September 9, 2016

IRU submission: 2016 National Research Infrastructure Roadmap

High quality and accessible Research Infrastructure: IRU submission to 2016 National Research Infrastructure Roadmap

To maximise its investment in Australia’s research system, the government needs to commit to long term investment in research infrastructure that is accessible to all researchers and potential end users.  The requirement for national access is usually interpreted as ensuring that researchers outside the main cities can access resources, but it equally means that a resource could be located anywhere capable of supporting it, with those in major city areas as able as anyone to access resources remotely.

Some resources have a natural home but most resources have no intrinsical locational logic.  These can be used to stimulate the whole Australian research system through a distributive intent, with resulting benefits for regions and potential reduction of pressure on major population centres.

IRU’s mapping of the spread of Australia’s currently-funded research infrastructure shows that almost 80% is located in cities and inner cities.

Geographical spread should be a key factor in determining the priorities in the 2016 National Research Infrastructure Roadmap.

Read the IRU’s submission to the 2016 National Research Infrastructure Roadmap. 

Read the Read the IRU’s analysis of the spread of currently-funded NCRIS projects.  

Access the IRU NCRIS mapping database.