A Shorten government would spend an additional $1.2 billion over four years on science and research to restore part of the $3 billion taken out by the Abbott-Turnbull governments, says Kim Carr, the opposition's science spokesman.

The funding, which includes an already announced promise to invest $250 million to reverse cuts to the CSIRO, would also include $76.9 million for a new biosecurity institute to bolster research programs that are about to run out of funding.

While the Turnbull government had promised to spend $1 billion more on innovation, that doesn't counter the "wrecking ball" put through the nation's key science programs since 2013, Senator Carr said.

The Labor plan would make biosecurity an urgent priority with the Invasive Animals Co-operative Research Centre due to close at the end of the 2016-17 financial year. The centre with its 27 members is currently ineligible to apply for more funds. The Plant Biosecurity CRC is also due to wind up a year later.