National Science and Research Priorities
On 12 August 2024, the Minister for Industry and Science announced the new National Science and Research Priorities.
The Priorities, developed in consultation with leaders from industry, research and government, are designed to guide Australian science and research efforts by the Australian Government, university and private sectors. They provide focal points towards which researchers can concentrate their combined efforts to help solve Australia’s greatest challenges.
The National Science and Research Priorities are:
- Priority 1: Transitioning to a net zero future
- Priority 2: Supporting healthy and thriving communities
- Priority 3: Elevating Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander knowledge systems
- Priority 4: Protecting and restoring Australia’s environment
- Priority 5: Building a secure and resilient nation
Each Priority includes outcomes to work towards in the next 10 years, and identifies critical research needed to achieve these outcomes.
ARC’s role
The ARC supports the highest-quality pure basic, strategic basic and applied research and research training across all disciplines excluding medical science, including research that is not related to priority areas.
The ARC supports research under the National Science and Research Priorities by asking applicants for funding to indicate whether their research proposal relates to one of the Priorities and, where relevant, assessing the potential of research proposals to contribute to the Priorities.
The ARC reports on the proportion of ARC-funded projects that relate to the National Science and Research Priorities.
More information about each of the National Science and Research Priorities can be found at the Industry.gov.au website.