National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Strategy (NCRIS) Fact Sheet 

Key Points

• NCRIS provides funding to develop and fund national research infrastructure.
• NCRIS is providing $527 million from 2004-05 to 2010-2011.
• The Government has highlighted the importance of encouraging collaboration between research organisations and industry as a means of meeting national research challenges.  This type of collaboration is central to building an effective national research capability.
• NCRIS has adopted a strategic and collaborative approach to providing research infrastructure that can be accessed by researchers across Australia. This type of collaboration is proving effective in delivering wider access to better infrastructure. 
• For example, the Australian National Fabrication Facility is being funded through NCRIS to establish a comprehensive fabrication capability for Australia’s fast emerging nanotechnology industry. Fifteen universities, the CSIRO, business and state governments are participating in this national, collaborative initiative.  
• A key enabler of research collaboration is the high performance computing, data management and electronic communication tools provided by the new Information and Communication Technologies (ICT).  The Government is supporting the deployment of these ICT tools so that researchers can easily share access to research data and collaborate in analysing the data.
• The NCRIS Committee undertook a review of the NCRIS Roadmap in consultation with the research community.  The Strategic Roadmap for Australian Research Infrastructure was released in September 2008 and informed the Review of the National Innovation System.  
• Several areas currently receiving NCRIS funding will be enhanced with funding through the Super Science initiative announced in the 2009-10 Budget.
• In total 25 projects have been funded through the NCRIS Program across priority areas such as genomics, microscopy, marine science, astronomy and ICT.  The majority of projects are well established and are supporting leading edge research and contributing to national research outcomes.

Facts and Figures

Purpose

NCRIS is providing funding to develop and fund national research infrastructure. Through NCRIS the Australian Government is implementing a strategic and collaborative approach to investment in world-class research facilities, networks and infrastructure that are accessible to all researchers across Australia on the basis of merit.

Proposed annual budget over the program’s life

NCRIS is providing $527 million from 2004-05 to 2010-2011 in administered expenses as shown below:

Eligibility and target audience

Independent external facilitators were commissioned by the NCRIS Committee to develop investment plans for priority capabilities identified in the 2006 Strategic Roadmap. Funding has been allocated to the following NCRIS capabilities:

• Evolving biomolecular platforms and informatics
• Integrated biological systems
• Characterisation
• Fabrication
• Biotechnology products
• Networked biosecurity framework
• Optical and radio astronomy
• Integrated marine observing system
• Structure and evolution of the Australian continent
• Platforms for collaboration
• Population health research network
• Terrestrial ecosystem research network.

Universities, publicly funded research organisations, independent research institutes, state government bodies and business are participating in the infrastructure development.