Research and Experimental Development, Government and Private Non-Profit Organisations, Australia

In 2020-21, of total government expenditure on R&D (GOVERD):

• $2,337 million (65%) was contributed by Commonwealth government organisations,
• $1,281 million (35%) was contributed by State and territory government organisations.

Compared to 2018-19, R&D expenditure increased by:

• $227 million (11%) for Commonwealth government organisations,
• $62 million (5%) for State and territory government organisations.

GOVERD as a proportion of GDP was 0.17% in 2020-21, the same as 2018-19.

Compared to 2018-19, GOVERD increased by:

• 9% in current price terms,
• 8% in chain volume terms.

Subsequent expenditure figures and supporting commentary relate to current price terms.

In 2020-21, GOVERD included:

• $3,341 million (92%) in Current expenditure,
• $277 million (8%) in Capital expenditure.

Compared to 2018-19:

• Current expenditure increased $273 million (9%),
• Capital expenditure increased $15 million (6%).  

In 2020-21, the largest components of GOVERD were:

• Current expenditure - Labour costs at $1,985 million (55%),
• Other current expenditure at $1,356 million (37%).

Other current expenditure recorded the largest GOVERD increase of $228 million (20%) between 2018-19 and 2020-21.

Location of expenditure relates to the region in which R&D activity was performed. Please refer to the Methodology section for further information.

Compared to 2018-19, New South Wales recorded the largest GOVERD increase in dollar terms, up $136 million (21%). South Australia recorded the largest dollar decrease, down $71 million (16%).

Between 2018-19 and 2020-21, six state/territories recorded an increase in the GOVERD/GSP ratio. Tasmania showed the largest increase (up 0.08 percentage points).

FoR allows R&D activity to be categorised according to common knowledge domains and/or methodologies used in the R&D.

SEO allows R&D to be categorised according to the intended purpose or outcome of the R&D as perceived by the data provider or researcher.

In 2020-21, Australian government organisations devoted a total of 15,047 person years of effort (PYE) to R&D. This was an increase of 526 PYE (4%) in comparison to 2018-19.

Researchers accounted for most of the human resources effort devoted to R&D in 2020-21, totalling 8,239 PYE (55%). This was a 669 PYE or 9% increase between 2018-19 and 2020-21.

• Expenditure on R&D performed by Australian private non-profit (PNP) organisations during the 2020-21 financial year was $1,399 million, an increase of $129 million (10%) in comparison to 2018-19.
• Private non-profit expenditure on R&D (PNPERD) as a proportion of GDP was 0.07% in 2020-21, the same proportion as in 2018-19.

Compared to 2018-19, PNPERD increased by:

• 10% in current price terms,
• 5% in chain volume terms.

Subsequent expenditure figures and supporting commentary relate to current price terms.

In 2020-21, PNPERD included:

• $1,316 million (94%) in Current expenditure,
• $83 million (6%) in Capital expenditure.

Compared to 2018-19:

• Current expenditure increased $111 million (9%),
• Capital expenditure increased $19 million (29%). 

In 2020-21, the largest components of PNPERD were:

• Current expenditure - Labour costs at $754 million (54%),
• Other current expenditure at $562 million (40%).

The Current expenditure - Labour costs component of PNPERD recorded the greatest increase of $63 million (9%) between 2018-19 and 2020-21.

In 2020-21, the main sources of funds for PNPERD were in:

• Commonwealth government funds, $472 million (34%),
• Own funds $299 million (21%).

Compared to 2018-19, the largest dollar increase in funds were recorded in:

• Overseas funding at $53 million (99%),
• State and local government funding at $45 million (35%).

Location of expenditure relates to the region in which R&D activity was performed. Please refer to the Methodology section for further information.

Compared to 2018-19, Victoria recorded the largest increase in PNPERD in dollar terms of $105 million (18%), followed by Western Australia with a $24 million (30%) increase.

FoR allows R&D activity to be categorised according to common knowledge domains and/or methodologies used in the R&D.

In 2020-21, the greatest contributions to PNPERD by FoR classification were recorded in:

• Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, $1,064 million (76%),
• Health Sciences, $136 million (10%).

SEO allows R&D to be categorised according to the intended purpose or outcome of the R&D as perceived by the data provider or researcher.

In 2020-21, the greatest contributions to PNPERD by SEO classification were recorded in:

• Health, $1,274 million (91%),
• Education and Training, $38 million (3%).

Australian non-profit organisations devoted a total of 7,294 person years of effort (PYE) to R&D in 2020-21, an increase of 89 PYE in comparison to 2018-19.

Researchers accounted for most of the human resources effort devoted to R&D in 2020-21, totalling 4,662 PYE (64%).

This release previously used catalogue number 8109.0.