Challenges such as addressing the enormous problems posed by rural
salinity and looking toward Australia's ability to profit from
the biotechnology revolution were among the issues discussed at my
first Science, Engineering and Innovation Council meeting in Canberra
today.
The Council is the Government's principal source of advice on
issues in science, engineering and innovation and aspects of education,
research and training.
Science and innovation play a vital role in our social and economic
development.
The new Council members will provide high-level and independent advice
on matters of science, engineering and innovation. Their expertise
derives from years of representing Australia's business interests
and research and engineering bodies.
They reflect Australia's large investment in science and technology
and the nation's capacity to innovate - the development and commercialisation
of new products, processes and services.
The Government has made clear, through its Investing for Growth
strategy, that it sees innovation, including scientific and engineering
advances, as crucial to the future of our economic security and the
prosperity of all Australians.
I would like the Council to focus on the linked roles of science,
engineering and innovation and, as the Council's terms of reference
indicate, give prominence to the roles of science and technology in
contributing to our national economic and social development.
We need to consider not only how to support and undertake excellence
in science, but also how to build the links between science and its
applications.
As a nation we need to involve the users of research in setting the
research agenda, promote co-operative research and commercialise the
results of research conducted in the public sector.
We also need to ensure that our schools can give young Australians
a strong foundation in science and technology.
The Council noted that under the Government's recent education
policies, links between schools and business are increasing and this
will assist the expansion of enterprise education in our schools.
Other issues discussed at the PMSEIC inaugural meeting were the interaction
between universities and industry, priority issues in science and
technology, the nexus between science and its application and developing
strategies for a vibrant software industry.