The Australian Government provides significant support for research and its utilisation and commercial application. This support includes investments in different fields such as medical research, defence science and rural research and development, as well as research and research training delivered through the Education, Science and Training portfolio.
In the current financial year, the Government has committed $5.342 billion to support Australia’s science and innovation system (representing 2.85% of total Commonwealth expenditure commitments in the 2004-05 Budget).
In the Education, Science and Training portfolio, the Government expects to invest over $3 billion in research and research training, principally through its funding support for our universities, portfolio research agencies, Cooperative Research Centres and Australian Research Council grants.
Table: Portfolio Investment in Research and Research Training 2004-05
|
Higher Education Funding Act (1988) |
$ millions |
|
Research Training Scheme |
551.8 |
|
Institutional Grants Scheme |
290.4 |
|
Research Infrastructure Block Grants |
184.1 |
|
Systemic Infrastructure Initiative |
67.8 |
|
Australian Postgraduate Awards |
88.2 |
|
International Postgraduate Research |
18.1 |
|
Regional Protection Scheme |
3.0 |
|
Other Higher Education R&D Funding |
|
|
Estimated research and research training component sourced in the operating grant |
587.0 |
|
|
|
|
Australian Research Council |
482.4 |
|
|
|
|
Portfolio Administered Funding for R&D |
|
|
Cooperative Research Centre Grants |
193.0 |
|
Major National Research Facilities |
42.3 |
|
National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Strategy |
1.9 |
|
|
|
|
Publicly Funded Research Agencies |
|
|
CSIRO |
576.5 |
|
Australian Animal Health Laboratory |
6.9 |
|
Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation |
153.3 |
|
Australian Institute of Marine Science |
22.5 |
|
Anglo-Australian Telescope |
4.1 |
|
TOTAL |
3273.3 |
Source: Science and Innovation Budget Tables 2004-05
Changes and Future Plans
The Australian Government’s support for science, research and innovation is more focused and strategic than in the past. Backing Australia’s Ability (2001) and its follow-on, Backing Australia’s Ability – Building our Future through Science and Innovation (2004), represent a strategic whole-of-government approach.
The setting of National Research Priorities exemplifies a trend to guide investment and activity across the system, and in particular, help align research more closely to the Australian community’s needs.
There has also been an increased emphasis on competitive and contestable funding arrangements, especially in public sector research, to foster excellence, flexibility and collaboration.