ACDS Submission: 2026 NRI Roadmap Issues Paper Posted in News on December 5, 2025 by Glenda Key. The Australian Council of Deans of Science (ACDS) welcomes the opportunity to make a submission to the 2026 National Research Infrastructure (NRI) Roadmap Issues Paper. Our submission reflects the collective expertise of our members – science leaders from most of Australia’s universities – and highlights key priorities to strengthen national coordination, support equitable access, and ensure the NRI system is equipped to meet Australia’s future research and industry needs. The submission highlighted the following themes in relation to the 14 specific questions posed in the consultation survey: A clearer and more inclusive definition of NRI: The definition should better articulate national significance, explicitly include digital and distributed forms of infrastructure, and ensure equitable access for smaller and regional institutions. Embedding First Nations peoples’ governance and culturally safe data practices: Stronger national coordination, self-determined governance models, and adherence to Indigenous Data Sovereignty principles are essential for any NRI activity involving First Nations knowledge or data. Strengthening national capability across data, AI, and emerging research needs: Investments should uplift national data and AI infrastructure, support interdisciplinary research, and build translation readiness from the outset. Building and sustaining a skilled NRI workforce: longer-term funding stability, mobility across sectors, and sustained investment in university-based infrastructure are necessary to maintain capability pipelines and technical expertise. Improving industry access and driving translation: A coordinated national “front door” for industry, standardised costing and contracting frameworks, and clearer visibility of NRI capabilities would enhance research–industry collaboration and increase national impact. In conclusion the ACDS submission also advocates that Australia’s National Research Infrastructure should serve as a unified, strategic foundation supporting every stage of research, from discovery to application. The 2026 NRI Roadmap should focus on three main priorities: Sustaining the Full Research Spectrum: This means safeguarding basic scientific exploration while establishing clearer, more accessible ways to translate research. Driving Coherence and Equity: Facilities, especially those handling data and AI need to be coordinated to build a truly national system. Boosting Industry Impact: Enhancing the visibility and accessibility of NRI for industry, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises, will speed up collaboration and increase national benefits. Read the ACDS full submission here.
