This year will be a important year for science and research policy in this country.  The new Government is pushing ahead full steam with its new agenda, and is strongly engaged with establishing a solid understanding of what
is needed to create a science and technology framework that will serve Australian innovation well into the future.

But this year is unlikely to see any wholesale changes in science or education funding, other than what was promised in the election campaign (primarily 1000 new fellowships; the new innovation centre; changes to HECS rates for science; and changes in student scholarships).  

The May budget will be constrained by the promised tax cuts and by the inherited state of the economy.  What we can expect is that any changes arising from the Government review process will be reflected in the May 2009 budget.

This is the reason why this year is so important.  A series of reviews (the Innovation Review, the Review of the NCRIS Roadmap, the Research Training Review, the Higher Education Review, the Questacon Review .....) will all be completed in 2008, and can be expected to mould the 2009 budget process that will determine the science and technology landscape from then onwards.

FASTS has already provided input to several of these reviews (see www.fasts.org ) and will continue to do so with your help.  Perhaps the most influential review in the science and technology area will be the Review of the National Innovation System headed by Terry Cutler.

The next step in the NIS review will be the release of a Green Paper by 31 July.  While FASTS and many of its members have had input via review submissions, it will be participating in consultations with the review committee and feedback to the Green Paper that will allow us to influence in determining eventual Government policy.

In this regard, I am alerting you to a series of FASTS meetings around the country which will focus on the NIS review.  These are:

May 15th, 16.00 – 17.30  Melbourne Univeristy, at the  FASTS Board meeting
A meeting on risk awareness in research, open to all FASTS societies and their members

July 11th,  10.00 - 16.00    Joint FASTS/ANU forum – Old Parliament House Canberra
Towards Risk-Aware Research - discussion forum with key players form the sector and interested FASTS members

August 18th, 14.00 - 17.00    Sydney, Museum of Australia, at the FASTS Board meeting
National Innovation System Review - Green Paper discussion forum, open to all FASTS societies and their members

August/early September    Brisbane - TBA
National Innovation System Review - Green Paper discussion forum, open to all FASTS societies and their members

August/early September    Adelaide/Perth - TBA
National Innovation System Review - Green Paper discussion forum, open to all FASTS societies and their members

We are also planning a joint forum with ANU and the ANZ School of Government on Demand-side innovation policy in the public sector 9dates to be advised).

I believe that these discussion meetings and forums will be central to formulating FASTS response to the Green Paper, which will in turn inform the White Paper (later in October/November) that will set the scene for the crucial May 2009 budget.

I therefore strongly encourage you to disseminate this information as widely as possible amongst your society members, and I look forward to meeting you at these forums during this important year.

Best regards,


Professor Ken Baldwin
FASTS President
kenneth.baldwin@anu.edu.au

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