Research to Market

Australia · Commercialisation

Health and environmental management led Australian government R&D

Australian government organisations performed AUD 4.38 billion of research and development in 2024-25. Health was the largest objective at AUD 906 million, followed by environmental management at AUD 704 million.

Sources checked

Research to Market Editorial Team

Compare government research spending by objectiveAustralian government research and development expenditure by intended benefit

2022-23

Shared scale · 0 AUD million to 906 AUD million

  • Health806 AUD million
  • Environmental management539 AUD million
  • Defence753 AUD million
  • Environmental policy, climate change and natural hazards311 AUD million
  • Plant production and primary products362 AUD million
  • Expanding knowledge297 AUD million
  • Animal production and primary products227 AUD million
  • Energy197 AUD million
  • Manufacturing214 AUD million
  • Information and communication services152 AUD million

Both years share an Australian-dollar scale.

Source 1

Health remained the largest objective

Health expenditure rose from AUD 806 million to AUD 906 million, or about one-fifth of the government-performed total in 2024-25. Environmental management rose AUD 165 million to AUD 704 million, overtaking defence in this classification. Source 1

Defence and plant production fell

Defence expenditure declined from AUD 753 million to AUD 673 million. Plant production and primary products fell from AUD 362 million to AUD 316 million. Movement in those areas offset some of the increase in health and environmental management. Source 1

Objective and field answer different questions

The ABS classifies an objective by the area expected to benefit from the research. Its field-of-research table classifies the academic area or method. A single project can use several kinds of expertise to address one intended benefit. Source 1

The organisation doing the work defines the series

The release covers R&D performed by Australian government organisations and separately reports private non-profit performers. The government series does not capture all research paid for by government, because the funding source and performing organisation can differ. Source 1

Sources

Open the data and source notes