Australia Yearbook - 2001

Chapter 25—Science and innovation 855
Government sector
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 (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%) and Applied sciences
and technologies ($188m, 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%.
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.
25.9 GOVERNMENT ORGANISATIONS, R&D Resources by Field of Research—1998–99
Type of expenditure
Land and
buildings
Other capital
expenditure
Labour
costs
Other current
expenditure
Total
Human
resources
’000
person
Field of research
$m
$m $m
$m $m 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).