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.
