TERN’s research infrastructure underpins some of Australia’s most important environmental initiatives. By fostering innovation and delivering objective, long-term environmental data, TERN supports science, policy, and industry, helping Australia safeguard its natural assets for generations to come.
With a series of roundtables and webinars that engaged over 600 stakeholders, with nearly 500 submissions from industry, academia, government and others, the Australian Government’s Strategic Examination of Research and Development (SERD) was a major activity across the 2025 calendar for those connected to the research sector.
Released in July 2025, a summary of initial findings highlighted Australia’s untapped R&D potential and the need for a more cohesive ecosystem – from research to commercialisation – especially aligned with priorities like clean energy, climate resilience, and medical technologies.
The independent expert panel, chaired by Robyn Denholm, completed its final report and submitted it to Industry Minister Tim Ayres in December 2025. It is understood the Government aims to publicly release the report in 2026, though no date has been confirmed.
The National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Strategy (NCRIS) Directors & CEOs made a submission to SERD, arguing for an integrated, sustainable, dynamic, and impactful R&D system, drawing attention to key attributes of the world-class national infrastructure. The NCRIS Directors highlighted that the National Research Infrastructure (NRI) landscape in Australia
- should operate on long-term, multi-decade horizons (10–30 years cycles)
- use co-investment funding models, combining Commonwealth, states, host institutions, and user fees for strategic stability
- prevent duplication by coordinating strategically across academia, government, and industry
- maximise sovereign capability and provide resilience in areas like national security, climate, health, and environment
TERN’s role in the innovation landscape
By positioning research infrastructure as central to innovation, TERN’s role has never been more important. By delivering objective, long-term environmental data, TERN supports science, policy, and industry, helping Australia safeguard its natural assets for generations to come.
Australia’s landscapes and ecosystems are unique and understanding them is vital for our future. The TERN capabilities, including its Ecosystem Observatory, Modelling and Synthesis, Data Discovery Portal and the national collection of Ecological Samples, are all part of Australia’s national research infrastructure, providing the long-term, quality-assured data and tools that researchers, industry, and government rely on to make informed decisions.
Supporting National Priorities
TERN’s infrastructure underpins some of Australia’s most important environmental initiatives, including
- Nature Repair legislation: providing evidence to track restoration outcomes
- Carbon accounting regulation: delivering reliable measurements of carbon stocks and fluxes
- State of Environment reporting: supplying trusted datasets for national assessments
- EPBC Act reforms (post-Samuel Review): supporting transparent, standardised data for approvals and monitoring
By remaining objective and independent, TERN ensures that decision-makers have the evidence they need to act with confidence.
Responding to change
From bushfires to floods, droughts to invasive species, TERN’s infrastructure can be rapidly deployed to monitor environmental events. Collaborations with partners across Australia and internationally mean that biodiversity impacts, habitat change, and ecosystem trajectories can be tracked in real time.
Satellite data helps TERN assess impacts of events like bushfires and floods in real time (Images: TERN)
Driving innovation and sustainability
TERN’s data help industries and communities balance economic development with sustainability. Whether it’s informing forestry and grazing practices, assessing protected areas, or estimating the value of ecosystem services like pollination and water regulation, TERN provides the knowledge base for a resilient future.
Looking ahead
The Australian Government’s Strategic Examination of Research and Development (SERD) provides a valuable framework for TERN’s next 5-year plan by highlighting national priorities and the need for integrated, long-term research infrastructure. Its emphasis on multi-decade horizons, co-investment models, and coordinated governance aligns perfectly with TERN’s mission to deliver enduring, quality-assured environmental data. By being cognizant of SERD’s insights, TERN can position itself within Australia’s innovation ecosystem, ensuring its capabilities continue to support science, policy, and industry in addressing climate resilience, biodiversity, and sustainability challenges.