8101.0 - Innovation and Technology Update (Newsletter), Apr 2001  
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 30/04/2001   
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3 RESEARCH & EXPERIMENTAL DEVELOPMENT (R&D) STATISTICS

3.1 Business R&D survey 1999-2000

A survey of R&D undertaken by businesses in 1999-2000 is currently underway. Details of R&D expenditure and human resources devoted to R&D classified by type of expenditure, location of expenditure, source of funds, type of employee, research fields and socio-economic objectives are being collected.

The survey is the first to use the classifications contained in the ABS publication Australian Standard Research Classification (ASRC) (1998 Edition). The Socio-economic objective (SEO) classification has been revised and the Research fields, courses and disciplines (RFCD) classification has replaced the Field of research (FOR) classification.

It is expected that results will be released in the ABS publication Research and Experimental Development, Businesses, Australia (Cat. no. 8104.0) in June 2001.

3.2 Higher Education R&D survey 2000

Documentation for the survey of R&D undertaken by higher education institutions in 2000 has been prepared and distributed to universities. Details of R&D expenditure and human resources devoted to R&D classified by type of expenditure, location of expenditure, source of funds, type of employee, type of activity, research fields and socio-economic objectives will be collected.

The classifications contained in the 1998 edition of the ASRC are being used for the first time; replacing those in the 1993 edition of the ASRC.

The due date for the return of data to the ABS is 31 August 2001 and it is envisaged that results will be released early in 2002.
3.3 R&D surveys 2000-2001

Planning for the surveys of R&D undertaken by businesses, government organisations and private non-profit organisations in 2000-2001 is in progress. Details of R&D expenditure and human resources devoted to R&D classified by type of expenditure, location of expenditure, source of funds, type of employee, type of activity, research fields and socio-economic objectives will be collected. The 2000-2001 surveys will be the first surveys of R&D by government and private non-profit organisations to use the classifications contained in the 1998 edition of the ASRC.


3.4 International standards

The ABS surveys of R&D are conducted in accordance with standard guidelines promulgated by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and contained in the OECD publication The Measurement of Scientific and Technological Activities (Frascati Manual 1993). These guidelines are currently being reviewed and Australia is represented on the working groups undertaking the revisions.