1. Definitions

Research Infrastructure. Research facilities with a purchase price which is greater than the lower Major Equipment Committee (MEC) funding limit (currently $70,000), used primarily (although not necessarily exclusively) for research purposes. This Policy does not cover research facilities with a replacement cost of less than the above limit, nor does it cover data and library collections used primarily for research.

Research facilities. Research facilities can be made up of equipment that individually costs less than the lower Major Equipment Committee (MEC) funding limit (currently $70,000), but which form part of a whole research facility, to which this Policy applies – eg, a laboratory containing microscopes which constitute a microscope unit; a music laboratory containing microphones and sound recording equipment.

Research needs-based allocation system.  A system of apportionment of access to research facilities based on research needs.

Designated responsible staff-member.  The designated responsible staff-member is the person appointed by the Head of the Budget Unit to take responsibility for the operation and maintenance of the equipment.

University-owned research infrastructure.  Research infrastructure is owned by the University, and not by its staff or students, constituent areas or external parties, where:

• It has been purchased fully or partially with University funds, or
  
• It has been purchased fully or partially by external funds (e.g. a grant or research contract) and the relevant contract vests ownership of the equipment in the University, or
  
• It has been purchased by an external party, which has subsequently vested ownership in the University.

2. Key Principles

Access to University research infrastructure is a vital component of the research and learning efforts of our staff and students. The key principles of this policy are:

• Research infrastructure is owned by the University as a whole, and not by its component parts.
  
• Each College or administrative division maintains a register of its research infrastructure on a central ANU register.
  
• University staff and students must be given access to University-owned research infrastructure where this is practical.
  
• If access to University-owned research infrastructure is restricted (e.g. where research infrastructure is wholly or partly externally-funded and/or is covered by a research contract that restricts access in some way), access by University staff and students must be provided insofar as this is possible.
  
• Research infrastructure includes equipment housed at another institution which is either partly owned by the ANU, or which the ANU is contractually entitled to access, e.g. equipment purchased by LIEF grants, as far as is possible.
  
• Ownership of University research infrastructure will not automatically be transferred to another institution (including externally-funded research infrastructure).
  
• Whenever possible, internal charging for access to University-owned research infrastructure will be free. When this is not possible internal charging for access to University-owned research infrastructure will only be made on a cost-recovery basis that takes into account the cost of maintaining the equipment and the cost involved in accessing the equipment (e.g. technician-time, ERM, etc.), but does not take into account the cost of replacing obsolete equipment.
  
• External users will be charged for access to University-owned research infrastructure, and the rates will be as a minimum full cost-recovery, or, the market rate if higher, and will be determined by the Designated Responsible Staff-member in consultation with the Head of the Budget Unit responsible for managing the equipment.  Some exceptions may apply (eg collaborators, or where formally covered by a collaborative or access agreement (e.g. NCRIS)).
  
• University staff and students will be given priority of access over external users, unless such priority is restricted by, for example, contract or bequest (such as for externally funded research infrastructure provided for a collaboration or for the University to manage a National Research Research infrastructure Facility).