US threats to R&D capability: Academy calls for emergency meeting of National Science and Technology Council

The United States is a vitally important alliance partner with whom Australia should and must work collaboratively, but a partner that is unpredictable.

Every day, threats to Australia’s strategic R&D capability emerge. Australia should not react to every threat, but nor should it ignore signals that have profound implications for Australians. 

Under these circumstances Australia must assess and manage risks and set policy pathways so we are not over reliant on one strategic partner, and be poised and ready to face an uncertain future.

The threats call for a strategic and planned approach.

R&D capability is ubiquitous. We rely on US-funded research and infrastructure to share information on vaccines so all Australians can benefit from a flu shot next winter; so the Bureau of Meteorology can monitor and predict adverse weather events like cyclone Alfred that just battered our shores; so we can access earth observation data to enable GPS functions and communications; and so we can advance our strategic defence capability that gives us the best chance of staying safe in a technologically advanced world.

Rather than take a wait-and-see approach, the Academy calls on the Australian Government to put in place the following short- and long-term measures:

1. R&D is cross-portfolio with responsibilities across myriad ministers including defence, health, science, industry, resources, education, environment, agriculture. The Prime Minister must convene a special emergency meeting of the National Science and Technology Council, which he chairs, compelling all ministers to the table to comprehensively assess the extent of Australia’s exposure to US R&D investment in Australia, so proactive risk mitigation strategies can be devised.
2. Immediately capture the exodus of smart minds from the US and bring their capability and talent to Australia via a rapid talent attraction program.
3. For the medium to long term, establish policy measures that expand the geographic footprint of Australia’s international R&D collaborations with responsible countries, regardless of the US administration’s actions. This includes associating with Horizon Europe – the largest research fund in the world; leveraging the framework of the successful Global Science and Technology Diplomacy Fund and extending it to more countries; and deepening the relationships with India and Japan nurtured via the Quad partnership.
4. The shape and nature of Australia’s R&D landscape is currently being strategically examined. This review which is due to report at the end of 2025 must recommend optimal conditions for Australia’s strategic R&D capability to thrive in an uncertain world, and include measures to build robust sovereign R&D capability.

Taking a wait and see approach to the management of Australia’s national strategic R&D capability is dangerous and the consequences of inaction have profound consequences for Australians’ way of life.

This statement is attributable to:

Professor Chennupati Jagadish AC PresAA FREng FTSE,  President, Australian Academy of Science