What is research and development?
The EPA has adopted the definition for R&D recommended by the Queensland Chief Scientist. This was developed by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and is also used by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). Under this definition:
Research and experimental development (R&D) comprises creative work undertaken on a systematic basis in order to increase the stock of knowledge, including knowledge of man, culture and society, and the use of this stock of knowledge to devise new applications.
The Chief Scientist has provided further clarification (adapted from ABS information) that research activity includes:
- Provision of professional, technical, administrative or clerical support and/or assistance to staff directly engaged in R&D;
- Management of staff who are either directly engaged in R&D or are providing professional,technical or clerical support or assistance to those staff;
- Activities relating to supervision/monitoring of students undertaking postgraduate research courses;
- Computer programming, systems work or software maintenance where there are technological uncertainties to be resolved;
- Research in the social sciences and humanities;
- Scientific and technical information services;
- Engineering and technical services;
- General purpose and routine data collection;
- Standardisation and routine testing;
- Feasibility studies (except into R&D projects);
- Specialised routine medical care;
- Commercial, legal and administrative aspects of patenting, copyrighting or licensing activities;
- Routine computer programming, systems work or software maintenance where there are no technological uncertainties to be resolved.
Last updated: 26 July 2007
