Research Codes

The Australian and New Zealand Standard Research Classification (ANZSRC) is jointly produced by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) and Statistics New Zealand (Statistics NZ).


ANZSRC is the collective name for a set of three related classifications developed for use in the measurement and analysis of research and experimental development (R&D) undertaken in Australia and New Zealand. The three constituent classifications included in the ANZSRC are: Type of Activity (TOA), Fields of Research (FOR), and Socio-economic Objective (SEO).


ANZSRC replaces the Australian Standard Research Classification (ASRC 1998) and introduces a new framework for measuring research and development activity in New Zealand.


The use of the three constituent classifications in the ANZSRC ensures that R&D statistics collected are useful to governments, educational institutions, international organisations, scientific, professional or business organisations, business enterprises, community groups and private individuals in Australia and New Zealand.


The development of the ANZSRC has been undertaken by the ABS and Statistics NZ in co-operation with major academic and research organisations and users of research information in Australia and New Zealand. This consultative process has sought to ensure that the ANZSRC is widely accepted and used as the national standard classification in Australia and in New Zealand, not only in the compilation of R&D statistics but also in the study of research in these countries generally.


The introductory chapter provides a background to the development of the classification; an explanation of the conceptual basis of the ANZSRC; the definition and scope of R&D; and an outline of what constitutes a unit of R&D for data collection and reporting purposes. Subsequent chapters of this publication contain details of the structure and content of the three classifications. A summary correspondence table (concordance) between the ANZSRC and the ASRC 1998 is included in Chapter 5.

For further information please contact the Research Development Officer