Links I paid attention to 10-24 Aug 2025
- Aug 24, 2025
- 3 min read
Edition: 10-24 Aug 2025
Scope: Australia + global research, policy, funding, technology
Executive summary
Australian Government R&D investment declines
Australia invests A$1.8b less than the OECD average in government R&D; business R&D under-invests by A$32.5b vs OECD norms
Fresh grant rounds open across AEA and MRFF, with sizeable opportunities in space, data infrastructure, genomics and health.
Quantum computing saw multiple “step-change” claims and big-bet roadmaps.
Global peers (US/EU/UK/Canada) advanced major work programmes and institute funding, signaling sustained competition for talent and ideas.
National science policy
Research funding landscape
Government R&D investment declines - 18 Aug 2025
Federal R&D down to 0.53% of GDP (from 0.54% in 2024-25); ~$1.8b below OECD average in government R&D and ~$32.5b in business R&D.
Source: Australian Academy of Science
Australia’s Economic Accelerator (AEA) - round 2 - 18 Aug 2025
Up to $500k Ignite (proof-of-concept) and $5m Innovate (proof-of-scale); notable upside for the space sector and industry partnerships.
Source: Australian Space Agency
Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) - opportunities - 21 Aug 2025
Grants opportunities include Research Data Infrastructure (~$11m), Genomics Health Futures, Maternal Health and Healthy Lifestyles.
Sources: MRFF calendar · NHMRC Tracker
Technology and computing
Quantum “superatoms” - 10-11 Aug 2025
Gold nanoclusters behaving like trapped atoms; tunable qubit-like properties via chemistry for potential scalable hardware.
Source: TS2 Tech roundup
“Neglecton” particle proposal - 23 Aug 2025
Hypothesised particle revisited as a candidate enabler for universal topological quantum computing.
Source: ScienceDaily (top science)
Global peer organisations
United States
NASA ROSES-2025
Comprehensive basic + applied research solicitation (excludes China) across the Science Mission Directorate; rolling elements through the year.
Source: NASA SMD - ROSES-2025
NSF major investments - Aug 2025
Highlights: NVIDIA partnership on open AI models (14 Aug); $29.2m EPSCoR infrastructure; ~$32m for AI-driven protein design; $74m+ for six maths institutes.
Source: NSF Newsroom
European Union
Horizon Europe 2025 work programme - €7.3b
Driving innovation, sustainability and competitiveness; part of the €93.5b programme to 2027.
Source: Innovation News Network
Missions funding - €200m+ - Aug 2025
Thirty consortia across climate adaptation and ocean restoration; ~500 beneficiaries in 34 countries.
Source: CINEA
Future EU budget (2028-34)
Commission proposal nearing €2T total; indicative uplift to €175b for Horizon Europe.
Source: EANM
United Kingdom
UKRI / Research England budgets (2025-26) - Jul 2025
Most budgets maintained in cash terms; reduction to Research Capital Investment Fund. Horizon Europe guarantee extended to Nov 2025.
Sources: Funding budgets · Guarantee scheme
Canada
NSERC Discovery Grants (2025)
NOI deadline 1 Aug 2025; full applications due 3 Nov 2025; five-year support for ongoing research programmes.
International collaboration
RMIT ASEAN research partnerships - IEIF - 11 Aug 2025 (applications closed)
Up to AU$20k, 1-3-month placements for early-career researchers; themes include agriculture/food, resources/energy, infrastructure, green economy.
Source: RMIT guidelines (PDF)
Global Science & Technology Diplomacy Fund - round 2 - Aug 2025
Grants from $100k to $1m to strengthen Australia’s international S&T ties.
Source: GLoDiP
Emerging tech focus: quantum
Why this fortnight mattered
Bank of America analysts liken quantum’s potential to the “discovery of fire.” Corporate roadmaps and lab results signalled faster-than-expected progress.
Sources: TS2 Tech overview · Fortune analysis
Selected corporate and lab moves
Fujitsu: plan for 10,000-qubit superconducting system by 2030.
Source: Fujitsu newsroom
China (atom arrays): 99.97% single-qubit fidelities on 10× larger systems.
USC: “neglecton” concept revisited for universal topological QC.
Source: TS2 Tech weekend roundup
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