National Research Infrastructure Roadmap (NRDI)

Abstract

To address emerging challenges and evolving research needs, the Australian Government develops a new roadmap approximately every five years. Following the 2016 Roadmap, the 2021 National Research Infrastructure Roadmap was developed to guide future investments and strategies.

Recommendation 7 of the 2021 Roadmap, the Department of Education is coordinating the development of a National Digital Research Infrastructure (NDRI) Strategy. A draft of this strategy was released for public consultation in October 2023, aiming to establish a vision for a user-centric Australian NDRI system over the next 10-15 years.

The 2021 Roadmap made the following recommendations, developed by an Expert Working Group and supported by public consultation:

1. Adopt new NRI principles and specific investment principles to emphasise the importance of co-investment and planning and respect for Indigenous cultures and knowledges in research

2. Provide continuity and long-term funding to the current network of NCRIS projects

3. Adopt a challenge framework to support future NRI planning and investment

4. Establish an Expert NRI Advisory Group to: a) provide ongoing advice to government on planning and co-investment; b) develop a workforce strategy; c) review current facilities for greater integration and alignment

5. Drive a more integrated NRI ecosystem

6. Improve industry engagement with NRI

7. Develop a National Digital Research Infrastructure Strategy

8. Prepare Australia to tackle future challenges by undertaking a scoping study on a national approach to collections and considering action in four key areas: a) National digital research infrastructure; b) Synthetic biology research infrastructure; c) Research translation infrastructure; d) Environmental and climate research infrastructure

Overview

Country	Australia
Start date	2021
Annual Budget	€635 M
Responsible organisation(s)	Ministry
Target group(s)	Researchers, academic institutions, and the broader scientific community in Australia
Policy instrument type	Strategies, agendas and plans

Background

Australian research infrastructure investment has been underpinned through four previous roadmaps: the 2006 NCRIS Roadmap, which underpinned the investments through the original NCRIS program; the 2008 Strategic Roadmap for Australian Research Infrastructure which underpinned the investments through the Super Science Initiative; the 2011 Strategic Roadmap for Australian Research Infrastructure, which was unfunded and not implemented; the 2016 National Research Infrastructure Roadmap (2016 Roadmap); and the most recent 2021 National Research Infrastructure Roadmap (2021 Roadmap). The NRI Advisory Group, established by the Government in late 2022 is responsible for developing the next Roadmap. The 2026 Roadmap will act as a key policy document, providing guidance to government on actions that will enable researchers to maintain excellence, increase innovation and address emerging challenges. Formal development of the Roadmap will commence in early 2025.

The Australian Government made a 12-year $4 billion investment to support Australian researchers with world-class research infrastructure from 2017-18 to 2028-29.

Funding rounds are held every 1–2 years and are targeted towards specific NRI needs. $393.1 million was provided through the 2018 Investment plan, $157 million through the 2020 Research Infrastructure Investment Plan, and $921 million through the 2022 investment in response to the 2021 Roadmap. Funding is provided to NRI facilities managed through the National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Strategy program.

The Government is committed to regular Roadmaps (every five years) and Investment Plans (every two years) to ensure NRI is constantly reviewed and recalibrated to support our research and innovation system.

Objective(s)

To provide advice to the Australian Government on future priorities for strategic investment in those key national research infrastructure capabilities that would support and develop Australia’s research capacity and underpin research and innovation outcomes over the next five to ten years.|To work closely with the research sector, stakeholders and experts on identifying strategic priorities and future planning for national research infrastructure (NRI) facilities.|To conduct regular priority setting and investment planning, acknowledging technology and scientific changes over time.|To provide guidance to Government to support critical national research infrastructure facilities, such as projects within the National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Strategy (NCRIS), to operate with long term certainty.

Public access URL

https://www.education.gov.au/national-research-infrastructure

All tags

• Sustainable Infrastructures
• Australia
• 2021
• Ministry
• Academic societies academics
• Established researchers
• Higher education institutes
• Students
• Junior researchers
• Public research institutes
• Strategies, agendas and plans
• Strategies for sustainable infrastructures

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