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“When our national flagship science agency is forced to shed hundreds of jobs and narrow its research focus, it sends a clear message: Australia’s research engine is running short of fuel,” Chief Executive Officer Luke Sheehy said.��

“This isn’t just a CSIRO issue – it’s a warning light for the entire research ecosystem.��

“Australia is being outspent and outpaced by the world, Australia currently invests 1.69 per cent of GDP in R&D – well below the OECD average of 2.7 per cent and far behind innovation leaders like South Korea and Germany who invest over 3 per cent.��

“If we continue to under-invest, we will lose the talent, infrastructure and breakthroughs that drive jobs, national security and technological strength.��

“Research is not a cost it is critical national infrastructure.��

“Whether it’s medical breakthroughs, clean energy technologies, defence capability, cybersecurity or agriculture, research is the backbone of national strength.��

“Australia risks falling behind at a time we need to be moving faster.��

“The government’s Strategic Examination of R&D is a crucial opportunity to fix these structural problems, but it must lead to real reform, not another layer of complexity,” Mr Sheehy said.��

������˾�� is calling for urgent action to:��

• lift investment to match global competitors or at least to the OECD average��

• simplify and coordinate the research system which is currently spread across 150 programs and 14 government portfolios��

• develop a whole-of-government research workforce strategy��

• support better collaboration with industry, and��

• support a coordinated approach to international collaboration including a commitment to join Horizon Europe.����

“Australia doesn’t lack talent or ideas – we lack a system and investment level that match our ambition. This is the moment to fix that,” Mr Sheehy said.��