GLOSSARY
Applied research
Original work undertaken primarily to acquire new knowledge with a specific application in view. It is undertaken either to determine possible uses for the findings of basic research or to determine new methods or ways of achieving some specific and predetermined objectives.
Capital expenditure
Expenditure on the acquisition of fixed tangible assets such as land, buildings, vehicles, plant, machinery and equipment attributable to R&D activity.
Current expenditure
Expenditure on direct labour costs, scholarships, materials, fuels, rent and hiring, repairs and maintenance, data processing, etc. and the proportion of expenditure on general services and overheads which is attributable to R&D activity.
Experimental development
Systematic work, using existing knowledge gained from research or practical experience for the purpose of creating new or improved products/processes.
Human resources devoted to R&D
The effort of researchers, technicians and other staff directly involved with R&D activity. Overhead staff (e.g. administrative and general service employees such as personnel officers, janitors, etc.) whose work indirectly supports R&D, are excluded.
Labour costs
Expenditure relating to: wages and salaries; overtime earnings; penalty payments; shift allowances; employer contributions into superannuation; fringe benefits and payroll taxes; severance, termination and redundancy payments; workers' compensation premiums/costs; provisions for employee entitlements; salaries and fees of directors and executives; retainers and commissions of persons who received a retainer; bonuses; annual and other types of paid leave.
Other staff
Technicians, skilled/unskilled craftpersons, secretarial and clerical staff directly involved in R&D activity.
Person years of effort
One person year of effort is equal to a full time employee whose time is wholly devoted to R&D for a whole year.
Pure basic research
Experimental and theoretical work undertaken to acquire new knowledge without looking for long term benefits other than the advancement of knowledge.
R&D activity
Systematic investigation or experimentation involving innovation or technical risk, the outcome of which is new knowledge, with or without a specific practical application, or new or improved products, processes, materials, devices or services. R&D activity extends to modifications to existing products/processes. R&D activity ceases and pre-production begins when work is no longer experimental.
Research field
Reflects the field of research in which the R&D activity was performed. The RFCD classification is primarily structured around disciplines or activities. It describes the nature of the R&D which is being examined.
Scholarships
Comprises expenditure by the university on scholarships for research higher degrees.
Socio-economic objective
Reflects the purpose of the R&D as perceived by the data provider. The SEO classification consists of discrete economic, social, technological or scientific domains for identifying the principal purpose of the R&D.
Strategic basic research
Experimental and theoretical work undertaken to acquire new knowledge directed into specified broad areas in the expectation of useful discoveries. It provides the broad base of knowledge for the solution of recognised practical problems.
Type of R&D activity
This classification allows R&D activity to be categorised according to the type of research effort, namely, pure basic research, strategic basic research, applied research and experimental development.
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