Expenditure on R&D carried out by government organisations in Australia in 1998-99 was estimated to be $2,072m, a marginal decrease on expenditure in 1996-97 (see table 25.1).
As shown in table 25.9, the fields of research in which most government R&D expenditure took place were: Agricultural sciences ($664m, or 32%), Biological sciences ($255m, or 12%), Earth sciences ($207m, or 10%), Medical and health sciences ($189m, or 9%), Applied sciences and technologies ($188m, or 9%) and General engineering ($181m, or 9%).
A slightly different pattern applied to human resources devoted to R&D, with Agricultural sciences accounting for 32%, Medical and health sciences 15%, Biological sciences 12%, Applied sciences and technologies 8%, Earth sciences 7% and General engineering 7%.
25.9 GOVERNMENT ORGANISATIONS, R&D Resources by Field of Research - 1998-99
|
 | Type of expenditure | |
| |
| |
| Field of research | Land and buildings
$m | Other capital expenditure
$m | Labour costs
$m | Other current expenditure
$m |
Total
$m
| Human
resources
’000 person
years |
|
| Natural sciences, technologies and engineering - | | | | | | |
| - Mathematical sciences | 0.4 | 0.8 | 12.4 | 6.7 | 20.3 | 0.2 |
| - Physical sciences | 1.9 | 6.3 | 49.5 | 31.2 | 88.8 | 0.8 |
| - Chemical sciences | 2.0 | 7.2 | 48.1 | 30.0 | 87.3 | 0.7 |
| - Earth sciences | 5.2 | 8.8 | 90.2 | 103.2 | 207.4 | 1.4 |
| - Information, computers and communication sciences | 2.5 | 9.7 | 66.7 | 38.2 | 117.1 | 1.0 |
| - Applied sciences and technologies | 4.0 | 14.8 | 103.9 | 65.3 | 188.0 | 1.6 |
| - General engineering | 7.2 | 13.4 | 101.9 | 58.0 | 180.5 | 1.4 |
| - Biological sciences | 8.5 | 10.7 | 125.6 | 110.5 | 255.2 | 2.2 |
| - Agricultural sciences | 19.4 | 21.9 | 321.7 | 300.8 | 663.8 | 6.2 |
| - Medical and health sciences | 5.7 | 7.6 | 108.9 | 66.8 | 189.0 | 2.8 |
| - Total natural sciences, technologies and engineering | 56.8 | 101.1 | 1,028.9 | 810.5 | 1,997.3 | 18.1 |
| Social sciences and humanities - | | | | | | |
| - Social sciences | 0.8 | 1.6 | 45.4 | 23.8 | 71.6 | 0.8 |
| - Humanities | 0.1 | 0.1 | 1.4 | 1.2 | 2.7 | - |
| - Total social sciences and humanities | 0.8 | 1.7 | 46.8 | 25.0 | 74.3 | 0.8 |
| Total | 57.6 | 102.8 | 1,075.8 | 835.4 | 2,071.6 | 18.9 |
|
| Source: Research and Experimental Development, Government and Private Non-profit Organisations, Australia (8109.0). |
In terms of socioeconomic objectives (table 25.10), most government sector R&D expenditure ($1,139m or 55%) was directed towards Economic development. Of this, $353m (31%) was directed towards Plant production and primary products, $237m (21%) towards Animal production and primary products and $237m (21%) towards Manufacturing. About 21% was directed towards Environment, 11% towards Society, 10% towards Defence, and 3% to Advancement of knowledge.
A slightly different pattern applied to human resources devoted to R&D, with 51% directed towards Economic development, 18% towards Environment, 18% towards Society, 10% towards Defence, and 3% to Advancement of knowledge.
25.10 GOVERNMENT ORGANISATIONS, R&D Resources by Socioeconomic Objective - 1998-99
|
| | Type of expenditure | |
|
| |
| Socioeconomic objective | Land and buildings
$m | Other capital expenditure
$m | Labour costs
$m | Other current expenditure
$m | Total
$m | Human
resources
’000 person
years |
|
| Defence | 0.1 | 18.5 | 126.9 | 59.5 | 205.1 | 1.9 |
| Economic development - | | | | | | |
| - Plant - production and primary products | 10.0 | 11.9 | 167.1 | 163.8 | 352.8 | 3.2 |
| - Animal - production and primary products | 8.8 | 8.4 | 114.3 | 105.9 | 237.4 | 2.2 |
| - Mineral resources (excl. energy) | 1.5 | 3.7 | 29.1 | 25.1 | 59.4 | 0.4 |
| - Energy resources | 0.9 | 2.7 | 23.1 | 32.6 | 59.3 | 0.3 |
| - Energy supply | 0.5 | 1.8 | 8.8 | 4.9 | 16.0 | 0.1 |
| - Manufacturing | 9.0 | 13.5 | 125.0 | 89.2 | 236.7 | 1.9 |
| - Construction | 0.9 | 3.2 | 21.9 | 12.5 | 38.4 | 0.3 |
| - Transport | 3.3 | 0.2 | 10.8 | 4.4 | 18.6 | 0.1 |
| - Information and communication services | 2.4 | 3.4 | 36.9 | 26.3 | 69.1 | 0.5 |
| - Commercial services | 0.3 | 1.5 | 6.3 | 5.0 | 13.1 | 0.1 |
| - Economic framework | 0.6 | 1.5 | 22.5 | 13.9 | 38.6 | 0.4 |
| - Total economic development | 38.2 | 51.8 | 565.7 | 483.8 | 1,139.4 | 9.6 |
| Society - | | | | | | |
| - Health | 4.6 | 9.4 | 112.8 | 70.5 | 197.2 | 2.9 |
| - Education and training | 0.2 | 0.2 | 6.1 | 1.8 | 8.3 | 0.1 |
| - Social development and community services | 0.2 | 1.0 | 21.2 | 9.9 | 32.2 | 0.4 |
| - Total society | 5.0 | 10.6 | 140.0 | 82.2 | 237.8 | 3.4 |
| Environment - | | | | | | |
| - Environmental knowledge | 8.2 | 13.7 | 141.4 | 128.2 | 291.6 | 2.2 |
| - Environmental aspects of economic development | 3.2 | 3.3 | 30.8 | 21.1 | 58.3 | 0.5 |
| - Environmental management and other aspects | 1.3 | 2.7 | 38.5 | 36.4 | 78.9 | 0.7 |
| - Total environment | 12.7 | 19.7 | 210.7 | 185.6 | 428.7 | 3.4 |
| Advancement of knowledge - | | | | | | |
| - Natural sciences, technologies and engineering | 1.4 | 2.1 | 31.1 | 23.3 | 57.9 | 0.6 |
| - Social sciences and humanities | 0.2 | 0.1 | 1.5 | 1.1 | 2.8 | - |
| - Total advancement of knowledge | 1.6 | 2.2 | 32.5 | 24.3 | 60.7 | 0.7 |
| Total | 57.6 | 102.8 | 1,075.8 | 835.4 | 2,071.6 | 18.9 |
|
| Source: Research and Experimental Development, Government and Private Non-profit Organisations, Australia (8109.0). |
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