Expenditure on R&D carried out by government organisations in Australia in 2000-01 was estimated to be $2,368m, a 14% increase on expenditure in 1998-99 (see table 25.1).
As shown in table 25.9, the research fields in which most government R&D expenditure took place were: Agricultural, veterinary and environmental sciences ($773m, or 33%); Engineering and technology ($385m, or 16%); Biological sciences ($260m, or 11%); Information, computing and communication sciences ($217m, or 9%); Earth sciences ($215m, or 9%); and Medical and health sciences ($183m, or 8%).
A slightly different pattern applied to human resources devoted to R&D, with Agricultural, veterinary and environmental sciences accounting for 33%, Engineering and technology 15%, Medical and health sciences 12%, Biological sciences 11%, Earth sciences 7% and Information, computing and communication sciences 7%.
25.9 R&D RESOURCES, Government organisations by field of research - 2000-01
|
 | Type of expenditure | |
|
| |
| Land and buildings | Other capital expenditure | Labour costs | Other current expenditure | Total | Human resources |
| $m | $m | $m | $m | $m | ’000 person years |
|
| Mathematical sciences | 1.3 | 1.9 | 15.3 | 6.7 | 25.1 | 0.2 |
| Physical sciences | 4.3 | 6.9 | 52.5 | 29.6 | 93.3 | 0.7 |
| Chemical sciences | 5.2 | 4.0 | 52.1 | 34.0 | 95.3 | 0.7 |
| Earth sciences | 10.1 | 10.8 | 95.1 | 99.2 | 215.1 | 1.3 |
| Biological sciences | 32.5 | 10.0 | 126.2 | 91.1 | 259.8 | 2.0 |
| Information, computing & communication sciences | 4.2 | 6.8 | 99.6 | 106.1 | 216.8 | 1.2 |
| Engineering and technology | 17.9 | 15.5 | 206.7 | 144.7 | 384.8 | 2.8 |
| Agricultural, veterinary & environmental sciences | 27.3 | 20.3 | 379.6 | 346.1 | 773.3 | 6.1 |
| Medical and health sciences | 23.4 | 5.8 | 104.7 | 48.8 | 182.7 | 2.3 |
| Economics | 0.2 | 0.4 | 31.7 | 18.6 | 50.8 | 0.4 |
| Law, justice and law enforcement | 1.0 | 0.3 | 13.8 | 7.6 | 22.7 | 0.2 |
| Other research fields | 1.0 | 1.0 | 30.6 | 16.1 | 48.8 | 0.5 |
| Total | 128.3 | 83.7 | 1,207.7 | 948.6 | 2,368.4 | 18.4 |
| Commonwealth | 75.1 | 58.2 | 734.6 | 557.0 | 1,424.8 | 9.7 |
| State | 53.3 | 25.6 | 473.2 | 391.6 | 943.6 | 8.7 |
|
| Source: Research and Experimental Development, Government and Private Non-Profit Organisations, Australia, 2000-01 (8109.0). |
In terms of socioeconomic objectives (table 25.10), most government sector R&D expenditure ($1,375m or 58%) was directed towards Economic development. Of this, $392m (29%) was directed towards Plant production and primary products, $298m (22%) towards Animal production and primary products and $233m (17%) towards Manufacturing. About 18% was directed towards Environment, 12% towards Society, 10% towards Defence, and 1% to Non-oriented research.
A slightly different pattern applied to human resources devoted to R&D, with 53% directed towards Economic development, 18% towards Society, 17% towards Environment, 11% towards Defence, and 1% to Non-oriented research.
25.10 R&D RESOURCES, Government organisations by socioeconomic objective - 2000-01
|
| | Type of expenditure | |
| |
| |
| | Land and buildings | Other capital expenditure | Labour costs | Other current expenditure | Total | Human resources |
| | $m | $m | $m | $m | $m | ’000 person years |
|
| Defence | 0.4 | 5.5 | 165.3 | 67.4 | 238.7 | 2.0 |
| Economic development | | | | | | |
| Plant - production and primary products | 13.4 | 10.4 | 196.8 | 171.8 | 392.5 | 3.2 |
| Animal - production & primary products | 10.0 | 8.2 | 141.8 | 137.8 | 297.8 | 2.2 |
| Mineral resources (excl. energy) | 4.3 | 3.6 | 42.3 | 31.7 | 81.9 | 0.5 |
| Energy resources | 3.0 | 2.5 | 28.9 | 30.8 | 65.3 | 0.4 |
| Energy supply | 2.3 | 0.9 | 16.1 | 9.0 | 28.3 | 0.2 |
| Manufacturing | 21.7 | 9.6 | 101.5 | 100.0 | 232.8 | 1.6 |
| Construction | 2.3 | 1.7 | 17.3 | 11.9 | 33.2 | 0.2 |
| Transport | 0.4 | 1.0 | 6.8 | 12.2 | 20.3 | 0.1 |
| Information & communication services | 3.4 | 3.6 | 30.3 | 15.4 | 52.8 | 0.4 |
| Commercial services and tourism | 0.6 | 1.1 | 5.6 | 4.1 | 11.4 | 0.1 |
| Economic framework | 4.9 | 1.4 | 66.7 | 85.6 | 158.7 | 0.9 |
| Total | 66.4 | 44.0 | 654.2 | 610.4 | 1,375.0 | 9.8 |
| Society | | | | | | |
| Health | 32.6 | 7.9 | 114.8 | 57.7 | 213.0 | 2.6 |
| Education and training | 0.2 | 0.7 | 8.6 | 5.2 | 14.8 | 0.1 |
| Social development & community services | 2.3 | 1.8 | 36.0 | 21.7 | 61.8 | 0.6 |
| Total | 35.1 | 10.3 | 159.5 | 84.7 | 289.6 | 3.2 |
| Environment | | | | | | |
| Environmental policy frameworks & other aspects | 1.3 | 1.1 | 28.9 | 19.1 | 50.4 | 0.4 |
| Environmental management | 21.1 | 18.3 | 184.7 | 156.8 | 380.9 | 2.7 |
| Total | 22.4 | 19.4 | 213.6 | 175.9 | 431.3 | 3.1 |
| Non-oriented research | 4.0 | 4.6 | 15.1 | 10.2 | 33.8 | 0.3 |
| Total | 128.3 | 83.7 | 1,207.7 | 948.6 | 2,368.4 | 18.4 |
|
| Source: Research and Experimental Development, Government and Private Non-Profit Organisations, Australia, 2000-01 (8109.0). |
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