Govt urges closer look at research grants

Don't judge a research project by its cover.

Amid renewed outrage about academic projects that received taxpayer funding a year ago, the federal government is warning people not to jump to quick judgments on the merits of research.

"There was a project a while back which had to do with the research into snails and it copped a lot of flak," Treasurer Scott Morrison told Ray Hadley on 2GB radio on Monday.

It was a project looking at the infestation of particular insects that were destroying crops.

"As you'd expect, that has a pretty significant impact on Australia's productivity."

More than $357 million was awarded to university researchers in the most recent round of annual grants, announced in October 2015.

Just seven per cent, or $25 million, went to humanities research projects - several of which were criticised by libertarian think tank Centre for Independent Studies as "absurd and obscure" in News Corp on Monday.

"Look beyond the headlines on some of these projects," Mr Morrison said.

"Some of them will raise questions but others I think might have more value than what it first looks like."

Education Minister Simon Birmingham said high-quality research across all fields made a vital contribution to Australia's wellbeing and global progress.

The government has been steadily changing research programs to better encourage collaboration between universities and business and would continue to look at improving value for money, he said.

The next major round of grants is expected to be announced in October or November.