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AU ANZSIC M6910 | Industry Report

Scientific Research Services in Australia Industry Data and Analysis

JC
Joshua Campbell
Analyst Melbourne, Australia May 2025

The Scientific Research Services industry has performed well over the past few years, with improving profit margins. The industry encompasses various government and private sector organisations across different scientific fields, particularly in the medical, health and IT sectors. While the industry has traditionally relied on public sector funding, there has been a noticeable shift towards more self-funding for research and development (R&D). Research organisations are increasingly under pressure to generate revenue through donations, co-investment with corporations and governments, and royalties or licensing revenue on intellectual property. Private businesses are also capitalising on commercialising their research, generating additional revenue streams by selling developed products. These efforts have improved industry profitability, with many organisations having successfully diversified their funding sources and monetised their innovations. This trend indicates a strengthening in resilience and profitability within the industry as organisations adapt to evolving financial pressures while continuing to advance cutting-edge research.

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What's included in this industry analysis

IBISWorld's research coverage on the Scientific Research Services industry in Australia includes market sizing, forecasting, data and analysis from 2015-2030. The most recent publication was released May 2025.

About this industry

What's this industry report about?

The Scientific Research Services industry in Australia operates under the ANZSIC industry code M6910. Scientific research organisations undertake research relating to agricultural, biological, physical and social sciences. Organisations may perform research for their innovation efforts or on behalf of clients in both the public and private sectors. Federal, state and territory governments provide a large proportion of funding for scientific research. Related terms covered in the Scientific Research Services industry in Australia include r&d, grant, applied research and basic research.

What's included in this industry?

Products and services covered in Scientific Research Services industry in Australia include Experimental development research, Applied research and Strategic basic research.

What companies are included in this industry?

Companies covered in the Scientific Research Services industry in Australia include CSIRO, ANSTO and CSL.

Performance

What's included in the Performance chapter?

The Performance chapter covers detailed analysis, datasets, detailed current performance, sources of volatility and an outlook with forecasts for the Scientific Research Services industry in Australia.

Questions answered in this chapter include what's driving current industry performance, what influences industry volatility, how do successful businesses overcome volatility, what's driving the industry outlook. This analysis is supported with data and statistics on industry revenues, costs, profits, businesses and employees.

Products & Markets

What's included in the Products and Markets chapter?

The Products and Markets chapter covers detailed products and service segmentation and analysis of major markets for the for the Scientific Research Services industry in Australia.

Questions answered in this chapter include how are the industry's products and services performing, what are innovations in industry products and services, what products or services do successful businesses offer and what's influencing demand from the industry's markets. This includes data and statistics on industry revenues by product and service segmentation and major markets.

Geographic Breakdown

What's included in the Geographic Breakdown chapter?

The Geographic Breakdown chapter covers detailed analysis and datasets on regional performance of the Scientific Research Services industry in Australia.

Questions answered in this chapter include where are industry businesses located and how do businesses use location to their advantage. This includes data and statistics on industry revenues by location.

Competitive Forces

What's included in the Competitive Forces chapter?

The Competitive Forces chapter covers the concentration, barriers to entry and supplier and buyer profiles in the Scientific Research Services industry in Australia. This includes data and statistics on industry market share concentration, barriers to entry, substitute products and buyer & supplier power.

Questions answered in this chapter include what impacts the industry's market share concentration, how do successful businesses handle concentration, what challenges do potential industry entrants face, how can potential entrants overcome barriers to entry, what are substitutes for industry services, how do successful businesses compete with substitutes and what power do buyers and suppliers have over the industry and how do successful businesses manage buyer & supplier power.

Companies

What's included in the Companies chapter?

The Companies chapter covers Key Takeaways, Market Share and Companies in the Scientific Research Services industry in Australia. This includes data and analysis on companies operating in the industry that hold a market share greater than 5%.

Questions answered in this chapter include what companies have a meaningful market share and how each company is performing.

External Environment

What's included in the External Environment chapter?

The External Environment chapter covers Key Takeaways, External Drivers, Regulation & Policy and Assistance in the Scientific Research Services industry in Australia. This includes data and statistics on factors impacting industry revenue such as economic indicators, regulation, policy and assistance programs.

Questions answered in this chapter include what demographic and macroeconomic factors impact the industry, what regulations impact the industry, what assistance is available to this industry.

Financial Benchmarks

What's included in the Financial Benchmarks chapter?

The Financial Benchmarks chapter covers Key Takeaways, Cost Structure, Financial Ratios, Valuation Multiples and Key Ratios in the Scientific Research Services industry in Australia. This includes financial data and statistics on industry performance including key cost inputs, profitability, key financial ratios and enterprise value multiples.

Questions answered in this chapter include what trends impact industry costs and how financial ratios have changed overtime.

Industry Data

What's included in the Industry Data chapter?

The Industry Data chapter includes 10 years of historical data with 5 years of forecast data covering statistics like revenue, industry value add, establishments, enterprises, employment and wages in the Scientific Research Services industry in Australia.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the market size of the Scientific Research Services industry in Australia in 2026?

The market size of the Scientific Research Services industry in Australia is $12.2bn in 2026.

How many businesses are there in the Scientific Research Services industry in Australia in 2025?

There are 5,856 businesses in the Scientific Research Services industry in Australia, which has grown at a CAGR of 4.3 % between 2020 and 2025.

How may import tariffs affect the Scientific Research Services industry in Australia?

The Scientific Research Services industry in Australia is unlikely to be materially impacted by import tariffs with imports accounting for a low share of industry revenue.

How may export tariffs affect the Scientific Research Services industry in Australia?

The Scientific Research Services industry in Australia is unlikely to be materially impacted by export tariffs with exports accounting for a low share of industry revenue.

Has the Scientific Research Services industry in Australia grown or declined over the past 5 years?

The market size of the Scientific Research Services industry in Australia has been growing at a CAGR of 1.3 % between 2020 and 2025.

What is the forecast growth of the Scientific Research Services industry in Australia over the next 5 years?

Over the next five years, the Scientific Research Services industry in Australia is expected to grow.

What are the biggest companies in the Scientific Research Services industry in Australia?

The biggest companies operating in the Scientific Research Services industry in Australia are CSIRO, ANSTO and CSL

What does the Scientific Research Services industry in Australia include?

Applied research and Experimental development research are part of the Scientific Research Services industry in Australia.

Which companies have the highest market share in the Scientific Research Services industry in Australia?

The company holding the most market share in the Scientific Research Services industry in Australia is CSIRO.

How competitive is the Scientific Research Services industry in Australia?

The level of competition is high and increasing in the Scientific Research Services industry in Australia.

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