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 which is 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.

Donation, bequests and foundations

Research specific donations and bequests from non-profit organisations and Australian individuals.

Experimental development

Systematic work, using existing knowledge gained from research or practical experience for the purpose of creating new or improved products/processes.

General university funds

Funding from:

• the Commonwealth government (other than targeted research funding), including ANU Institute of Advanced Studies funds; and the portion of other revenue sourced from the Commonwealth spent on R&D but not identified as 'Competitive Research Grants' or 'Other commonwealth government'; and
• fees and charges, income relating to HECS liabilities, income from donations, bequests and foundations but excluding income from those provided specifically for research purposes, investment income, reversions from provisions accounts, loans drawn down, income from the university's commercial operations and from sale of products or assets.

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 commonwealth government

All other targeted research funding from commonwealth agencies excluding those programs listed as Australian Competitive Grants Register schemes. Examples of funding included are:

• Australian Postgraduate Awards
• Institutional Grants Scheme
• International Postgraduate Research Scholarships
• Research Infrastructure Block Grants
• Regional Protection Fund
• Research Training Scheme
• Special Research Assistance (pre-BAF)
• Systemic Infrastructure Initiative
• CRC and MNRF grants
• Innovation Access Programme

Other current expenditure

All other non-staff expenditures including materials, fuels, water, sewerage, rent and hiring expenses, repairs and maintenance, academic services purchased from outside, cleaning services, postage, freight, telephone and any other current expenses which are not captured by labour costs or scholarships. Payments for patent searches and for purchases of technical know-how are excluded.

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.