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Wednesday, 26 August 2009

The University of Adelaide's investment in research activities exceeded a quarter of a billion dollars in 2008, according to a new review.

"This is a massive commitment and it reaffirms the University of Adelaide's position as a major contributor to the national research effort," says Professor Mike Brooks, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research).

"Our research operations represent a major investment in work that is of great benefit to society, government and industry in areas of key strategic need.

"The strong research performance for 2008 comes on top of the University's $50 million commitment to new research institutes over the next five years," Professor Brooks says.

"We have already established iconic research institutes in areas of excellence spanning environment, reproductive health, mineral and energy resources, agriculture, and photonics, with others soon to be announced.

"Additionally, new research centres are being funded in fields as diverse as defence, nutrition, visual technologies and economics."

The University has conducted a review of its research expenditure for 2008, partly because of reporting requirements for the Federal Government but more broadly to gain a better understanding of the University's total research commitment.

The review found that:

• The component of the University's research income that is reportable to the Federal Government grew by 25% to more than $145 million last year;
  - as part of this, the University's top tier competitive research income grew by 15% to just short of $70 million;
  - support from industry exceeded $17 million.

The review also found that:

• When the $145 million is added to other federal government grants, infrastructure funding, research student scholarships and a conservative estimate of staff time allocated to research, total research spend exceeded $250m.

In 2008 the University ranked second in Australia in terms of competitive research income per capita, which is a key measure of research productivity. Adding to this, the number of journal papers to which University researchers contributed increased by 13% last year.

"2008 has proven to be our biggest year for research in the University's history. So far this year, indications are that we are on track to improve on this result," Professor Brooks says.