Survey of Research and Experimental Development, Government and Private Non-Profit Organisations



The Survey of Research and Experimental Development, Government and Private Non-Profit Organisations is conducted every two years with organisations throughout Australia. Information from this survey provides comprehensive data on Australia's Research and Experimental Development (R&D) effort. Data from this collection are published in Research and Experimental Development, Government and Private Non-Profit Organisations.

Your participation in this survey provides us with data that is essential for calculating Australia’s major economic statistics, which enable industry, business and government to make informed decisions.
Click the button below to complete the survey online.


Need to contact us about completing your Research and Experimental Development Survey?
You can use our online Business Surveys Contact Form to outline the details of your situation and we will be in touch.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

ABOUT THIS SURVEY


HOW TO COMPLETE THIS SURVEY


ABOUT THE QUESTIONS IN THIS SURVEY


CONTACT US


ABOUT THIS SURVEY

What kinds of questions are asked in the Research and Experimental Development Survey?

This survey collects information on expenditure and human resources devoted to Research and Experimental Development (R&D) carried out by organisations in Australia.

Data to be reported includes:
  • Number of persons working for this organisation during the last pay period ending in June 2021
  • R&D activities carried out by this organisation during the year ended 30 June 2021 or the equivalent financial period
  • Human resources devoted to R&D
  • Type of R&D expenditure
  • Location of R&D expenditure
  • Source of R&D funds
  • Type of R&D activity
  • Classification of R&D by Fields of Research (FoR) Divisions
  • Classification of R&D by Socio-Economic Objective (SEO) Divisions
  • Impact of recent events, including natural disasters or the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic that occurred during the year ended 30 June 2020 or the equivalent financial period, on R&D activities
  • Future expected expenditure on R&D activities

Why has my organisation been included in the Research and Experimental Development Survey?

The majority of organisations selected are known performers of R&D from a previous survey. In some cases the organisation has been selected because it's been identified as a likely R&D performer, having been a recipient of an R&D grant in recent years.

How is the information from this survey used? Why is it important?

This information is used by government and advisers to government, international organisations, businesses, economists and others. The information is used for purposes such as policy formulation, allocation of funds and the determination of priorities for research and development.

These statistics are drawn upon by a wide variety of individuals and organisations in both the public and private sector, with major users including:
  • The ABS' National Accounts
  • Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
  • State and Commonwealth Government departments and agencies
  • Industry organisations and associations
  • Academics
  • Market analysts and economists

Do we have to answer the questions?

Yes. Under the Census and Statistics Act 1905 you are obliged to provide the information requested by the ABS. All the information you provide will remain strictly confidential.

We recognise that your organisation may have been impacted by recent unprecedented events, including natural disasters or the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Our aim is to ensure that Australia has access to the best possible information on the social and economic impacts of these events. Your participation in our surveys at this time is critical in informing our country’s response.

By completing this survey, you help to ensure the results truly reflect the current levels of R&D activity in Australia.

You can use the final comment box at the end of the survey form to provide extra information about circumstances impacting your R&D activity. You can also use this box to tell us about your current situation or organisation conditions and your expectations for the coming years, as well as any further comments on information you have provided in the survey.

We understand this is a difficult time and we are here to help. We will contact you if your survey participation is delayed, and we will help you if you are having difficulties.

How long will we need to participate in this survey?

Organisations are selected to participate in the Research and Experimental Development Survey based on their R&D activity. They are likely to be selected to participate in the survey every two years if their R&D activity is continuing.

Do we have to provide figures for this survey right now?

Yes. The industry, business and government users of the statistics produced from this survey need the most accurate and timely information possible so they can make well-informed decisions which impact Australian businesses and communities.

We recognise that you or your organisation may have been impacted by recent unprecedented events, including natural disasters or the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. If your ability to respond to this survey has been impacted by these events, please contact us. If you'd like to speak to one of our team or need help providing the requested information, call us on 1800 089 494 and we will assist you.

Will the information we provide be kept safe, secure, and confidential?

Yes. We take the security of the information you provide to us very seriously. Your completed form and personal information will remain strictly confidential to the ABS. The information is used to calculate statistics and these are only released in the form of aggregated data. The information in this survey is collected under the authority of the Census and Statistics Act 1905. Under the Act, ABS staff are obliged to maintain the confidentiality and privacy of information provided.

We comply with the Australian Privacy Principles. If you believe we have breached these principles, please see the information on how to lodge a complaint about privacy matters, contained within our privacy policy.

Will we be paid for our time?

No. There is no provision within the Census and Statistics Act 1905 to reimburse individuals, businesses or organisations for the cost of providing statistical information. In line with other national statistical organisations throughout the world, individuals, businesses and other organisations are asked to supply information for statistical purposes without compensation. It is only with the support of people like you that we can continue to produce the statistics that inform Australia's important decisions.

We have already completed the Research and Experimental Development Survey this year and have received a reminder notice. What should we do?

If you have received a reminder letter or email about completing the Research and Experimental Development Survey it is likely that you have returned the survey at the same time that we issued the reminder notice. If you wish to confirm this, please call us on 1800 089 494 and we will check the information against our records.

HOW TO COMPLETE THIS SURVEY

How do we answer the Research and Experimental Development Survey?

For this survey, you should have received a letter or an email with a Form Access Code to access your survey form online. You can then set up, or log in to your ABS Survey Account and add your Form Access Code to access the survey form. The same account can be used for other ABS surveys.

Your account is a secure service that allows a survey to be accessed as many times as is needed before final submission. After submitting a survey you will not be able to access the contents. If you are concerned that you have provided incorrect information, call us on 1800 089 494 and we will assist you.

If you are unable to complete your survey online, or have not received the letter we sent you, call us on 1800 089 494.

If you have received a letter with a paper form, please complete the paper form and return it to us using the enclosed Reply Paid envelope. Alternatively, if you would like to complete this form online, call us on 1800 089 494.

We’re having trouble completing the survey online – where can we find help?

For more information on completing our surveys online, help is available on our Survey Account Help page. This page provides assistance with technical difficulties and includes frequently asked questions which assist in creating and using the ABS Survey Account.

If you are having trouble creating or accessing your account, completing the survey online, or haven't received your Form Access Code, call us on 1800 089 494 and we will be happy to assist you.

If you would like more general information about participating in one of our surveys, please see our Survey Participant Information page.

ABOUT THE QUESTIONS IN THIS SURVEY

How accurate do the figures need to be?

We require information to be as accurate as possible. The more accurate the figures you supply, the more accurate the statistics will be. However, if accurate data is not readily available, careful estimates will be accepted.

Can we use the statistics produced from this survey?

Yes. We provide statistics free of charge on our website. Statistics produced from this survey are published in Research and Experimental Development, Government and Private Non-Profit Organisations.

Our website also provides additional and up-to-date information over and above our existing statistical releases to enhance understanding of the economic impacts of COVID-19, in Measuring the impacts of COVID-19.

CONTACT US

Who can we contact for more information?

For help, or more information about this survey, call us on 1800 089 494 during business hours. For help outside these hours, please leave a message with your contact details and we will call you back.

You can also use our online Business Surveys Contact Form to outline the details of your situation and we will be in touch

How can we provide feedback about our involvement in this survey?

If you have participated in this survey, or any of our other surveys, we want to hear about your experience. We value your feedback and will use it to improve how we work with our survey participants.

You can use the final comment box at the end of this survey form to tell us about your experience participating in this survey, along with any suggested improvements to the form.

You can use our feedback form to provide us with feedback. For this survey, please select the option "Participation in an ABS Business Survey".