The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) collects data on research and experimental development (R&D) in surveys of business, higher education, government and private non- profit organisations every two years. The all-sector aggregates from these surveys are the only comprehensive data on Australia’s R&D effort.

Statistical Services is about to embark on the collection of 2008 data. We may collate the data but the collection is a whole of university effort. Finance and Business Services provide data on the dollars and cents and the College Offices data on what the research is and why we do it. The selected summary results below show what kind of information we can get from this collection.

Expenditure on R&D

The Australian National University expenditure on R&D in Australia in 2006 was $422.9 million. This represented an increase of 2.3% from 2004. In comparison, the national higher education expenditure on R&D of $5404.4 million increased by 24.9% during the same period.

Type of Expenditure

In 2006, R&D expenditure was made up of $48.4 million in 'capital expenditure' and $374.4 million in 'current expenditure'. The latter included 'other current expenditure' of $189.1 million.

Source of Funds

The majority of expenditure in 2006 was sourced from General University Funds which totalled $301.7 million. However, there was a 32% increase in source of funds coming from Australian Competitive Research Grants which in 2006 totalled $19.6 million.

Type of Activities

In 2006, 43% of R&D expenditure was directed toward Pure Basic Research at ANU compared to the national average of 27%. Expenditure toward Applied Research and Experimental Development both increased from 2004.

Research Fields

The research fields of Medical and Health Sciences ($71.7 million), Physical Sciences ($57.9 million) and Biological Sciences ($44.6 million) had the largest R&D expenditure at ANU. Expenditure on Education grew by 129% but still only totalled $3.4 million.

Socio-economic objectives

Non-oriented Research objectives accounted for $110.4 million of research expenditure, over a quarter of ANU’s R&D expenditure. This included R&D toward the general advancement of knowledge without having a specific application. The next most common objective was Health ($88.5 million) and then Social Development and Community Services ($72.8 million). The largest increase was in Construction ($1.9 million), particularly Materials Performance and Processes.

Human Resources

The ANU devoted 1623 FTE toward R&D effort which was 8% lower than 2004. This was due to a large decrease in 'Other Staff supporting R&D'. Higher degree research EFTSL remained steady.

For more information about the Australian Higher Education Sector result see Australian Bureau of Statistics Publication 8111.0 - Research and Experimental Development, Higher Education Organisations 2006.

For more information regarding the 2009 R&D data collection, see our site or contact Sara Rowley by email or on ext. 53541.