Australian Bureau of Statistics
Celebrating the International Year of Statistics 2013

Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS)

OVERVIEW
This survey is conducted biennially and collects estimates of Research and Experimental Development (R&D) expenditure and human resources devoted to R&D by general government organisations in Australia. The data are classified by type of expenditure, type of activity, source of funds, type of employee, location of expenditure, socio-economic objective and field of research.

PURPOSE
The statistics enable the nature and distribution of R&D activity in Australia to be monitored and analysed by government, business, academics and international organisations. The data are used for a variety of purposes, including policy formulation, allocation of funds and the determination of priorities for research and development.

SCOPE
Scope: All Commonwealth, State and local government departments and authorities undertaking R&D. Coverage: Local government organisations are excluded. Public sector organisations mainly engaged in higher education (e.g. universities) are included in the Higher Education sector whilst those mainly engaged in trading or financial activities are included in the Business Enterprises sector.

DATA DETAIL

Conceptual framework
Not applicable

Main outputs
General government organisations: estimates of R&D expenditure and human resources devoted to R&D. Total R&D expenditure given in both current prices and chain volume measures.

Classifications
Location: States and Territories of Australia plus an 'Overseas' category.

Type of activity (TOA): four categories: pure basic research, strategic basic research, applied research and experimental development.

Research fields, courses and disciplines (RFCD): hierarchical three level classification. Data available at third (Subject) level, but only published at second (Discipline) level.

Socio-economic objective (SEO): hierarchical four level classification. Data available at fourth (Class) level, but only published at second (Subdivision) and selected third (Group) level.

Details of the above three classifications (TOA, RFCD and SEO) are published in the 1998 edition of the Australian Standard Research Classification (ASRC), (Cat No. 1297.0). This classification is also available on the ABS Home page.

Other concepts (summary)
Not applicable

GEOGRAPHIC DETAIL
1. National & State/Territory\1.01 Australia

Comments and/or Other Regions
R&D expenditure also available at State and Territory level.

COLLECTION FREQUENCY
2 Yearly

Frequency comments
Biennial collection

COLLECTION HISTORY
Conducted in respect of the financial years 1978/79, 1981/82, 1984/85, 1985/86, 1986/87, 1987/88, 1988/89, 1990/91, 1992/93, 1994/95, 1996/97 and 1998/99.

DATA AVAILABILITY
Yes