1301.0 - Year Book Australia, 2003  
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 24/01/2003   
   Page tools: Print Print Page  
Contents >> Science and Innovation >> Resources devoted to R&D - General government sector

Expenditure on R&D carried out by government organisations in Australia in 2000-01 was estimated to be $2,368m, a 14% increase on expenditure in 1998-99 (see table 25.1).

As shown in table 25.9, the research fields in which most government R&D expenditure took place were: Agricultural, veterinary and environmental sciences ($773m, or 33%); Engineering and technology ($385m, or 16%); Biological sciences ($260m, or 11%); Information, computing and communication sciences ($217m, or 9%); Earth sciences ($215m, or 9%); and Medical and health sciences ($183m, or 8%).

A slightly different pattern applied to human resources devoted to R&D, with Agricultural, veterinary and environmental sciences accounting for 33%, Engineering and technology 15%, Medical and health sciences 12%, Biological sciences 11%, Earth sciences 7% and Information, computing and communication sciences 7%.


25.9 R&D RESOURCES, Government organisations by field of research - 2000-01

Type of expenditure

Land and buildings
Other capital expenditure
Labour costs
Other current expenditure
Total
Human resources
$m
$m
$m
$m
$m
’000 person years

Mathematical sciences
1.3
1.9
15.3
6.7
25.1
0.2
Physical sciences
4.3
6.9
52.5
29.6
93.3
0.7
Chemical sciences
5.2
4.0
52.1
34.0
95.3
0.7
Earth sciences
10.1
10.8
95.1
99.2
215.1
1.3
Biological sciences
32.5
10.0
126.2
91.1
259.8
2.0
Information, computing & communication sciences
4.2
6.8
99.6
106.1
216.8
1.2
Engineering and technology
17.9
15.5
206.7
144.7
384.8
2.8
Agricultural, veterinary & environmental sciences
27.3
20.3
379.6
346.1
773.3
6.1
Medical and health sciences
23.4
5.8
104.7
48.8
182.7
2.3
Economics
0.2
0.4
31.7
18.6
50.8
0.4
Law, justice and law enforcement
1.0
0.3
13.8
7.6
22.7
0.2
Other research fields
1.0
1.0
30.6
16.1
48.8
0.5
Total
128.3
83.7
1,207.7
948.6
2,368.4
18.4
Commonwealth
75.1
58.2
734.6
557.0
1,424.8
9.7
State
53.3
25.6
473.2
391.6
943.6
8.7

Source: Research and Experimental Development, Government and Private Non-Profit Organisations, Australia, 2000-01 (8109.0).


In terms of socioeconomic objectives (table 25.10), most government sector R&D expenditure ($1,375m or 58%) was directed towards Economic development. Of this, $392m (29%) was directed towards Plant production and primary products, $298m (22%) towards Animal production and primary products and $233m (17%) towards Manufacturing. About 18% was directed towards Environment, 12% towards Society, 10% towards Defence, and 1% to Non-oriented research.

A slightly different pattern applied to human resources devoted to R&D, with 53% directed towards Economic development, 18% towards Society, 17% towards Environment, 11% towards Defence, and 1% to Non-oriented research.


25.10 R&D RESOURCES, Government organisations by socioeconomic objective - 2000-01

Type of expenditure

Land and buildings
Other capital expenditure
Labour costs
Other current expenditure
Total
Human resources
$m
$m
$m
$m
$m
’000 person years

Defence
0.4
5.5
165.3
67.4
238.7
2.0
Economic development
Plant - production and primary products
13.4
10.4
196.8
171.8
392.5
3.2
Animal - production & primary products
10.0
8.2
141.8
137.8
297.8
2.2
Mineral resources (excl. energy)
4.3
3.6
42.3
31.7
81.9
0.5
Energy resources
3.0
2.5
28.9
30.8
65.3
0.4
Energy supply
2.3
0.9
16.1
9.0
28.3
0.2
Manufacturing
21.7
9.6
101.5
100.0
232.8
1.6
Construction
2.3
1.7
17.3
11.9
33.2
0.2
Transport
0.4
1.0
6.8
12.2
20.3
0.1
Information & communication services
3.4
3.6
30.3
15.4
52.8
0.4
Commercial services and tourism
0.6
1.1
5.6
4.1
11.4
0.1
Economic framework
4.9
1.4
66.7
85.6
158.7
0.9
Total
66.4
44.0
654.2
610.4
1,375.0
9.8
Society
Health
32.6
7.9
114.8
57.7
213.0
2.6
Education and training
0.2
0.7
8.6
5.2
14.8
0.1
Social development & community services
2.3
1.8
36.0
21.7
61.8
0.6
Total
35.1
10.3
159.5
84.7
289.6
3.2
Environment
Environmental policy frameworks & other aspects
1.3
1.1
28.9
19.1
50.4
0.4
Environmental management
21.1
18.3
184.7
156.8
380.9
2.7
Total
22.4
19.4
213.6
175.9
431.3
3.1
Non-oriented research
4.0
4.6
15.1
10.2
33.8
0.3
Total
128.3
83.7
1,207.7
948.6
2,368.4
18.4

Source: Research and Experimental Development, Government and Private Non-Profit Organisations, Australia, 2000-01 (8109.0).



Previous PageNext Page