Universities Australia recommends that:
- the proposed change to the research block grant not proceed;
- government work with the university sector to identify how best to support and provide incentives for research commercialisation without diluting the crucial functions of the research block grant, in particular support for basic research and the indirect costs of research;
- research translation that does not have a commercial outcome also be considered as part of the discussion, without again diluting the core functions of the research block grant; and
- government urgently review public support for business R&D, and consider increased strategic focus for this spending, with a rebalance away from indirect to direct support.