Australia's innovation decline reflects global structural underinvestment in R&D and systemic policy neglect
Original framing: “Australia was once a world leader in innovation. A new report shows the system is now ‘broken’” — The Conversation - Global
The piece provides a strong historical context by tracing the decline in innovation to policy shifts since the 1990s, linking it to broader neoliberal trends. It highlights how long-term structural changes have impacted R&D investment and innovation capacity.
Australia's innovation decline is not a standalone issue but a symptom of global structural underinvestment in science and technology, driven by neoliberal economic policies since the 1990s.
This systemic neglect has eroded public R&D funding, privatized research, and weakened coordination between sectors. While the historical context is well-articulated, the article lacks engagement with Indigenous and cross-cultural perspectives, as well as forward-looking models for recovery. To restore innovation capacity, a multifaceted approach is needed—reinvesting in public science, fostering collaboration, and integrating diverse knowledge systems. Only through such systemic change can innovation be reimagined as a collective, inclusive, and future-oriented endeavor.