8104.0 - Research and Experimental Development, Businesses, Australia, 2002-03  
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 06/09/2004   
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MEDIA RELEASE

September 06, 2004
Embargoed: 11:30 AM (AEST)
142/2004

Australia's business R&D expenditure

Business expenditure on research and development (R&D) grew by 4% between 2001-02 and 2002-03.

With the effect of changes in prices, wages and salaries removed (i.e. chain volume measures), R&D expenditure increased by 2% over this period.

As a percentage of Gross Domestic Product, business expenditure on R&D in current price terms has decreased from 0.81% in 2001-02 to 0.79% in 2002-03.

In current price terms, between 2001-02 and 2002-03 R&D expenditure:
    • increased by 12% in the manufacturing industry
    • increased by 9% in the scientific research industry
    • increased by 6% in the finance and insurance industry
    • decreased by 2% in the property and business services industry
    • decreased by 3% in the mining industry
    • decreased by 4% in the wholesale and retail trade industry.

In 2002-03, South Australia had the highest percentage (1.08%) of R&D expenditure as a percentage of Gross State Product, followed by Victoria (0.99%) and New South Wales (0.80%).

The states with the highest level of R&D expenditure were New South Wales ($2,139 million) and Victoria ($1,907 million), accounting for 36% and 32% of total R&D expenditure respectively.

Further information is in Research and Experimental Development, Businesses, Australia, 2002-03 (cat. no. 8104.0).