Category: Submissions

Response to Capital Gains Tax Reforms – Arrangements for Innovative Start-Ups Consultation Paper

Research Australia is pleased to submit its comprehensive response to the “Capital Gains Tax Reforms – Arrangements for Innovative Start-Ups” consultation paper.

Recognising the critical role that start-ups play in fostering innovation, economic growth, and job creation, Research Australia has carefully analysed the proposed reforms and their potential impact on early-stage companies. Our submission highlights key considerations, including the need for supportive tax mechanisms that encourage investment in innovative ventures while ensuring fiscal responsibility. We emphasise the importance of a balanced approach that attracts investment for start-ups, reduces administrative burdens, and promotes sustainable growth.

We encourage members and stakeholders to review our detailed response in full, which provides valuable insights and recommendations aimed at fostering a more conducive environment for start-up success. Research Australia remains committed to supporting policies that drive innovation and economic development.

You can read our full submission here.

Response to the consultation on Streamlining and simplifying IP regulation

Research Australia recently provided a submission to IP Australia’s consultation on streamlining and simplifying IP regulation.

As the national peak body for the health and medical research and innovation sector, Research Australia has consistently highlighted the need for clearer and more streamlined IP policy and supports to strengthen Australia’s commercialisation pipeline and sovereign capability development. This has been reflected in our recent policy submissions to the Strategic Examination of R&D (SERD) and draft National Health and Medical Research Strategy – where we advocated for measures to help researchers and businesses navigate and protect IP rights. These recommendations formed part of a broader range of measures to overcome the current ‘valley of death’ between discovery and real-world translation, commercialisation and innovation.

You can read our full submission here.

 

Response to the Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) Research Missions Program Consultation

Research Australia is pleased to provide a submission to the Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) Research Missions Program (the Program) consultation, in addition to our attendance at the MRFF Virtual Consultation for Research and Research Organisations in February 2026.

There is broad support for the mission-driven model under the MRFF Research Missions program, which has become an essential mechanism within Australia’s research funding landscape. MRFF Missions are a favoured model due to the potential of their long-term funding and the ability to drive collaboration across disciplines, institutions, and sectors. Whilst there are strong elements of the MRFF Missions Program, there is a need to more clearly articulate a Theory of Change, clearly coordinate individual Missions and align to national policy frameworks, and embed genuine partnerships with community, priority workforce cohorts and the states and territories.

You can read Research Australia’s full submission here.

Submission to the Select Committee on Productivity in Australia

As the national peak body for the health and medical research and innovation sector, Research Australia continues to be highly engaged with the national productivity agenda. Over the past year, Research Australia has responded to multiple public consultations, including the Productivity Commission’s Five Pillars of Productivity Inquiries, attended invitation-only Roundtables, and utilised our policy and advocacy platforms to consistently highlight the fundamental role health and medical research and innovation is, as an essential and crosscutting enabler of productivity.

It is well established that every $1 invested in health and medical research yields close to $4 to the Australian economy, making public expenditure in the sector budget positive, economically generative and a multiplier of productivity. Investment in health and medical research and innovation is productivity reform – it grows the workforce, drives efficiencies in the health system and reduces costs, and builds high-value industries.

Read our full submission to the Select Committee here.

Pre-Budget Submission 2026-2027

Research Australia is calling on the Commonwealth Government to use the upcoming Federal Budget to drive the health and investment our country deserves. It’s time for the budget to commit to the critical strategic investments needed for the future health and wealth of our nation.

In 2025 we developed the National Health and Medical Research Strategy and undertook the Strategic Examination of R&D. In 2026, the Commonwealth Government must act boldly and decisively to reimagine the role of public investment in health and medical research and innovation as a catalyst to deliver long-term and equitable social, economic and productivity dividends. We should not waste any more time!

The first priority is to release all available MRFF funds that are sitting idle while Australia’s health and medical research and innovation sector face growing pressures. This is not new spending; this is about ensuring long-term sustainability and smarter investment across our sector.

You can read Research Australia’s 2026-27 Pre-Budget Submission, which outlines further policy proposals, here.

Response to the Senate Inquiry into Funding and Resourcing for the CSIRO

Research Australia is deeply concerned by the recent announcements of further job and program cuts to the CSIRO. The termination of 300-350 full-time roles at the CSIRO represents a 6% decrease in the current workforce, in addition to the 818 pre-existing job cuts made in the past 18 months.

As a critical organisation within the health and medical research and innovation system, investments in the CSIRO should not be viewed as discretionary spending, but as strategic public investment towards achieving a future-ready, prosperous and thriving Australia. Now is the time for government to position public investment in health and medical research and innovation as a catalyst to delivering long-term and equitable social, economic and productivity dividends – not overseeing the decline of our national research capabilities.

Read our submission here.

Response to Australia’s Possible Association to Horizon Europe

Research Australia has consistently called on the Australian Government to formally sign up to Horizon Europe to unlock new opportunities for Australia’s researchers and innovators and secure our nation’s position as a global leader in science and innovation. We therefore welcome the commencement of non-binding exploratory talks with the European Union on possible association to Horizon Europe under Pillar II, Global Challenges and European Industrial Competitiveness.

The European Union’s $170 billion (€95.5 billion) research program is a highly pertinent opportunity for the Australian health and medical research and innovation sector – supporting international collaboration across several key areas, including health, climate change and digital transformation. Research Australia is of the view that Australia’s association to the scheme will provide a further platform for strategic and operational impact alongside other critical reforms currently in their finalisation – particularly the National Health and Medical Research Strategy (National Strategy), Strategic Examination of Research and Development (SERD) and 2026 National Research Infrastructure Roadmap.

Read Research Australia’s full submission here.

Response to the Draft National Health and Medical Research Strategy 2026-2036

Research Australia, as the national alliance and peak of health and medical research and innovation, is pleased to have the opportunity to make a submission on behalf of our members and the broader sector in response to the National Health and Medical Research Strategy.

The Strategy presents a timely and unique opportunity to reform and reimagine the entire system, laying the foundations for Australia’s future national prosperity and the productivity of the nation, driven by health and medical research and innovation. Since 2021, Research Australia has strongly advocated for the development of this Strategy, and we remain committed to supporting its success.

You can read Research Australia’s full submission and feedback on the draft National Strategy here.

Inquiry into the Australian Centre for Disease Control Bill 2025

Research Australia is pleased to have the opportunity to reiterate its support for the
introduction of an Australian Centre for Disease Control (CDC) through this submission to the Senate Community Affairs Legislation Committee.

Research Australia believes that the CDC could play an integral infrastructure and
enabling role in the health as well as the research, development and innovation
ecosystem. With its extensive data gathering and analysis capabilities and its responsibility for assessing and mediating the risks of future health emergencies, the CDC will be ideally placed to undertake the function of coordinating the application of research to the prevention and control of disease, both communicable and non-communicable.

Read our submission here.

Response to the Productivity Commission’s Five Pillars of Productivity Inquiries

Research Australia, as the national alliance and peak body for health and medical research and innovation, is pleased to respond to the Productivity Commission’s (PC) Five Pillars of Productivity Inquiries interim reports, by way of a written submission.

Research Australia is deeply committed to the government’s focus on productivity. We
recognise health and medical research, development and innovation not merely as a
contributor to productivity, but a fundamental cornerstone of Australia’s productivity agenda, driving economic diversification, resilience, growth and budget sustainability. The health and medical research and innovation sector contributes to both a healthy nation, and a healthy economy.

Read our submission to the Productivity Commission here.