Lessons from Australia’s scientific development Prof Cheryl Praeger Foreign Secretary Australian Academy of Science Jakarta, 30 March 2016

National Innovation and Science Agenda Major focus on innovation and entrepreneurship Minister for Industry, Innovation and Science Assistant Ministers for Innovation and Science Chief Scientist Provides high-level independent advice to PM and Ministers 15 National Strategic Research Priorities that address five “societal challenges” Living in a changing environment Promoting population health and wellbeing Managing our food and water assets Securing Australia's place in a changing world Lifting productivity and economic growth

Major focus on STEM education Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) skills 75% of the fastest growing occupations in Australia require STEM skills and knowledge & employment in STEM related occupations is projected to grow at almost twice the pace of other occupations Therefore, countries must prepare their children – the workforce of tomorrow for this eventuality AAS developed science & maths education programs: Primary Connections, Science by Doing and Maths by Inquiry Investment in STEM also important for scientifically literate society

International collaborations Australia does ~ 3% or world’s R&D. Needs to access other 97%. National Innovation & Science Agenda: Global Innovation Strategy ($36m over five years) to improve Australia’s international innovation and science collaborations Academy will administer activities for collaborations in Asia-Pacific region

Young researchers PM Prizes for Science Important to support early and mid career researchers Prime Minister’s Prizes for Science Australia’s most prestigious award for outstanding achievement in scientific research, research-based innovation and excellence in science teaching

Research infrastructure Australia has A$3billion – 27 major research facilities Square Kilometre Array (SKA) 11 countries participate, representing 40% of the world’s population A truly global enterprise (constructed in Western Australia and South Africa) SKA dishes will produce 10 times the data of current global internet traffic and use enough optical fibre to wrap twice around the earth

Benefits/impacts of science funding Congratulations on announcing the Indonesian Science Fund! Encourages researchers to make multi-year plans for their research programs Encourages collaboration and supports building research teams Strengthens research capacity of the country, aids in retaining the best researchers Gives to solve big challenges facing the country Provides a means to support early career researchers and plays important part in career track Enables the country to develop broad research priorities. Important to support fundamental research.