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Budget 1999-2000
FACT SHEET
ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR RESEARCH INFRASTRUCTURE AND STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS WITH
INDUSTRY - RESEARCH AND TRAINING SCHEME
Research Infrastructure Funding
In the lead-up to the 1998 election, the Government made a commitment to provide
additional funding for research infrastructure, to address a potential decline in the
funding available for these projects from the year 2000.
- The Budget contains an additional $93.3 million over three years for research
infrastructure which brings total funding for research infrastructure over the next three
years to $287.6 million.
- These funds support the non-capital component of higher education research facilities
such as libraries, computing centres, animal houses and herbaria; the purchase,
installation and maintenance of equipment; and the salaries of staff employed to provide
support for general research activity.
- The additional funds will be provided under the Research Infrastructure Block Grants
Scheme. Funds under this Scheme are allocated to institutions based on their performance
in attracting competitive research funds, as calculated by the National Competitive Grants
Index.
Strategic Partnerships with Industry - Research and Training Scheme
- In the lead-up to the 1998 election, the Government made a commitment to provide
additional funding for the Strategic Partnerships with Industry - Research and Training
Scheme (SPIRT).
- The SPIRT Scheme provides support for university-industry collaborative research
projects, and awards and fellowships to undertake training or research in applied industry
settings. The Scheme also encourages industry to invest in research, by requiring matching
contributions for each Commonwealth funded SPIRT project.
- In late 1998, an additional $59.8 million was allocated to the SPIRT scheme. This
maintains the level of funding provided for the Scheme to allow new projects to be funded
at current levels and to provide for the pipeline effects of new grants and awards.
Media Release
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