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The 2021 National Research Infrastructure Roadmap (2021 Roadmap) was developed by an Expert Working Group led by Dr Ziggy Switkowski, AO. The Roadmap outlines national research infrastructure required over the coming decade to:
- maintain research excellence
- increase innovation and translation research outcomes
- address emerging research challenges.
Eight recommendations were made by the Expert Working Group and supported by public consultation:
- Adopt new NRI principles and specific investment principles to emphasise the importance of co-investment and planning and respect for Indigenous cultures and knowledges in research
- Provide continuity and long-term funding to the current network of NRI
- Adopt a challenge framework to support future NRI planning and investment
- Establish an Expert NRI Advisory Group to:
- provide ongoing advice to government on planning and co-investment
- develop a workforce strategy
- review current facilities for greater integration and alignment
- Drive a more integrated NRI ecosystem
- Improve industry engagement with NRI
- Develop a National Digital Research Infrastructure Strategy
- Prepare Australia to tackle future challenges by undertaking a scoping study on a national approach to collections and considering action in four key areas:
- National digital research infrastructure
- Synthetic biology research infrastructure
- Research translation infrastructure
- Environmental and climate research infrastructure
The 2021 Roadmap will inform the 2022 Research Infrastructure Investment Plan.
Development of the 2021 National Research Infrastructure Roadmap
Consultations for the 2021 NRI Roadmap began in May 2021. They included a national survey which was completed by nearly 3,000 respondents and provided almost 90,000 answers to questions about how NRI is used now, and how it can address future trends, needs and challenges. A summary report of the 2021 NRI Roadmap Survey is available.
Consultations have included:
- meetings and workshops with the research community and its stakeholders
- community reviews of Scoping Studies
- Ideas Jams about building optimisation, resilience and transformation into NRI over the next decade, including how to enable better collaboration with industry. An issues paper on Industry engagement and a summary report of the Ideas Jam on ‘Enabling Better Collaboration with Industry’ are available on the department’s website.
- publication of an Exposure Draft which was open for consideration by the research community and stakeholders from 29 November 2021 until 22 December 2021.