The ARA is engaging with members and stakeholders to make a case for transport to be recognised as a strategic R&D priority in the Federal Government’s response to the Strategic Examination of Research & Development (SERD).

The SERD independent panel recently delivered its Ambitious Australia report to Government, outlining 20 recommendations to address the challenges and opportunities facing Australia’s research and development (R&D) system. The report also identified six ‘national innovation pillars’ to direct R&D funding: Health and medical; Agriculture and food; Defence; Energy and environment; Resources; and Technology.

The Government will next establish a council to determine the final strategic pillars in Ambitious Australia, creating a small but important window to make a clear, united case for transport to be recognised as a strategic R&D priority.

The ARA is now seeking supporters for a position paper recommending that transport be recognised as a strategic R&D pillar.

Transport is one of Australia’s largest areas of public investment and one of the clearest pathways to improved economic productivity, emissions reduction, safety, regional connectivity, supply chain resilience and sovereign capability. Rail, in particular, is central to these outcomes. It supports freight productivity, urban and regional mobility, lower-emissions transport, major construction activity, advanced manufacturing and the efficient movement of people and goods across the national economy.

The absence of a clear prioritisation of transport R&D pathway risks leaving the industry fragmented across unrelated programs, individual project budgets and state-based initiatives. It also risks missing a critical opportunity to align research and innovation with the Commonwealth’s existing transport priorities, including a more interoperable and harmonised national rail network, the National Transport Commission’s National Rail Action Plan, major freight and passenger rail investments, and nationally significant projects such as High Speed Rail.

To find out more and get involved before the submission is made, contact ARA General Manager – Productivity and Industry Capability Natalie Currey at [email protected].