Australia seeks to be a leading global hub for innovation and knowledge, and to have an exceptional research workforce that is highly skilled, motivated and talented. To achieve this objective, understanding systems of research assessment and how they impact on the practice of science and research is critical. Research assessment can improve research management, output and attractiveness to industry partnerships. However, the reliance on particular indicators and metrics can have unintended consequences and can impact researchers’ career paths and research focus. Understanding the positive and negative consequences will help inform the future of research assessment in Australia.

The report provides evidence on how research institutions nationally evaluate researchers. It delves into how research activities can not only lead to various outputs, but can also be an indicator for other critical organisational skills such as leadership, mentorship and participation in industrial or governmental bodies. The report is inclusive and considers researchers from diverse career stages, backgrounds and disciplines, as well as considering various types of research outputs and impacts.

The findings from the report show that research assessment practices differ across organisations and disciplines, reflecting their respective strategic and operational objectives. These differences, along with unintended consequences, must be recognised and accommodated when evaluating researchers and the quality of research.