This survey is now closed

Introduction

Consultation is now open on the Exposure Draft of the 2026 National Research Infrastructure Roadmap (the Roadmap). National research infrastructure (NRI) underpins Australia’s sovereign research and development capability. Providing infrastructure to advance research and its applications requires strategic foresight and long-term planning. NRI roadmaps have been developed every 5 years since 2006.

The NRI Roadmap Expert Working Group (EWG), a subgroup of the NRI Advisory Group, has developed this Exposure Draft and is releasing it for public consultation. 

Used by more than 100,000 Australian researchers and 30,000 international users, Australia’s NRI network spans infrastructure supported by the National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Strategy (NCRIS), as well as facilities supported by state and territory governments, research funding agencies, universities, research organisations, and the private sector. Australia’s NRI includes engagement with international research infrastructures. 

This Exposure Draft has been informed by extensive consultation, including responses to a public survey and Issues Paper, which together received over 800 submissions. This input, together with targeted engagement with sector and government stakeholders, has helped identify emerging trends, opportunities and priorities that will influence research infrastructure requirements over the next 5-10 years.  

Exposure Draft

This Exposure Draft presents the following sections:

  • Findings

  • An updated definition of NRI

  • Current context

  • What does a good NRI system look like?

  • Opportunities for NRI

  • Capabilities

  • Near-term coordination

The final Roadmap to be submitted to Government will include Recommendations and other elements not part of the Exposure Draft such as updated NRI Principles and additional background material on the six identified ‘cross-cutting’ capabilities.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is the online survey the only way to provide feedback on the Exposure Draft?


All feedback should be made through the online survey. If you are unable to access or complete the survey, or require assistance, please contact researchinfrastructure@education.gov.au.


How does the Issues Paper align with the Exposure Draft? 

The Issues Papers presented the policy landscape, a snapshot of the initial consultation survey responses and sought input on a limited set of topics. This was designed to elicit a specific set of evidence to assist the Expert Working Group to develop the Exposure Draft. The Exposure Draft foreshadows likely content for the final Roadmap, which may be revised following the current consultation process.  


Can I suggest new topics for inclusion in the Final Roadmap? 

Yes, stakeholders are encouraged to provide feedback through the online survey, including suggesting topics or priorities for consideration in the final Roadmap.


How much adjustment do you expect between the Exposure Draft and the final Roadmap? 

While the Exposure Draft sets out the proposed direction of the final Roadmap, we are currently consulting with a wide range of stakeholders and via a public survey to understand where changes may need to be made. The Expert Working Group, supported by the department, will review feedback received through the consultation process to help shape the final Roadmap.  


How are institutional, national, landmark and international research infrastructures defined in the Exposure Draft?

Section 1.2 – Definitions and scope outlines how institutional, national, landmark and international research infrastructure are defined in the Exposure Draft.


How were the capabilities and opportunities in the Exposure Draft selected? 

Section 4 – Opportunities for NRI and Section 5 – Capabilities were informed by extensive consultation, including the initial 2026 NRI Roadmap consultation survey and the Issues Paper consultation in 2025. The Expert Working Group used feedback from these consultations to identify emerging trends, opportunities and priorities that will influence research infrastructure requirements over the next 5-10 years. More information about the development of the Exposure Draft can be found on the Department of Education’s website.


Will the final Roadmap make recommendations?

The final Roadmap will include recommendations, informed by the analysis and findings of the roadmap process. 


How will survey responses be processed/analysed?

The Expert Working Group, supported by the department, will review all feedback received through the survey.


The Exposure Draft refers to the importance of NRI funding predictability and sustainability. Might near-term activities to address these issues be considered?

The near-term opportunities outlined in the Exposure Draft were developed to identify possible next steps that will assist Government to understand NRI in these specific areas and following the further work to potentially identify and prioritise opportunities for investment.  If this section could include additional material, we encourage you to provide feedback through the online survey. The Expert Working Group, supported by the department, will review your feedback and consider it for the final Roadmap.


How will NRI Roadmap consider the issue of economic return from investment in research?

The matter of economic return from investment in research is outside the remit of the Roadmap, though some broad comments are made in Sections 2.1 and 4.1.  Detailed analysis of the economic returns from investment in research infrastructure is also outside the scope of the Roadmap but is touched on in 2.1 and 4.1 – see, for example, the reports cited in footnotes 54 and 57.

If you have suggestions on how the economic value of NRI can be better demonstrated, we encourage you to provide feedback through the online survey. The Expert Working Group, supported by the department, will review your feedback and consider it for the final Roadmap.


How is the Roadmap considering a joined-up approach to the issues of open research principles, open software and open access to data and collections?

Refer to Sections 5.2 and 6.3, which should also be read in conjunction with the National Digital Research Infrastructure Roadmap. The NRI Roadmap is neutral on the definition and scope of open science, noting that advice on research policy settings is outside its remit.  

We encourage you to provide feedback through the online survey, including suggesting further ways for NRI to support the research lifecycle.


What is the role of the NRI Roadmap in relation to an NCRIS investment plan?

The purpose of the NRI Roadmap is to provide high level evidence and guidance on Australia’s NRI needs including those beyond NCRIS. It helps identify broad priorities for the coming 5-10 years and provides a guidepost for improvements in the NRI system, including its governance. NCRIS investment plans are much more focussed pieces of work which identify the specific funding needs through NCRIS that can help support the priorities and recommendations of the Roadmap.


How will the Roadmap interact with other relevant reviews or strategies, such as Ambitious Australia and the National Health and Medical Research Strategy which also go to issues of research infrastructure?

As part of the process of developing the Roadmap, the Department of Education is regularly engaging with Australian Government portfolios to ensure there is appropriate alignment with these bodies of work.

Timeline

  • Opened
    closed

    27 September 2026

  • Closed
    closed

    27 October 2026

Supporting links

Contact
National Research Infrastructure Policy
ResearchInfrastructure@education.gov.au