While the National Suicide Prevention Strategy 2025-2035 is a welcome and crucial step in providing a national, evidence-based suicide prevention system, but clearer pathways for long-term research funding and system-level coordination are needed to make a lasting impact.

It is critical the Government commits funding over the forward estimates of the Federal Budget to implementing and fully funding all aspects of the Strategy.

Research Australia thanks all members who contributed to our Submission last year. You can read our Submission in detail here.

SMARTER INVESTMENT NEEDED IN FEDERAL BUDGET TO ENABLE BOLD AND AMBITIOUS REFORMS FOR AUSTRALIA’S HEALTH AND MEDICAL RESEARCH AND INNOVATION SECTOR

Research Australia, your national alliance and peak body, has submitted its Pre-Budget Submission on behalf of the health and medical research innovation sector.

Key asks include:

  • Smarter Investment: establishing a measurable path to R&D investment of 3%; developing a definitive pathway to funding the full costs of research; and utilising the Government’s procurement powers to better support Australian businesses and activate innovation through establishing an Australian-designed BARDA system.
  • A Diverse and Supported Health and Medical Research Workforce Plan that defines and invests in the workforce the country needs and wants for research, innovation and commercialisation, including a dedicated focus on early-mid career researchers.
  • A whole of system, pipeline and government approach, across portfolios and jurisdictions by putting health and medical research, development and innovation, including prioritising prevention, at the heart of all government policy.

Read Research Australia’s 2025-26 Pre-Budget Submission here

Research Australia response to the “Introducing mandatory guardrails for AI in high-risk settings: proposals paper”

The Australian Government’s interim response to the Safe and Responsible AI in Australia discussion paper sought views on:
• the proposed guardrails
• how they are proposing to define high-risk AI
• regulatory options for mandating the guardrails

Research Australia’s submission was informed by the previous work of Research Australia, including its response to the consultation by the Department of Industry, Science and Resources on Safe and Responsible AI in Australia in 2023. Research Australia’s submission is attached here.

Research Australia responds to MRFF priorities and Act Review

Research Australia participated in consultations for the MRFF Australian Medical Research and Innovation Priorities and the MRFF Act Review. We were invited to a round table hosted by AMRAB, and provided a written submission. We recognised many positive enhancements have been suggested in the draft priorities for 2022-24. Our main concern was the lack of cohesion that links all the priorities to drive transformation across the entire health and medical research and innovation ecosystem.

Click here to access our submission.