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Providing infrastructure of the quality and scale required to support cutting-edge research requires strategic nationwide, long-term planning. The Government produces National Research Infrastructure (NRI) Roadmaps to help identify Australia’s research infrastructure needs, set priorities, and guide investment. They are developed every 5 years to ensure Australian research remains competitive and relevant.
The 2026 Roadmap will build on the recommendations and priorities identified in the 2021 Roadmap, take account of initiatives undertaken since that time, and will consider other changes in research requirements and priorities. It is being developed by the NRI Advisory Group to provide robust yet flexible planning, investment and prioritisation guidance to government on actions that will enable researchers to maintain excellence, increase innovation and address emerging challenges.
What we have done so far
Development of the Roadmap commenced in 2025 and has included:
- Establishment in May 2025 of an Expert Working Group (EWG) drawn from members of the NRI Advisory Group, focused specifically on initiatives regarding Roadmap development. Current membership of the EWG is:
- Emeritus Professor Liz Sonenberg (Chair)
- Emeritus Professor Joseph Shapter FRACI CChem
- Emeritus Professor Mark Western FASSA
- Professor Stephen van Leeuwen
- Distinguished Professor Brian Schmidt AC FRS FAA FTSE
- Emeritus Professor Caroline McMillen AO FAHMS.
- Initial Roadmap consultation – public survey in February 2025, to gain input on current and emerging NRI needs over the next 5-10 years using a preview survey. Over 520 submissions were received. Where agreed by the respondents, the initial roadmap submissions have been published.
- Issues Paper consultations – a combination of targeted discussions with external experts and public consultation, to gain additional insights in key areas as identified in the Roadmap Issues Paper published in October 2025. Over 280 submissions were received. Where agreed by the respondents, the issues paper consultation submissions have been published.
- Topic Reference Group Consultations – commenced in July 2026.
- Ongoing engagement with stakeholder groups, including representatives from across academia, industry and government.
- Exposure Draft consultation – Overseen by the EWG, the 2026 NRI Roadmap Exposure Draft was released to the public on 28 September 2026. Visit our consultation platform to submit your response.
Next steps
The EWG will host public Townhall webinars to present the Exposure Draft directly to provide context and outline the process for engaging in the consultation.
Responses to the Exposure Draft consultation will be considered by the Expert Working Group and used to inform the development of the final NRI Roadmap. The final Roadmap will then be submitted to Government for consideration by the end of November.