At the heart of NCRIS is a highly skilled workforce that makes cutting-edge research possible every day, says Australia’s Chief Scientist, Professor Tony Haymet.
Recently, I had the pleasure of celebrating the people behind a great Australian asset: the National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Strategy (NCRIS).
In one generation – around twenty years – NCRIS has reshaped Australia’s research capability. Its work contributes substantially to Australia’s efforts to expand human knowledge and tackle our greatest challenges.
In 2006, Australia formally established NCRIS. That sustained investment in research infrastructure and capability has delivered impact and unique insights. NCRIS is fundamental to Australia’s research ambition, and it now underpins national capability across every major discipline.
It’s been said before but cannot be repeated too often: national research infrastructure is about kit and people. Having worked in scientific research for decades – across three continents – I have a deep respect for the highly skilled NCRIS workforce that operates, maintains and supports these facilities.
That respect stems from my first-hand experience of their expertise and collaborative approach. It’s a combination that makes good research possible, and research breakthroughs much more likely. Collectively, their work supports tens-of-thousands of researchers, and thousands of industry users. It also underpins thousands of publications and wide-ranging discoveries.
NCRIS-supported infrastructure speaks to a remarkable breadth of capability across Australia. It ranges from deep-sea marine science to deep-space radio astronomy, and many things in between. Together, those parts form a connected national capability – one that empowers discovery across disciplines and across our nation.
Our NCRIS facilities and staff are globally respected, and open to international collaboration. Australians, who have worked and trained at these facilities, help build capability overseas – supporting partnerships, knowledge exchange, and science diplomacy within our region. In this way, NCRIS doesn’t just serve Australia; it connects us to the global research ecosystem and strengthens our place within it.
I recently visited Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam to better understand research infrastructure across South East Asia. The trip focused on relationships, insights, and investigating collaboration opportunities to link complementary research capabilities. It reinforced the world-class nature of NCRIS and its people. I heard directly from international partners who spoke highly of their experience working with our facilities and staff.
The SERD review Ambitious Australia report is clear that national research infrastructure, including NCRIS, is foundational to Australia’s research and innovation system. However, it also highlights structural challenges within the broader research landscape – including fragmentation and coordination gaps – that are limiting scale and impact. And it points to funding cycle concerns. While I understand that ongoing additional funding will continue to be provided, additional funding for the Research Infrastructure Investment Plan is slated to wrap up by 2029.
Ambitious Australia makes the case that stronger system-level coordination – and more strategic, aligned investment – are key to delivering more impactful national outcomes. Research infrastructure requires investment over decades – patient capital that supports the research-to-innovation pipeline and delivers system-wide impacts over the long-term.
When it comes to funding, NCRIS shows the power of sustained co-investment. Every dollar of Commonwealth funding draws in significant contributions from across the system. That shared approach allows us to focus on national priorities, achieve scale, and reduce duplication.
Investments in NCRIS also build capability beyond the facilities themselves. The skills developed through NCRIS flow into industry and emerging sectors – strengthening capability across the broader Australian economy.
NCRIS stands as a shining example of what a highly skilled workforce can achieve when supported by world-class infrastructure and strong collaboration. After two decades, NCRIS continues to be defined by the capability of its people and the breadth of what they make possible.