8111.0 - Research and Experimental Development, Higher Education Organisations, Australia, 2000  
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 12/04/2002   
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MAIN FEATURES


EXPENDITURE ON R&D

Higher education expenditure on R&D (HERD) in Australia in 2000 was estimated to be $2,775m at current prices. This represented an increase of 9% over 1998.

In volume terms, with the effect of changes in prices and wages and salaries removed, R&D expenditure increased by 2% compared with 1998.

HERD has steadily increased since 1992. The average annual rate of growth over this period has been 6.4% in current price terms and 3.6% in chain volume measures.

HERD as a percentage of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) has decreased from 0.43% in 1998 to 0.41% in 2000.

EXPENDITURE ON R&D
Graph - EXPENDITURE ON R&D


HUMAN RESOURCES DEVOTED TO R&D

Human resources devoted to R&D in Australia in 2000 by higher education organisations was estimated to be 46,287 person years. This represented an increase of 2% over 1998 and an average annual rate of growth of 3.4% since 1992.
RESOURCES DEVOTED TO R&D

1992
1994
1995
1996
1998
2000
Expenditure
At current prices ($m)
1,695.2
1,829.6
2,039.1
2,307.6
r2,555.1
2,774.6
Chain volume measures (a) ($m)
2,095.8
2,186.5
2,377.1
2,604.7
2,728.5
2,774.6
Human resources (person years)
35,418
40,096
na
42,739
45,502
46,287
r revised
na not available
(a) The reference year for chain volume measures is 2000. See paragraph 15 of the Explanatory Notes for details.

PURPOSE OF RESEARCH

Most R&D expenditure by higher education organisations was directed towards Society ($1,123m or 40%) and Economic development ($795m or 29%).

RESEARCH FIELDS

Medical and health sciences ($668m or 24%), Biological sciences ($325m or 12%), Engineering and technology ($309m or 11%) and Agricultural, veterinary and environmental sciences ($205m or 7%) were major fields of research by higher education organisations.