The Australian Technology Network has received backing from the Group of Eight universities to establish a measure of research that could eventually determine funding in the future for the field.

 

"We feel that at some point there will be a policy shift in this direction and the ATN wants to refine some of these mechanisms and contribute to the debate," deputy vice-chancellor (research) at Queensland University of Technology Arun Sharma told The Australian.

 

The ATN intends to generate wider support for a measure based on similar models, such as the Excellence in Research for Australia initiative, that would seek to attract funding for specific research.

 

"We are working with the ATN to explore the use of appropriate indicators and case study models to make more visible the contributions of research to economic, environmental and social purposes,” Go8 executive director Michael Gallagher said