''Are you suggesting France in the 1950s is more technolocally...

''Are you suggesting France in the 1950s is more technolocally advanced than Australia 70 years later?''

better positioned -------------------- YES

your ref -

''The CEA *Commisariat a' l'Enegie Atomique) was created by Charles de Gaulle on 18 October 1945. Its mandate is to conduct fundamental and applied research into many areas, including the design of nuclear reactors, the manufacturing of integrated circuits, the use of radionuclides for medical treatments, seismology and tsunami propagation, and the safety of computerized systems.''

My ref ------

Australia has been steadily reducing funding for fundamental or basic research over the past few decades, lagging behind other developed nations. Here are the key points:
- A study co-led by the University of Queensland found Australia's ability to develop innovative basic research is decreasing, with the country's Global Innovation Index ranking declining in recent years.[1]
- The proportion of Australia's higher education investment in basic research dropped from around 60% in 1996 to 40% by 2019, while countries like the US and China increased their proportions.[1]
- The Australian Academy of Science noted the lack of funding for fundamental science capability in the 2022-23 federal budget, stating it is "the first essential step in the commercialisation effort."[2]
- The Australian Research Council's Discovery Program, which supports fundamental research across all disciplines, provides grants ranging from $30,000 to $500,000 per year for up to 5 years.[3] However, the overall funding levels for this program have not kept pace with rising costs and demand.
- Federal funding for research and development in Australia sank to just 0.49% of GDP in 2022-23, the lowest level in 30 years according to experts.[4] Leading technology bodies warned this decline leaves Australia vulnerable and risks missing out on future innovations.[4]
So while there is still some funding available for basic research through programs like the ARC Discovery scheme, the overall trend shows Australia is investing less in this crucial area compared to previous decades and other nations.[1][2][3][4] Experts argue this underinvestment threatens Australia's long-term research capability and economic future.
Citations:
[1] https://www.uq.edu.au/news/article/2023/04/slippery-slope-basic-research-underfunded-australia
[2] https://www.aph.gov.au/About_Parlia...ry/pubs/rp/BudgetReview202223/ScienceResearch
[3] https://www.arc.gov.au/discovery-program-supporting-fundamental-research
[4] https://www.theguardian.com/busines...-and-development-funding-sinks-to-30-year-low
[5] https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/i...cation-organisations-australia/latest-release