Australian Bureau of Statistics
Celebrating the International Year of Statistics 2013

NAME OF ORGANISATION
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 private non-profit organisations in Australia. The data are classified by type of expenditure, type of activity, source of funds, location of expenditure, type of resource, 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: Includes all private or semi-public incorporated organisations in Australia which are established with the intention of not making a profit and carried out R&D. Coverage: If an organisation is considered as private non-profit but was established to serve the business sector then it is included in the business sector.

DATA DETAIL

Conceptual framework
Not applicable

Main outputs
Private non-profit organisations: estimates of R&D expenditure and human resources devoted to R&D. Total R&D expenditure given in both current prices and 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) 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
Australia

Comments and/or Other Regions
Total R&D expenditure is also available as Location of Expenditure at a 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, and biennially from 1990/91 to 2008/09. The latest collection cycle is for the financial year 2011/12.

DATA AVAILABILITY
Yes