$1.42bn for higher education research

Australian universities will receive federal funding for research and research training totalling $1.42bn in 2010.

The funding, announced in Adelaide by the Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research, Senator Kim Carr, will be shared by 41 universities Australia wide.

Included in the 2010 Research Block Grants are:

• $610m for the Research Training Scheme, which meets the cost of tuition for students completing PhDs and Masters degrees by research;
• $164m for 3069 Australian Postgraduate Awards to support exceptional research students; and
• $20m for the International Postgraduate Research Scheme, which is designed to attract the brightest research students from overseas.

“More than half of the $1.42 billion will go towards training the next generation of Australian researchers - researchers we will need if we are to answer the challenges and build the industries of tomorrow,” Senator Carr said.

“As part of the Rudd government’s $3.1bn funding boost for research and innovation in last year’s budget and the Powering Ideas research and innovation agenda, the grants include:

• around 500 extra Australian Postgraduate Awards for outstanding students - delivering on Labor’s election commitment to double the number of awards by 2012;
• a 10% increase in the Australian Postgraduate Award stipend to $22,500 a year; and
• an extra $85m to meet the indirect costs of research under the new Sustainable Research Excellence program, which will eventually be worth $300m a year.

“The Rudd government will continue to support research that drives excellence, collaboration and diversity - vital elements for Australia’s prosperity.”