Linkage International
Funding Rules for Proposals for Submission in 2006
Australian Research Council
Linkage International
Funding Rules for Proposals for Submission in 2006
Table of Contents
Acronyms... 6
Key Dates... 7
Contacts... 7
Definitions for Linkage International Funding Rules. 8
1 Introduction. 10
1.1 Overview.. 10
1.2 NCGP Objectives. 10
1.3 Linkage International 11
1.3.4 Linkage International Awards. 11
1.3.5 ARC International Fellowships (ARCIFs) 12
1.3.6 Internationally Coordinated Initiatives (ICIs) 12
1.4 Fundamental principles and requirements. 13
1.4.1 Ethics and Research Practices. 13
1.4.2 Non-duplication. 13
1.4.3 Conflict of Interest 13
1.4.4 Acknowledging ARC support 14
2 Changes from last year. 14
3 Funding... 15
3.1 Level of funding. 15
3.2 Duration of funding. 16
3.3 Types of research support 16
3.4 Areas of investigation/work not supported. 16
3.5 Restrictions on Budget items. 17
3.6 Number of Proposals and funded projects. 18
3.6.1 General requirements. 18
3.6.2 Duplication. 19
4 Organisational types, roles and eligibility. 19
4.1 Eligible Organisations. 19
4.1.2 Eligible Organisations for Awards. 19
4.1.3 Eligible Organisations for ARCIFs. 19
4.1.4 Eligible Organisations for ICIs. 20
5 Roles and eligibility for researchers. 20
5.1 Researcher roles and general eligibility. 20
5.2 Eligibility criteria for Chief Investigators. 21
5.3 Eligibility criteria for Overseas Investigators. 22
5.4 Eligibility criteria for Partner Investigators. 22
5.5 Eligibility criteria for ARCIF Fellows. 22
6 Cross-scheme issues. 22
6.1 Cross-scheme funding. 22
6.2 Cross-scheme eligibility. 23
6.3 Funding of clinical medical and dental research. 23
7 Application process. 23
7.1 Eligibility rulings. 23
7.2 Proposals. 24
7.3 Certification. 24
7.4 Submission of Proposals. 25
7.4.3 Format 25
7.4.4 How to complete and submit a Proposal 25
7.4.5 Number of copies. 26
7.4.6 Closing times for Proposals. 26
8 Selection and approval process. 27
8.1 Selection criteria. 27
8.2 Assessment and selection procedure. 27
8.2.1 Assessment and selection process. 27
8.2.2 Exclusion of Proposals. 28
8.2.3 Assessment 30
8.2.4 Rejoinder 30
8.2.5 Recommendations. 30
8.3 Offer of funding. 31
9 Appeals process. 31
10 Administration of funding. 31
10.1 Funding Agreement 31
10.1.4 Varying the Funding Agreement 32
10.1.5 Varying the Funding Approval 32
10.1.6 Reports. 32
11 Other matters. 32
11.1 Applicable law.. 32
11.2 Confidentiality. 32
11.3 Project description. 33
11.4 Intellectual property. 33
11.5 Incomplete or misleading information. 34
11.6 Insurance and liabilities. 35
12 Linkage International Awards. 36
12.1.3 Investigator Types, Roles and Eligibility. 36
12.1.4 Rounds. 36
12.1.5 Funding. 36
12.1.6 Level of Funding. 37
12.1.7 Duration of Funding. 37
12.1.8 Budget Items Supported. 37
12.1.9 Number of Proposals. 37
12.1.10 Selection criteria. 38
13 ARC International Fellowships. 40
13.1 General requirements for all types of ARCIF. 40
13.1.3 Types of ARCIFs. 40
13.1.4 Eligibility criteria. 40
13.1.5 Duration of Funding. 41
13.1.6 Budget items supported. 41
13.1.7 Number of Proposals. 41
13.1.8 Selection criteria. 41
13.2 ARCIF Proposals for Australia-based researchers to work in overseas research organisations (excluding AIFs) 43
13.2.2 Investigator roles and eligibility criteria. 43
13.2.3 Duration of Funding. 43
13.2.4 Budget Items supported. 43
13.3 ARCIF Proposals for overseas researchers to work in Australia (excluding AIFs and Anglo-Australian Observatory Fellowships) 44
13.3.5 Investigator roles and eligibility criteria. 44
13.3.6 Duration of Funding. 44
13.3.7 Budget items supported. 44
13.4 ARCIFs pursuant to an agreement with the French Ministry of National Education, Research and Technology 45
13.4.1 Agreement 45
13.4.2 Number Available and Target Group. 45
13.4.3 Investigator roles and eligibility criteria. 45
13.4.4 Duration of Funding. 46
13.4.5 Budget Items supported. 46
13.4.6 Budget Items not supported. 46
13.5 ARCIFs pursuant to an agreement with Alexander von Humboldt-Foundation (AvH), Federal Republic of Germany. 47
13.5.1 Agreement 47
13.5.2 Number Available and Target Group. 47
13.5.3 Investigator roles and eligibility criteria. 47
13.5.4 Duration of Funding. 48
13.5.5 Budget Items supported. 48
13.5.6 Relocation. 48
13.5.7 Budget Items not supported. 48
13.6 ARCIFs pursuant to an agreement with the Korea Science and Engineering Foundation (KOSEF) 48
13.6.1 Agreement 48
13.6.2 Number Available and Target Group. 49
13.6.3 Investigator roles and eligibility criteria. 49
13.6.4 Duration of Funding. 49
13.6.5 Budget Items supported. 50
13.6.6 Relocation. 50
13.6.7 Budget Items not supported. 50
13.7 Australia-Israel Fellowships (AIFs) 50
13.7.1 Agreement 50
13.7.2 Number Available and Target Group. 51
13.7.3 Duration of Funding. 51
13.7.4 Budget Items supported. 51
13.7.5 Investigator roles and eligibility criteria for AIF-to-Australia candidates. 51
13.7.6 Investigator roles and eligibility criteria for AIF-to-Israel candidates. 51
13.7.7 Budget Item not supported. 52
13.8 Anglo-Australian Observatory Fellowships. 52
14 Linkage International Internationally Coordinated Initiatives (ICIs) 53
14.1 Introduction. 53
14.2 Organisational types, roles and eligibility. 53
14.2.1 Eligible Organisations. 53
14.3 Investigator types, roles and eligibility. 54
14.4 Types of research supported. 54
14.5 Funding. 54
14.6 Budget Items Supported. 54
14.7 Budget Items Not Supported. 55
14.8 Researchers from Commonwealth-funded Research Centres. 55
14.8.1 Duplication with Commonwealth-funded Research Centres. 55
14.8.2 Substantial association. 55
14.9 Number of Proposals. 56
14.10 Application, Selection and Approval Process. 56
14.11 Closing time for Proposals. 57
14.12 Other Requirements. 57
Appendix 1: National Research Priorities and associated Priority Goals. 58
Appendix 2: Eligible Organisations. 70
Appendix 3. Notional Fellowship salaries, relocation allowances and teaching relief contributions. 72
Appendix 4: Particular Linkage International Internationally Coordinated Initiatives (ICIs) undertaken under these Funding Rules. 73
Acronyms
The following acronyms are used in ARC Funding Rules.
AEST Australian Eastern Standard Time
AEDT Australian Eastern Daylight Saving (Summer) Time
AIF Australia-Israel Fellowship
AIMS Australian Institute of Marine Science
ANSTO Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation
APA Australian Postgraduate Award
APAI Australian Postgraduate Award (Industry)
APD Australian Postdoctoral Fellowship
APDC Australian Postdoctoral Fellowship (CSIRO)
APDI Australian Postdoctoral Fellowship (Industry)
APF Australian Professorial Fellowship
ARC Australian Research Council
ARCIF Australian Research Council International Fellowship
ARF Australian Research Fellowship
AVCC Australian Vice-Chancellors’ Committee
CE ARC Centres of Excellence and ARC Centres
CoE ARC College of Experts
CI Chief Investigator
CRC Cooperative Research Centre
CSIRO Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation
DP ARC Discovery Projects
DSTO Defence Science and Technology Organisation
ECR Early Career Researcher
GA Geoscience Australia
GAMS Grants Application Management System
GST Goods and Services Tax
HECS Higher Education Contribution Scheme
ICI Internationally Coordinated Initiatives
IRF Indigenous Research Fellowship
LASP ARC Learned Academies Special Projects
LIEF ARC Linkage Infrastructure Equipment and Facilities
LIF ARC Linkage Industry Fellowship
LP ARC Linkage Projects
NCGP National Competitive Grants Program
NHMRC National Health and Medical Research Council
NP Network Participant
OI Overseas Investigator
PI Partner Investigator
QEII Queen Elizabeth II Fellowship
RN ARC Research Network
SRC ARC Special Research Centre
SRI ARC Special Research Initiatives
URL Universal Resource Locator
Key Dates
Linkage International Awards
There will be three rounds of Linkage International Award Proposals in 2006 for funding commencing in the 2006-07 financial year.
The closing times are:
· 5:00pm (AEDT) Wednesday 5 April 2006
· 5:00pm (AEST) Friday 14 July 2006
· 5:00pm (AEST) Friday 13 October 2006
ARC International Fellowships (ARCIFs)
There will be one round of ARC International Fellowship Proposals in 2006 for funding commencing in January 2007.
The closing time is:
· 5:00pm (AEDT) Friday 14 July 2006
Internationally Coordinated Initiatives (ICIs)
Key dates will be specified in Appendix 4 and in any call for Internationally Coordinated Initiative Proposals issued by the ARC under Linkage International. A call for Proposal(s) for funding for an ICI may be made at any time.
Eligibility Ruling Requests
Eligibility ruling requests must be received by the ARC 6 weeks prior to the relevant closing time for the relevant Linkage International category.
Contacts
The ARC deals with thousands of Proposals each year. Where possible, researchers should direct requests for information to the Research Office within their organisation.
Enquiries about the ARC Linkage International scheme may be addressed to:
Postal: OR Courier:
Linkage International Coordinator Linkage International Coordinator
Australian Research Council Australian Research Council
GPO Box 2702 1st Floor, 8 Brindabella Circuit
CANBERRA ACT 2601 CANBERRA AIRPORT ACT 2609
Email: ncgp@arc.gov.au
Phone: (02) 6287 6600
Fax: (02) 6287 6638
Web: http://www.arc.gov.au
Definitions for Linkage International Funding Rules
Adjunct Appointment or equivalent means that an Eligible Organisation has a formal agreement in writing with a researcher which is publicly acknowledged and which establishes an ongoing association with the Eligible Organisation, of the nature of a conjoint, emeritus, honorary or visiting fellow or professor. It would be expected that the person’s association would be listed in an official organisational publication and/or web site.
Administering Organisation means an Eligible Organisation which submits a Proposal for funding under Linkage International and which will receive and be responsible for the administration of the funding if the proposed project is approved for funding.
Applicant means the Administering Organisation. Funding under Linkage International is provided to Administering Organisations, not to individual researchers.
ARC Act means the Australian Research Council Act 2001.
ARC Centre means a research centre wholly or partly funded by the ARC and includes ARC Centres of Excellence, ARC Centres and ARC Special Research Centres.
ARC Fellowship means a position held by a researcher where the salary is funded wholly or partly by the ARC and where the researcher has been nominated in a Proposal to hold a Fellowship. An ARC Fellowship may be awarded at a number of levels and in various ARC schemes. ARC Fellowship includes Australian Postdoctoral Fellowship (APD), Australian Research Fellowship (ARF), Queen Elizabeth II Fellowship (QEII) and Australian Professorial Fellowship (APF). The term also includes Australian Postdoctoral Fellowship (Industry) (APDI) (under the ARC Linkage Projects scheme), Australian Postdoctoral Fellowship (CSIRO) (APDC) (under the former APD CSIRO scheme).
Australian Postdoctoral Fellow means a researcher whose salary is wholly or partly funded under an ARC APD.
Australian Postdoctoral Fellow (CSIRO) means a researcher whose salary is wholly or partly funded under an APDC.
Australian Postdoctoral Fellow (Industry) means a researcher whose salary is wholly or partly funded under an APDI.
Australian Professorial Fellow means a researcher whose salary is wholly or partly funded under an ARC APF.
Australian Research Fellow means a researcher whose salary is wholly or partly funded under an ARC ARF.
Centre Director means the person appointed to direct the programs of a Commonwealth-funded Research Centre.
Chief Investigator (CI) means a researcher nominated in a Proposal who satisfies the eligibility criteria for a CI as specified in Section 5.2.
Commonwealth-funded Research Centre means a research centre substantially funded from Commonwealth competitive research funding sources and includes ARC Centres, CRCs and NHMRC Program Grants.
Eligible Organisation means an organisation which is eligible to apply for and receive funding under the Linkage International Funding Rules as outlined in Section 4.1.
Federation Fellow means a researcher whose salary is wholly or partly funded under the ARC Federation Fellowship scheme.
Funding Agreement means the Agreement entered into between the ARC and the Administering Organisation if the Administering Organisation’s Proposal is approved for funding. This Agreement sets out the terms and conditions under which the Commonwealth is to provide funding and the Administering Organisation is to be responsible for administration of the funding and the conduct of the project.
Funding Rules means this document.
Host Organisation means an organisation at which a Fellow undertakes her/his research while holding an ARC Fellowship.
National Research Priority means a national research priority referred to in Section 1.2 and further detailed in Appendix 1.
Overseas Investigator (OI) means a researcher nominated in a Proposal who satisfies the eligibility criteria for an OI as specified in Section 5.3.
Overseas Organisation means the employer of the OI. For the purpose of these Funding Rules, Overseas Organisation does not include an overseas organisation controlled by an Australian higher education organisation.
Partner Investigator (PI) means a researcher nominated in a Proposal who satisfies the eligibility criteria for a PI as specified in Section 5.4.
Proposal means a request to the ARC for the provision of financial assistance for a research project.
Queen Elizabeth II Fellow means a researcher whose salary is wholly or partly funded under an ARC QEII.
Research Office means a business unit within an organisation that is responsible for administrative contact with the ARC regarding Proposals and research projects.
Special Condition means a special condition specified in a funding agreement which governs the use of the funding provided by the ARC.
Australian Research Council
Linkage International
Funding Rules for Proposals for Submission in 2006
1 Introduction
1.1 Overview
1.1.1 This document sets out the Funding Rules for Linkage International, a scheme funded under the Australian Research Council’s National Competitive Grants Program (NCGP), which comply with the requirements of the ARC Act.
1.1.2 All parties involved in Proposals should read and understand the Funding Rules and the ARC’s standard Funding Agreement (which is available at: http://www.arc.gov.au) before submitting a Proposal to the ARC. Applicants are responsible for ensuring that their Proposals are complete and accurate.
1.1.3 These Funding Rules are current as at December 2005 and have been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the ARC Act in force at that time. These Funding Rules are subject to change at any time, for reasons including any subsequent amendment, replacement or supplementation of the ARC Act.
1.1.4 Funding under Linkage International is provided to Administering Organisations, not to researchers. The ARC will accept a Proposal only from an Eligible Organisation and not from any individual researcher or researchers.
1.1.5 However, if, in the opinion of the ARC, any researcher nominated in a Proposal as a CI, OI, PI or ARCIF Fellow has caused or has significantly contributed to the failure of an organisation to meet its obligations under any current or previous funding agreement with the ARC, the ARC may in its absolute discretion, decide to not recommend for approval any or all Proposals involving that researcher.
1.2 NCGP Objectives
1.2.1 The ARC is an Australian Government statutory authority established under the ARC Act. The primary functions of the ARC, as specified by the ARC Act, are to make recommendations regarding the funding of research programs, to administer funding to support research programs, and to provide policy advice related to research.
1.2.2 The ARC has established a range of competitive funding schemes for the support of research and research training under the framework of the NCGP. A list of current NCGP funding schemes is available on the ARC web site at http://www.arc.gov.au.
1.2.3 By the operation of a range of funding schemes under the NCGP, the ARC aims to:
a. maintain and build on existing research and research training;
b. build the scale and focus of research and research training;
c. encourage cross-disciplinary approaches to research and research training;
d. facilitate collaborative approaches to research and research training; and
e. support research and research training in the following National Research Priorities:
i. An Environmentally Sustainable Australia;
ii. Promoting and Maintaining Good Health;
iii. Frontier Technologies for Building and Transforming Australian Industries; and
iv. Safeguarding Australia.
1.2.4 Descriptions of these National Research Priorities and their associated Priority Goals can be found in Appendix 1, and on the ARC web site (http://www.arc.gov.au). Assessment of the degree to which a proposed project would contribute to National Research Priorities and Priority Goals may be used as part of the selection process in NCGP schemes.
1.3 Linkage International
1.3.1 The ARC provides funding under Linkage International for movement of researchers between eligible Australian research organisations and centres of research excellence overseas, and to foster collaboration and networking between Australia-based and overseas researchers.
1.3.2 The objectives of Linkage International are to:
a. build collaborations among researchers, research teams and/or research centres of excellence in Australia and overseas;
b. generate opportunities for researchers to participate in leading-edge international research networks and strengthen their international research experience;
c. build Australian research capability by enhancing existing and developing new collaborations among researchers;
d. develop innovative modes of international collaboration; and/or
e. foster participation in global innovation networks.
1.3.3 Funding under Linkage International is available to support high-quality research collaboration in relevant disciplines or cross-disciplinary fields. Specifically, Linkage International provides three categories of support: Linkage International Awards; ARC International Fellowships (ARCIFs); and Internationally Coordinated Initiatives (ICIs).
1.3.4 Linkage International Awards
1.3.4.1 Linkage International Awards aim to fund collaborations that build links among researchers, research teams and/or research centres of excellence in Australia and overseas.
1.3.4.2 Section 12 provides further details regarding Linkage International Awards.
1.3.5 ARC International Fellowships (ARCIFs)
1.3.5.1 The following types of ARCIF are offered under Linkage International:
a. Fellowships to fund Australia-based researchers to work in overseas research organisations (Section 13.2);
b. Fellowships to fund overseas researchers to work in Australia (Section 13.3);
c. Fellowships funded by the ARC under long-term international agreements:
i. ARCIF pursuant to the International Research Fellowship Agreement between the French Ministry of National Education, Research and Technology and the ARC (Section 13.4);
ii. ARC Ferdinand von Mueller Fellowship pursuant to the International Research Fellowship Agreement between the Alexander von Humboldt-Stiftung (AvH) and the ARC (Section 13.5); and
iii. ARCIF pursuant to the International Research Fellowship Agreement among the Korea Science and Engineering Foundation (KOSEF), the ARC, the Australian Academy of Science (AAS) and the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering (ATSE) (Section 13.6).
d. Fellowships co-funded by the ARC and another party under long-term agreements:
i. Australia-Israel Fellowships (AIFs) co-funded by the Australia-Israel Scientific Exchange Foundation (AISEF) and the ARC (Section 13.7); and
ii. Anglo-Australian Observatory Fellowships co-funded under an International Research Fellowship Agreement between the United Kingdom Particle Physics and Astronomy Research Council and the ARC (Section 13.8).
1.3.5.2 Section 13 provides further details regarding Linkage International ARCIFs.
1.3.6 Internationally Coordinated Initiatives (ICIs)
1.3.6.1 From time to time, the ARC may collaborate with overseas funding agencies to fund ICIs. When an ICI is being conducted, the initiative will be included in Appendix 4 and the ARC will issue a specific call for Proposals for the relevant initiative.
1.3.6.2 Proposals for Linkage International ICI funding may be submitted only when invited by the ARC by means of a call for ICI Proposals for funding. The ARC may invite Proposals from one or more Eligible Organisations.
1.3.6.3 Section 13.8.3 provides further details regarding ARC Linkage International ICIs.
1.4 Fundamental principles and requirements
1.4.1 Ethics and Research Practices
1.4.1.1 The National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) web site, http://www.nhmrc.gov.au, provides a series of publications which outline the principles of ethical conduct in research. All Proposals and ARC-funded research projects should conform to the principles outlined in the following and their successor documents:
a. the Joint NHMRC/AVCC Statement and Guidelines on Research Practice (1997);
b. as applicable, the NHMRC’s National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Research Involving Humans; and
c. as applicable, the NHMRC’s other codes on animal research.
1.4.2 Non-duplication
1.4.2.1 The ARC will not provide financial assistance to meet the costs of a project to the extent that those costs have been, or are likely to be, met by Commonwealth funding obtained from another source (including other ARC funding). The ARC reserves the right to determine whether a Proposal includes such costs and to deem a notional amount for such costs.
1.4.2.2 Where a significant portion of the costs for a proposed project has been, or is likely to be, funded by the Commonwealth from other sources (including other ARC sources), the ARC may decide to recommend that the Proposal not be funded at all. In other cases, the ARC may decide to recommend a reduced amount of funding for the proposed project.
1.4.3 Conflict of Interest
1.4.3.1 All parties involved in or associated with Proposals and ARC-funded research projects are required to disclose to the ARC affiliations with or financial involvement in any organisation which has, or is likely to have, a direct interest in the subject matter or outputs of the project. Such parties are required to disclose at the time of submission of Proposals, or in reporting on ARC-funded research projects, any conflict of interest which has the potential to influence, or appear to influence, their research and activities, publications and media reports, or requests for funding.
1.4.4 Acknowledging ARC support
1.4.4.1 The Funding Agreement requires that any ARC contribution to research and other activities funded by the ARC be appropriately acknowledged. When, at any time during or after completion of a project, the researcher or any other party publishes or produces material such as books, articles, newsletters or other literary or artistic works which relate to the research project, the Administering Organisation must ensure (wherever possible) that the ARC’s contribution and support of the project is acknowledged in a prominent place and in an appropriate form. This acknowledgement should include the mention of the ARC as a funding body. Similar efforts should be made to acknowledge ARC support when participating in television and radio programs, and when interviewed by the print media.
1.4.4.2 Advice on acceptable forms of acknowledgement and use of the ARC logo is provided on the ARC web site at http://www.arc.gov.au.
2 Changes from last year
2.1.1 A number of clarifications and revisions have been made in these Funding Rules for Proposals submitted in 2006. Significant changes from the Funding Rules for International Fellowships commencing in 2006 and Awards submitted in 2005 include:
a. A number of new sections have been included in these Funding Rules in order to present greater consistency across Funding Rules for the various ARC schemes. The new sections include a ‘Table of Contents’ and ‘Definitions’ (in the preamble) and ‘Restrictions on Budget items’ (Section 3.5).
b. Section 1 alerts Applicants and other parties involved in Proposals that a Proposal may be not recommended for approval if any person nominated as a CI, OI, PI or ARCIF Fellow on the Proposal has caused or significantly contributed to the failure of an organisation to meet its obligations under a current or previous funding agreement.
c. The objectives of the Linkage International scheme have been reworded to further clarify the intent of the scheme.
d. Subsection 3.5.2j stipulates that the ARC will not pay for costs not directly related to the research Proposal, such as those of a personal nature.
e. Subsection 5.2.4 specifies that, at the relevant deadline for submission of a Proposal, the first-named CI must be a CI or ARC Fellow on at least one ARC project being funded for 2006. This requirement applies to all Award and Fellowship categories and is excluded, unless otherwise specified, for ICIs.
f. Generic information regarding the eligibility ruling process has been included at Section 7.1. Requests must now be submitted on a form available on the ARC web site. A registration number will be supplied by the ARC and must be quoted in the application form.
g. The Funding Rules have been restructured to identify general information applying to all Proposals, (Sections 1-11 and Appendices 1-3), and specific requirements for the Award (Section 12), ARCIF (Section 13) and ICI (Section 14 and Appendix 4) categories.
h. Linkage International Awards will now have three funding rounds and closing times are specified.
i. Preference is no longer given to Linkage International Award Proposals involving researchers from countries with which the ARC has Memoranda of Understanding or traditional research partnerships.
j. Subsection 13.1.6.2 specifies that relocation costs may be requested for an ARCIF candidate and accompanying family members up to the maximum of the relevant amount(s) shown in Appendix 3, unless specifically excluded for a fellowship type.
k. The rate for notional on-costs for Linkage International Fellowships has increased from 26% to 28% (Appendix 3).
l. A new table in Appendix 4 lists those ICIs currently approved under Linkage International and a number of key details/criteria applying to those specific initiatives. The intention is that Appendix 4 will be updated from time to time as specific ICIs are approved under Linkage International.
m. Appendix 2 defines the Eligible Organisations for each category under Linkage International.
n. The selection criteria relevant to Linkage International Awards and ARCIFs have been more clearly defined. Selection criteria for ICIs have been included at Section 14.10.
o. Provision has been made for the termination of a project and repayment of funding if an Administering Organisation and/or researcher provides the ARC with incomplete, inaccurate or misleading information in relation to either the Proposal for, or reporting progress of, a project (Section 11.5).
2.1.2 The list of changes above is not comprehensive – a number of minor formatting, style and other changes have also been made. Applicants and other parties involved in Proposals should read and understand the entire Funding Rules and draft Funding Agreement before a Proposal is submitted to the ARC.
3 Funding
3.1 Level of funding
3.1.1 All amounts referred to in these Funding Rules are to be read as exclusive of Goods and Services Tax (if any), unless expressly stated otherwise.
3.1.2 The minimum level of funding which will be provided by the ARC for a project is described at subsections 12.1.5 and 14.5.1 respectively for Awards and ICIs. There is no specified minimum for ARCIFs. The ARC reserves the right to recommend the levels of funding allocated to a project.
3.1.3 If an ARCIF is requested, the Proposal should include a request for the Fellowship salary and on-costs in the budget (see Appendix 3, Item 1 for ARC Notional Fellowship Salaries for Funding Commencing in 2007).
3.2 Duration of funding
3.2.1 Funding for projects may be awarded for the durations specified for the particular category, subject to sufficient funding being available for Linkage International, and the provisions of the ARC Act.
3.2.2 The ARC may recommend funding for a project for a duration different from that requested in the Proposal.
3.3 Types of research support
3.3.1 Subject to Sections 3.4 and 3.5, Linkage International supports a range of activities in support of research which involve the movement of eligible researchers between eligible Australian research organisations and centres of research excellence overseas, and the fostering of collaboration and networking between Australia-based and overseas researchers.
3.4 Areas of investigation/work not supported
3.4.1 Linkage International does not support:
a. clinical medical and dental research and training. These areas of research are generally covered by other Commonwealth Government funding agencies, such as the NHMRC;
b. activities leading solely to the creation or performance of a work of art, including visual art, musical compositions, drama, dance, designs and literary works. These areas are generally covered by other Commonwealth Government agencies, such as the Australia Council for the Arts;
c. scholarly investigations that, while important in themselves, do not lead to conceptual advances or discoveries, or to novel practical outcomes or applications. Projects such as uncritical compilations and purely descriptive catalogues or editions that do not involve original research are not funded;
d. production of teaching materials, even though some research may be involved in their production;
e. compilation of data, unless this is an integral part of a project, in which case the Proposal must include a statement indicating the research objectives to which the data would contribute; and
f. development of research aids and tools (including computer programs), unless they form an integral part of a Proposal, in which case the Proposal must include a statement indicating the research objectives to which these activities would contribute.
3.4.2 If the ARC considers that a Proposal seeks funding for a project that involves any of the items listed in subsection 3.4.1, then to that extent part or all of the Proposal will not be recommended or approved for funding. However, if the ARC considers other parts of the proposed project remain worthy of support, the ARC may recommend that a reduced amount of funding be approved for the Proposal.
3.5 Restrictions on Budget items
3.5.1 Linkage International supports only costs which directly support research collaboration. The ARC may in its absolute discretion determine whether any project costs meet this requirement.
3.5.2 Linkage International has restrictions on the following budget items:
a. Capital works and general infrastructure
Capital works and general infrastructure costs are not funded in whole or in part under Linkage International.
b. Salaries of Chief Investigators (CIs), Overseas Investigators (OIs), and Partner Investigators (PIs)
The Commonwealth will not provide support, in whole or in part, to meet the salaries of CIs, OIs and PIs under Linkage International.
c. Teaching
Linkage International funding is not provided to fund teaching or teaching relief.
d. Special Studies Programs
Funds are not provided for travel or related expenses for researchers when on a Special Studies Program. Some specified costs may be supported within a Linkage International project provided that the Proposal clearly demonstrates that such expenses are not covered by a Special Studies Program and that the research to be undertaken directly relates to the project. In these cases the use of funds needs to be approved as a Special Condition.
e. Research support for OIs and PIs
Funds are not provided for OIs and PIs apart from short-term project support for investigators visiting from overseas.
f. International students’ fees and Higher Education Contribution Scheme (HECS) liability
Funds are not provided to pay the fees of international students or the HECS liabilities for Australian students.
g. Computer facilities for molecular analysis
Applicants for projects involving molecular biology should be aware that a number of organisations provide access to a range of databases and a large suite of analysis programs. As a result, Proposals seeking funding for computer facilities to undertake molecular analysis must justify such needs very thoroughly and to the satisfaction of the ARC.
h. Basic facilities
The Administering Organisation must agree to provide the following basic facilities (where relevant to the Proposal), which will not be funded under Linkage International:
i. accommodation (eg laboratory and office, suitably equipped and furnished in standard ways);
ii. access to workshop services (eg machine tools and qualified technicians available to each member of staff, according to need, for research);
iii. access to film or music editing facilities;
iv. access to basic library collections;
v. standard reference materials or funds for abstracting services;
vi. provision of computers (excluding access to high-performance computers or other specialised applications) and basic computing facilities such as word processing and other standard software; and
vii. use of photocopiers, telephones, mail, fax, email and internet services.
i. Publication costs
Publication costs, including page costs, will not be funded under Linkage International.
j. Costs not directly related to a project
Costs not directly related to a project will not be funded, for example costs of a personal nature such as childcare.
3.6 Number of Proposals and funded projects
3.6.1 General requirements
3.6.1.1 Unless otherwise specified, a Proposal must identify at least one researcher who will be a CI or ARCIF Fellow on the proposed project.
3.6.1.2 Proposals may be submitted only to the extent that, if all were successful, the researchers named on those Proposals would not be involved in more than the maximum numbers of projects permitted (see subsection 12.1.9 for Awards Proposals, subsection 13.1.7 for ARCIF Proposals and Section 14.9 for ICI Proposals). For the purposes of applying these limits, the number of ongoing research projects which are to be funded and the number of Proposals on which the researcher is nominated are evaluated as at the closing time for the submission of Proposals for the relevant category (and round where applicable), regardless of any subsequent change in, or withdrawal of, Proposals. Submitting Proposals that exceed these limits may result in all Proposals involving the relevant researcher(s) not being recommended or approved for funding.
3.6.1.3 For the purposes of these Funding Rules, a project for which funding was/is to be carried over, or deferred, into the next year is considered to be funded for the years for which it was recommended for funding. For example, if a project was originally funded for 3 years and funding is subsequently carried over to a fourth year, this project will still be considered for these purposes as funded for the original 3 years.
3.6.2 Duplication
3.6.2.1 Only one Proposal may be submitted to Linkage International in respect of a particular project in the same funding round for the relevant category, regardless of any variation in the listed researchers and/or Administering Organisation. If the ARC considers that the project described in a Proposal is the same as or similar (in whole or in part) to a project described in another Proposal that is submitted in the same funding round, the ARC may in its absolute discretion decide to not recommend for approval any or all of those Proposals, or recommend that a reduced amount of funding be provided for that or any similar Proposal. The ARC reserves the right to determine whether Proposals are duplicates or sufficiently similar to warrant one or more Proposals’ not being recommended for approval.
4 Organisational types, roles and eligibility
4.1 Eligible Organisations
4.1.1 A Proposal may be submitted only by an Eligible Organisation. Appendix 2 specifies Eligible Organisations for Linkage International.
4.1.2 Eligible Organisations for Awards
4.1.2.1 Proposals for Linkage International Awards may be submitted only by the organisations specified in Appendix 2, Item 1.
4.1.3 Eligible Organisations for ARCIFs
4.1.3.1 Proposals for:
a. ARCIFs pursuant to the ARC’s agreement with the French Ministry of National Education, Research and Technology may be submitted only by the organisations specified in Appendix 2, Item 2;
b. ARCIFs pursuant to the ARC’s agreement with the Alexander von Humboldt-Stiftung (AvH) may be submitted only by organisations specified in Appendix 2, Item 3;
c. ARCIFs pursuant to the agreement between the ARC, the Australian Academy of Science, the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering and the Korea Science and Engineering Foundation (KOSEF) may be submitted only by the organisations specified in Appendix 2, Item 3;
d. ARCIFs pursuant to the ARC’s agreement with the Australia-Israel Scientific Exchange Foundation (AISEF) may be submitted only by the organisations specified in Appendix 2, Item 2; and
e. all other ARCIFs may be submitted only by the organisations specified in Appendix 2, Item 1.
4.1.4 Eligible Organisations for ICIs
4.1.4.1 Proposals for ICIs may be submitted only by organisations specified in Appendix 2, Item 4.
5 Roles and eligibility for researchers
5.1 Researcher roles and general eligibility
5.1.1 Unless otherwise specified for a particular category, the following roles may be undertaken by researchers listed on a Proposal under Linkage International:
a. Chief Investigator (CI);
b. Overseas Investigator (OI);
c. Partner Investigator (PI); and
d. ARC International Fellow (there are a number of different ARCIF types).
5.1.2 In order to participate in a project as a CI, OI, PI or specified ARCIF Fellow, a person must satisfy the eligibility requirements specified for the relevant role.
5.1.3 The first-named researcher on a Linkage International Proposal will be considered the ‘Project Leader’ of the project.
5.1.4 A researcher nominated in a Proposal as a CI, OI, PI or ARCIF Fellow must take significant intellectual responsibility for the proposed project, its conception, and any strategic decisions called for in its pursuit and the communication of results. The researcher must have the capacity to make a serious commitment to the project and cannot assume the role of a supplier of resources for work that will largely be placed in the hands of others. The ARC reserves the right to determine whether a person has the requisite capacity to perform the role.
5.1.5 If the ARC considers that a researcher nominated in a Proposal as a CI, OI, PI or ARCIF Fellow does not meet the eligibility criteria in this Section or Sections 5.2, 5.3, 5.4 or 5.5 for the role which that researcher is to perform, the Proposal will not be recommended or approved for funding.
5.2 Eligibility criteria for Chief Investigators
5.2.1 To be eligible to be a CI, a person must meet the following criteria at the relevant deadline for submission of the Proposal, and for the full term of the funding:
a. He/she must reside predominantly in Australia. If the person does not have permanent resident status he/she must obtain temporary or permanent resident status from the Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs;;;;;;;;
b. He/she must meet at least one of the following three criteria:
i. be an employee of an Eligible Organisation listed in Appendix 2, Item 1 and derive at least 50 per cent of her/his salary from the Eligible Organisation; or
ii. be a holder of an Adjunct Appointment or equivalent, at an Eligible Organisation listed in Appendix 2, Item 1; or
iii. be a Federation Fellow.
5.2.2 At the relevant deadline for submission of a Proposal, all obligations under any past or current funding agreement entered into with the ARC regarding previously funded projects involving the CIs and ARCIFs nominated on the Proposal must have been fulfilled to the satisfaction of the ARC. Such obligations include the provision of satisfactory progress and final reports.
5.2.3 Notwithstanding a researcher’s eligibility under the criteria above, a researcher may not be a CI if he/she is an undergraduate student or postgraduate student (unless eligible to be a CI because of employment and then only for research which lies outside the scope of the postgraduate studies). Researchers who derive more than 50 per cent of their salary from organisations outside the higher education sector that are funded primarily for research from State/Territory or Commonwealth Government sources are also not eligible to participate as a CI. Such organisations include, but are not limited to, AIMS, ANSTO, CSIRO, DSTO, GA and State/Territory Research and Development organisations.
5.2.4 Unless otherwise specified, at the relevant deadline for submission of the Proposal, the first-named CI must be a CI or ARC Fellow on at least one ARC project being funded for 2006 under the CE, DP, Federation Fellowship, IRD, LIEF, LP or SRC schemes, or be a RN Convenor for a RN being funded by the ARC for 2006.
5.3 Eligibility criteria for Overseas Investigators
5.3.1 Researchers who are employed in overseas research organisations and who are providing significant commitment, intellectual input and relevant expertise to the project may be able to participate as OIs.
5.3.2 To be eligible to be an OI, a person must:
a. not meet the eligibility criteria for a CI;
b. demonstrate a significant contribution of cash, in-kind and/or other material resources (other than salary) for the proposed project (having regard to the total cost of the proposed project);
c. be employed in an overseas organisation; and
d. take significant intellectual responsibility as outlined in subsection 5.1.4.
5.4 Eligibility criteria for Partner Investigators
5.4.1 To be eligible as a PI, a researcher must:
a. not meet the eligibility criteria for a CI or OI;
b. demonstrate a significant contribution of cash, in-kind and/or other material resources from the researcher’s organisation for the proposed project (having regard to the total cost of the proposed project and the relative contribution of each CI and OI); and
c. take significant intellectual responsibility as outlined in subsection 5.1.4.
5.5 Eligibility criteria for ARCIF Fellows
5.5.1 To be eligible to be an ARCIF Fellow, a researcher must satisfy the eligibility criteria specified in Section 13.1.4 and any further eligibility criteria specified for the relevant ARCIF type at Sections 13.2-13.7.
6 Cross-scheme issues
6.1 Cross-scheme funding
6.1.1 The ARC will not duplicate financial assistance for research and/or collaboration already funded by the Commonwealth. The ARC reserves the right to determine whether a Proposal duplicates or is likely to duplicate research and/or collaboration being funded by another Commonwealth source. In such circumstances the ARC may in its absolute discretion decide to not recommend the Proposal for approval. However, if the ARC considers parts of the proposed project remain worthy of support, the ARC may assess the Proposal in the usual way and the ARC may instead recommend that a reduced amount of funding be approved for the Proposal.
6.2 Cross-scheme eligibility
6.2.1 If a funding request for any proposed research project, salary or equipment has been or is being submitted to another ARC scheme or to any other Commonwealth funding body, each Proposal must be cross-referenced and summary details of all other funding requests must be included in the Proposal. Proposals must indicate the level of funding obtained, or being sought, from all other Commonwealth funding sources and must list all existing research funding from all Commonwealth sources. If these processes are not observed or the ARC determines that incomplete, misleading or inaccurate details were included in the Proposal, the ARC may in its absolute discretion decide to not recommend the Linkage International Proposal for approval.
6.2.2 If any researcher is concurrently the subject of multiple fellowship requests, whether these be in one or more ARC schemes, the Proposals must be cross-referenced. If more than one of these fellowship requests is approved for funding, only one fellowship can be accepted.
6.2.3 The ARC may liaise with other funding agencies to discuss any overlap between proposed or existing projects in order to avoid duplication of funding. The ARC may for this purpose disclose to that agency any information in a Proposal.
6.3 Funding of clinical medical and dental research
6.3.1 The ARC does not fund clinical medical and dental research and training under Linkage International. If the ARC determines that a proposed project would fall within this area of research, the Proposal will not be recommended or approved for funding. In some instances, it may not be clear whether or not the project described in a Proposal would fall within this area of research. In these cases, an eligibility ruling may be sought by forwarding a summary of not more than two pages, outlining the proposed research collaboration, according to the process described in Section 7.1.
6.3.2 In all cases, whether or not the above process is observed, the ARC reserves the right to decide whether a proposed research collaboration falls within areas of clinical medical and/or dental research and training. If the ARC considers that a Proposal falls within this area of research the Proposal will not be recommended or approved for funding.
7 Application process
7.1 Eligibility rulings
7.1.1 These Funding Rules describe a number of situations where it is possible to submit eligibility or exemption requests and seek a ruling from the ARC. All such requests must be submitted on the ARC Eligibility Ruling Request Form via the Research Office of the intended Administering Organisation, and be received by the ARC by 6 weeks prior to the relevant closing time for the Linkage International category. The eligibility exemption request must include all relevant information including the Linkage International category and the Proposal closing time to which the proposed exemption relates.
7.1.2 The ARC may, in its absolute discretion, extend closing times for these eligibility ruling requests, but is under no obligation to accept any request lodged after this time.
7.1.3 Such requests must include the supporting information required in each of the situations where rulings can be sought, as described elsewhere in this document. The Research Office will be advised of the outcome of any such request as soon as possible to allow time for a detailed Proposal to be completed if appropriate. If a ruling is given, the ARC will provide an identifying number for the ruling which must be quoted on any associated Proposal which is submitted to the ARC.
7.1.4 Where the circumstances of a Proposal are such that an eligibility exemption or ruling is required but the above process has not been followed or the above deadlines are not met, the ARC may in its absolute discretion decide to not recommend the Proposal for approval.
7.1.5 The ARC Eligibility Ruling Request Form is available on the ARC web site (http://www.arc.gov.au).
7.2 Proposals
7.2.1 A Proposal should be submitted as a mature research collaboration plan ready for implementation. The Proposal must contain all the information necessary for its assessment without the need for further written or oral explanation, or reference to additional documentation, unless requested by the ARC or its College of Experts.
7.2.2 All details in the Proposal must be current at the time of submission.
7.2.3 In submitting a Proposal, the Administering Organisation and the CIs, OIs, PIs and ARCIF Fellows nominated in the Proposal are consenting to the Proposal’s being assessed under the ARC’s peer assessment procedures and agree to the release of the Proposal to third parties for assessment purposes.
7.3 Certification
7.3.1 The Administering Organisation must obtain signatures of all parties necessary to allow the proposed research collaboration to proceed. These signatures are to be retained by the Administering Organisation which must provide them if requested by the ARC. A form is available for this purpose on the ARC web site (http://www.arc.gov.au).
7.3.2 If a Proposal has not been submitted through the appropriate Research Office/Chief Executive Officer for certification, the Proposal will not be recommended or approved for funding.
7.4 Submission of Proposals
7.4.1 Proposals under Linkage International consist of two parts:
a. on-line form which must be completed and submitted in the ARC on-line grants application management system accessible via the ARC web site at http://www.arc.gov.au; and
b. additional text which must be submitted as part of the paper version of the Proposal, including supporting documentation and investigator curricula vitae.
7.4.2 Proposals for an ICI may be submitted only when invited by the ARC, at the times and in the manner outlined within Section 14 of these Funding Rules. The ARC may seek Proposals relating to a particular ICI described in Appendix 4.
7.4.3 Format
7.4.3.1 All documents must be written in English and must comply strictly with the format and submission requirements. If a Proposal fails to meet any format and content requirements, the ARC may in its absolute discretion decide to not recommend the Proposal for approval.
7.4.3.2 All pages of additional text should be in black type, use a single column and 12-point font size on white A4 paper, and be printed on one side only and unbound, with at least 2 cm margins on each side. As Proposals are scanned electronically, a highly legible font type must be used, such as Arial, Courier, Palatino, Times New Roman and Helvetica. Variants such as mathematical typesetting languages may also be used. References may be reproduced in 10-point font size. Colour graphs or colour photographs may be included but they will be reproduced in black and white and the reproduction quality may be degraded. Finely detailed graphics and grey scale may also not be precisely reproduced.
7.4.3.3 The pages of the Proposal should be numbered consecutively starting from page one.
7.4.4 How to complete and submit a Proposal
7.4.4.1 Administering Organisations must use the form within the ARC’s on-line grants application management system accessible via the ARC web site (http://www.arc.gov.au).
7.4.4.2 A separate document, Linkage International Instructions to Applicants for Proposals for Submission in 2006, will be available from http://www.arc.gov.au to assist in preparing Proposals.
7.4.4.3 Administering Organisations may have internal closing dates for Proposal preparation which precede ARC closing times. Researchers should comply with the various requirements of their relevant Administering Organisations.
7.4.4.4 Research Offices have access to the ARC on-line grants application management system and will allocate User IDs and passwords to enable researchers at their organisations to access the system and prepare Proposals. If a researcher has previously been allocated access, her/his User ID and password should still be current. If researchers do not have a Research Office or equivalent unit, they should email gamsids@arc.gov.au at the ARC for assistance.
7.4.4.5 Research Offices should submit forms in the ARC’s on-line grants application management system and forward the Proposal and a copy which must, as far as possible, identically match the contents of the submitted on-line application form. Proposals should be sent:
By mail to:
Linkage International Coordinator
Australian Research Council
GPO Box 2702
CANBERRA ACT 2601
or by courier to:
Linkage International Coordinator
Australian Research Council
1st Floor, 8 Brindabella Circuit
CANBERRA AIRPORT ACT 2609
7.4.5 Number of copies
7.4.5.1 In addition to the on-line form, a paper version of the Proposal must be submitted in duplicate (one original and one identical copy). The paper version must be clipped, not stapled. The paper version of the Proposal must be submitted with the additional text, including supporting documentation, interleaved appropriately (see Linkage International Instructions to Applicants for Proposals for Submission in 2006).
7.4.6 Closing times for Proposals
7.4.6.1 The paper versions of the Proposal must be received by the ARC, and the on-line form completed using the ARC’s on-line grants application management system must be submitted, by the closing time for the relevant round for the relevant category:
Awards and ARCIFs
5:00pm (AEDT) Wednesday 5 April 2006 – Awards Round 1
5:00pm (AEST) Friday 14 July 2006 – Awards Round 2 and ARCIFs
5:00pm (AEST) Friday 13 October 2006 – Awards Round 3
ICIs
Closing times are specified in Appendix 4, Column 2 against the relevant initiative.
7.4.6.2 Proposals may be withdrawn but additions, deletions and modifications will not be accepted after submission, unless invited by the ARC. Subject to this subsection, Proposals received after the closing time will not be accepted. The ARC may, in its absolute discretion, and only in exceptional circumstances, accept late Proposals.
8 Selection and approval process
8.1 Selection criteria
8.1.1 All Linkage International Proposals for the particular category submitted in a particular round which meet the eligibility criteria will be assessed and merit ranked using the criteria specified for the particular Linkage International category as specified in:
a. subsection 12.1.10 for Awards;
b. subsection 13.1.8 for ARCIFs; or
c. Section 14.10 for ICIs.
8.2 Assessment and selection procedure
8.2.1 Assessment and selection process
8.2.1.1 Assessment of Proposals is undertaken by the ARC, which has the right to make decisions and recommendations solely on the basis of its expertise, and which may:
a. determine if a Proposal satisfies the eligibility criteria set out in these Funding Rules;
b. identify and determine any other matters that these Funding Rules state may result in the ARC’s not recommending a Proposal for approval;
c. assign assessors to review Proposals;
d. seek comments on assessors’ reports from the parties involved in the Proposal;
e. rank each Proposal relative to the others on the basis of the Proposal, any assessors’ reports, and any response to those assessment reports;
f. assess and recommend the amount of funding to be made available for a Proposal; and/or
g. prepare funding recommendations for the Minister as required by the ARC Act.
8.2.1.2 The ARC College of Experts assists with the assessment of Proposals. The ARC has procedures for managing organisational and personal conflicts of interest experienced by members of the College of Experts, members of other ARC Committees, ARC members, and other assessors, and for enabling individuals to withdraw from the assessment process for particular Proposals where any actual or perceived conflict may exist.
8.2.2 Exclusion of Proposals
8.2.2.1 The ARC will not recommend for approval, and the Minister will not approve for funding, any Proposal that fails to satisfy the “eligibility criteria” set out in these Funding Rules, including:
a. if the ARC considers that the Proposal seeks funding for any of the items listed in subsection 3.4.1 and the ARC considers no other part of the proposed project or collaboration is worthy of support (subsection 3.4.2);
b. if the Proposal was not submitted by an Eligible Organisation (Section 4.1);
c. if the ARC considers that a researcher nominated in the Proposal as CI, OI, PI or ARCIF Fellow does not meet the eligibility criteria as specified in Section 5 for the role which that researcher is to perform (subsection 5.1.5);
d. if the ARC determines that the proposed project would fall within the area of clinical medical and dental research and training (Section 6.3);
e. if the first CI named on the Proposal does not meet the requirements of subsection 5.2.4 or, in the case of an ARCIF Proposal for an Australia-based researcher going overseas, the first-named person on the Proposal is an ARCIF Fellow who does not meet the requirements of subsection 13.2.2.1c, unless otherwise specified;
f. if the Proposal has not been submitted through the appropriate Research Office/Chief Executive Officer for certification (subsection 7.3.2);
g. if the Proposal does not include researchers of the required role(s) (subsections 12.1.3.1, 13.2.2.1, 13.3.5.1, 13.4.3.2, 13.5.3.2, 13.6.3.2, 13.7.5.1, 13.7.6.1 and 14.3.3); and/or
h. if the Proposal includes more than the maximum number of researchers of a specified role(s) (subsection 13.1.7.1a).
8.2.2.2 The ARC may in its absolute discretion decide not to recommend for approval a Proposal if:
a. in the opinion of the ARC, any researcher nominated in the Proposal as a CI, OI, PI or ARCIF Fellow has caused or has significantly contributed to the failure of an organisation to meet its obligations under any current or previous funding agreement with the ARC (subsection 1.1.5);
b. the limits on the number of Proposals and projects permissible are exceeded (subsections 3.6.1.2, 12.1.8, 13.1.7.1b and 14.9.2);
c. the ARC considers that the project described in the Proposal is the same as or similar (in whole or in part) to a project described in another Proposal that is submitted in the same funding round for the relevant category (subsection 3.6.2);
d. where required, the Proposal does not include a letter from a Centre Director (Section 14.8.3);
e. in the opinion of the ARC, the Proposal duplicates or is likely to duplicate research already being funded by the Commonwealth (subsections 6.1.1 and 14.8.2);
f. where required to do so, the Proposal does not include details of other funding or funding requests (subsection 6.2.1);
g. the ARC considers that inaccurate, false, or misleading material has been provided in relation to the Proposal or if the Administering Organisation and/or researchers nominated in the Proposal as a CI, OI, PI or ARCIF Fellow have provided the ARC with incomplete, false or misleading information in relation to the reporting of progress of a funded project (subsection 6.2.1 and Section 11.5 and 14.8.4);
h. the Proposal is submitted after the closing time (subsection 7.4.6 and Section 14.11);
i. the circumstances of the Proposal are such that an eligibility exemption or ruling is required but the required process has not been followed or the deadlines are not met (subsection 7.1);
j. the Proposal fails to meet any format and other submission requirements (Section 7.4);
k. it is an ICI Proposal and the collaborating overseas agency or agencies have decided not to fund the counterpart Proposal(s) (subsection 14.10.4); and/or
l. it is an ICI Proposal and it fails to meet a requirement specified against the relevant initiative in Appendix 4.
8.2.3 Assessment
8.2.3.1 In addition to assessment by the ARC, a Proposal may at the ARC’s absolute discretion be assessed by external assessors. Assessors will be drawn from a range of organisations to reduce the potential for conflicts of interest. Proposals will be assessed against the relevant selection criteria set out in these Funding Rules and the report by the assessors will include written comment.
8.2.3.2 The ARC reserves the right to make recommendations for funding to the Minister based on any number of assessments or solely on the assessment of the ARC.
8.2.3.3 Administering Organisations may name any person or persons whom they do not wish to assess a Proposal. Detailed written justification must be submitted through the Administering Organisation’s Research Office in a separate letter which must not accompany the Proposal. The letter must be received by the ARC by the relevant closing time for Proposals for the relevant round for the relevant category, and be sent to:
Linkage International Coordinator
Australian Research Council
GPO Box 2702
CANBERRA ACT 2601
8.2.3.4 The ARC will consider the justification put forward to exclude any person as an assessor, but may choose not to give effect to such a request.
8.2.4 Rejoinder
8.2.4.1 Assessors’ written comments, if obtained, may be provided to allow the opportunity for a rejoinder to the comments. Names of assessors are not provided. At the same time, the ARC may add questions to the material sent for rejoinder. A period of 2 weeks is given to submit a rejoinder to the ARC. Rejoinders will not be accepted after the nominated closing time for rejoinder submissions. The ARC may limit the length of rejoinders which can be submitted. Rejoinders must be submitted through the ARC’s on-line grants application management system.
8.2.5 Recommendations
8.2.5.1 The ARC’s recommendations will be submitted in accordance with the ARC Act to the Minister for Education, Science and Training (the Minister) for consideration. The Minister determines which Proposals will be approved and the amount and timing of financial assistance to be paid to Administering Organisations for approved Proposals.
8.2.5.2 Under the ARC Act, the Minister may not approve for funding any Proposal that fails to meet the eligibility criteria set out in these Funding Rules.
8.3 Offer of funding
8.3.1 If Proposals are approved, Administering Organisations will be:
a. notified in a letter of offer that will indicate the financial assistance to be offered; and
b. provided with a copy of the draft Funding Agreement for signing by the Administering Organisation.
9 Appeals process
9.1.1 Appeals will be considered only against administrative process issues and not, for example, against committee recommendations or assessor ratings and comments.
9.1.2 Appeals must be made on the appeals form available from the ARC web site (http://www.arc.gov.au). The form must be lodged by the Administering Organisation and must be authorised by a Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research), Chief Executive Officer or equivalent. Appeals must be received within 28 days of the date on the letter notifying the outcome of Proposals.
9.1.3 Appeals must be addressed to:
The Appeals Officer
Australian Research Council
GPO Box 2702
CANBERRA ACT 2601
10 Administration of funding
10.1 Funding Agreement
10.1.1 All parties involved in a Proposal should familiarise themselves with the draft Funding Agreement, but only the Administering Organisation and the ARC will be parties to this Agreement. Parties involved in a funded project must accept the terms of the Funding Agreement and the Administering Organisation must sign the Funding Agreement before the ARC will commence payments.
10.1.2 Projects must commence as required by the Funding Agreement. Failure to do so may result in termination of the Funding Agreement.
10.1.3 Administering Organisations should note that the Funding Agreement covers the post-award management, including reporting requirements and financial management. The draft Funding Agreement can be viewed on the ARC web site (http://www.arc.gov.au).
10.1.4 Varying the Funding Agreement
10.1.4.1 Requests to vary the Funding Agreement must be forwarded in writing by the Administering Organisation’s Research Office to the ARC. Forms are available on the ARC web site (http://www.arc.gov.au). Amendment of any clauses of the draft Funding Agreement is at the ARC’s absolute discretion.
10.1.5 Varying the Funding Approval
10.1.5.1 Requests to vary the Funding Approval must be forwarded in writing by the Administering Organisation’s Research Office to the ARC.
10.1.5.2 The Funding Approval may be varied by varying the amount of financial assistance, the duration of financial assistance, the name of the person leading the research project and/or the name of the organisation receiving financial assistance.
10.1.5.3 The Minister may vary the Funding Approval where:
a. any of the organisations involved in the project end, or substantially change, their involvement with the project;
b. the research project changes so that it is no longer consistent with the description in the Funding Approval;
c. the person named in the Funding Approval as the person leading the research project ceases to lead the project; and/or
d. the ARC considers and recommends that the particular circumstances of the project warrant variation of the Funding Approval, providing such variation is reasonably justified upon the facts of the case and any variation or change to the project accords with the Linkage International objectives.
10.1.6 Reports
10.1.6.1 Administering Organisations are required to submit reports to the ARC concerning funded projects, in the format and by the due dates detailed in the Funding Agreement.
11 Other matters
11.1 Applicable law
11.1.1 The ARC is required to comply with the requirements of the Privacy Act 1988 and the Freedom of Information Act 1982.
11.2 Confidentiality
11.2.1 The ARC will treat information contained in a Proposal as confidential. However, the ARC may disclose information contained in a Proposal, or otherwise provided to the ARC, to the extent that the information:
a. is disclosed by the ARC to its advisers (including external assessors), officers, employees or other third parties in order to assess, evaluate or verify the accuracy or completeness of a Proposal;
b. is disclosed to the ARC’s personnel to enable effective management or auditing of Linkage International or any Funding Agreement;
c. is disclosed by the ARC to the Minister;
d. is shared by the ARC within the ARC’s organisation, or with another Commonwealth Department or agency, where this serves the Commonwealth’s legitimate interests;
e. is authorised or required by law to be disclosed;
f. is disclosed in accordance with any other provision of these Funding Rules or the Funding Agreement; or
g. is in the public domain otherwise than due to a breach by the ARC of any obligation of confidence.
11.2.2 Where information contained in a Proposal is made available to third parties for evaluation or assessment purposes the ARC will require the third parties to maintain the confidentiality of the material.
11.2.3 Notwithstanding the above, and in addition to the exemptions listed at subsection 11.2.1, the ARC may publicise and report offers or awards of funding, including information about the proposed research; the name of nominated CIs, OIs, PIs or ARCIF Fellows and their organisations; the name of the Administering Organisation and any other parties involved in or associated with the project; the title and summary descriptions of the project and its intended outcomes; and the level and nature of financial assistance from the ARC. Administering Organisations should ensure that information contained in the project title and summaries would not, if released, compromise their own requirements for confidentiality (such as future protection of intellectual property).
11.3 Project description
11.3.1 In making public information about a Proposal which has been approved for funding, the ARC may use a project description, including title and summary, which may differ from that provided in the Proposal.
11.4 Intellectual property
11.4.1 The ARC does not claim ownership of any intellectual property in a Proposal or which is created or developed from the conduct of a project funded under Linkage International.
11.4.2 However, all Proposals become the property of the ARC on submission. Administering Organisations submit their Proposals on the basis that the ARC may copy, modify and otherwise deal with information contained in a Proposal (and allow any external assessor or other third party to do the same) for any purpose related to:
a. the evaluation and assessment of Proposals;
b. verifying the accuracy, consistency and adequacy of information contained in a Proposal, or otherwise provided to the ARC;
c. the preparation and management of any funding agreement; or
d. the administration or management of the NCGP.
11.4.3 If a Proposal contains information belonging to a third party, the Administering Organisation must ensure that it has in place all necessary consents to allow the ARC to deal with that information in accordance with these Funding Rules, prior to the Administering Organisation’s submitting its Proposal.
11.4.4 Except with written approval from the ARC, all Proposals and ARC-funded research projects must comply with the National Principles of Intellectual Property Management for Publicly Funded Research (available at http://www.arc.gov.au) and accord with any intellectual property policies of the researchers’ organisations.
11.5 Incomplete or misleading information
11.5.1 It is a serious offence to provide false or misleading information to the Commonwealth.
11.5.2 If the ARC considers that a Proposal is incomplete, inaccurate or contains false or misleading information, the ARC may in its absolute discretion decide to not recommend the Proposal for approval. If an Administering Organisation and/or researcher nominated in a Proposal as a CI, OI, PI or ARCIF Fellow provides the ARC with incomplete, inaccurate or misleading information in relation to either the Proposal for, or when reporting on progress of, a project the ARC may in its absolute discretion decide to not recommend the Proposal for approval or terminate the project if funded and require the Administering Organisation to repay some or all of the funding.
11.5.3 If the ARC considers that omissions, or inclusion of misleading information, are intentional, or if there is evidence of malpractice, the ARC may refer the matter for investigation with a view to prosecution under criminal law. The Commonwealth is committed to protecting its revenue, expenditure and property from any attempt, by members of the public, contractors, sub-contractors, agents, intermediaries or its own employees, to gain financial or other benefits by deceit.
11.5.4 Examples of malpractice include, but are not restricted to:
a. providing fictitious track records; or
b. making false claims in publications records (such as describing a paper as accepted for publication when it has only been submitted).
11.6 Insurance and liabilities
11.6.1 Administering Organisations are subject to the liability, indemnity and insurance provisions of the Funding Agreement. The draft Funding Agreement can be viewed on the ARC web site (http://www.arc.gov.au).
12 Linkage International Awards
12.1.1 The ARC provides funds under Linkage International Awards for Australia-based researchers to participate in joint research projects with overseas collaborators, establish new collaborations, strengthen ongoing collaborations and provide international research experiences.
12.1.2 Linkage International Awards may support collaboration with researchers in any country or countries.
12.1.3 Investigator Types, Roles and Eligibility
12.1.3.1 Linkage International Award Proposals must include at least one Australia-based CI and at least one OI.
12.1.4 Rounds
12.1.4.1 Funding under Linkage International Awards will be made available in rounds. Applicants are able to apply in the first round by 5 April 2006 (Round 1), or in the second round by 14 July 2006 (Round 2), or in the third round by 13 October 2006 (Round 3). Prior to commencement of a round the ARC will advise the opening date for lodgment of Proposals. The ARC will allocate funds between the three rounds as it thinks necessary and appropriate, taking into account the total funds available for Linkage International and the demand for funding and the quality of Proposals received in each round.
12.1.5 Funding
12.1.5.1 General rules on funding are specified in Section 3.
12.1.5.2 Collaborations for which Linkage International Awards support may be requested include:
a. visits by CIs, OIs, postgraduate and/or postdoctoral researchers working in the CIs’ and/or OIs’ research teams;
b. participation by named participants in international research activities, including attending meetings and workshops directly related to the research collaboration; and
c. innovative modes of international research collaboration, for example through e-research networking or modes other than reciprocal visits and exchanges.
12.1.5.3 In addition to the limitations and restrictions specified in Sections 3.4 and 3.5, Linkage International Awards do not support costs of:
a. non-travel-related aspects of research projects, including field trips, equipment and support staff salaries, other than those allowed for in subsection 12.1.8; and
b. conference attendance and associated expenditure.
12.1.6 Level of Funding
12.1.6.1 The minimum level of funding which will be provided for any one Linkage International Award is A$5,000 over the life of the project.
12.1.6.2 The ARC reserves the right to recommend the levels of funding allocated to a project.
12.1.7 Duration of Funding
12.1.7.1 Funding for Linkage International Awards may be recommended for 1 to 3 years, subject to sufficient funding being available for Linkage International, and the provisions of the ARC Act.
12.1.7.2 The ARC may recommend funding for a project for a duration different from that requested in the Proposal.
12.1.8 Budget Items Supported
12.1.8.1 Linkage International Awards, funding may be sought:
a. for persons travelling from Australia - funding for return economy class airfares;
b. for persons travelling to Australia - a contribution to living expenses, at a rate of up to A$700 per week, and/or local travel necessary for the collaboration (excluding costs associated with field trips); and
c. consumables directly related to the collaboration at a rate of up to A$5,000 per year.
12.1.8.2 The ARC expects that Linkage International funding will be augmented by matching cash and in-kind contributions from the overseas collaborators to meet the direct costs of their participation. Contributions from the overseas collaborators in the form of research project costs and salary will not be considered as matching contributions.
12.1.8.3 Proposals which do not include matching reciprocal funding will be considered in relation to the objectives of the program, noting that value for money and budget justification are part of the selection criteria (subsection 12.1.10.1 d iii).
12.1.9 Number of Proposals
12.1.9.1 The following limits apply to Linkage International Award Proposals:
a. An Australia-based researcher may not be nominated as a CI, OI or PI on a Linkage International Award Proposal if he/she has been so identified within the preceding 12 months.
b. An Australia-based researcher may be nominated as a CI, OI or PI on no more than one Linkage International Award Proposal in any round.
c. At any time, a researcher may participate on a maximum of two Linkage International Awards on which he/she is a CI, OI or PI.
12.1.9.2 Submitting Proposals that exceed these limits may result in all Proposals involving the relevant researcher(s) not being recommended or approved for funding.
12.1.9.3 For the purposes of this section, a project for which funding was/is to be carried over, or deferred, into the next year is considered to be funded for the years for which it was recommended for funding. For example, if a project was originally funded for 3 years and funding is subsequently carried over to a fourth year, this project will still be considered for these purposes as funded for the original 3 years.
12.1.10 Selection criteria
12.1.10.1Further to Section 8.1, Linkage International Award Proposals submitted in a particular round which meet the eligibility criteria; will be assessed and merit ranked using the following criteria and weightings:
a. Strengths and benefits of the collaboration 40%
Assessment against this criterion will take into account the nature and merit of the collaboration including the role of, and benefit to, the Australia-based and overseas parties.
b. Australia-based Investigators 20%
Assessment against this criterion will take into account the Australia-based parties (including all named CIs and PIs) who are to be involved in and associated with the proposed activities, including:
i. their track record relative to opportunities; and
ii. their capacity to undertake the proposed research and collaborative activities, including in relation to commitments to other research programs, teaching, committee memberships and administrative duties.
c. OIs 20%
Assessment against this criterion will take into account all named OIs who are to be involved in and associated with the proposed activities, including:
i. their track record relative to opportunities; and
ii. their capacity to undertake the proposed research and collaborative activities, including in relation to commitments to other research programs, teaching, committee memberships and administrative duties.
d. Proposed program of collaborative research 20%
Assessment against this criterion will take into account the aims, significance, research management plan and methods of the Proposal, including:
i. the management plan for the collaboration, including the proposed schedule of research activities;
ii. the expected results, including the potential of the research to result in economic and/or social benefits for Australia and to contribute to one of the National Research Priorities; and
iii. value for money and budget justification, including where appropriate any cash or in-kind financial contributions to be made from non-ARC sources.
13 ARC International Fellowships
13.1 General requirements for all types of ARCIF
13.1.1 The ARC provides funding for ARCIF salaries and on-costs (based on the ARC Notional Salary Scales at Appendix 3) and travel-related costs associated with collaborative projects in Eligible Organisations and/or overseas organisations.
13.1.2 Unless otherwise specified, in addition to the requirements specified in Sections 1, 3-11 and Appendices 1-3, Proposals for ARCIFs must satisfy the requirements specified in Section 13.1 and the relevant requirements for the particular ARCIF type.
13.1.3 Types of ARCIFs
13.1.3.1 Linkage International provides funding for the following ARCIFs:
a. ARCIFs to fund Australia-based researcher(s) to work in overseas research organisations;
b. ARCIFs to fund overseas researcher(s) to work in Eligible Organisations;
c. ARCIFs funded under long-term international agreements:
i. ARCIF – International Research Fellowship Agreement between the French Ministry of National Education, Research and Technology and the ARC;
ii. ARC Ferdinand von Mueller Fellowship - International Research Fellowship Agreement between the Alexander von Humboldt-Stiftung (AvH) and the ARC; and
iii. ARCIF - International Research Fellowship Agreement among the Korea Science and Engineering Foundation (KOSEF), the ARC, the Australian Academy of Science (AAS) and the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering (ATSE).
d. Co-funded ARCIFs under other agreements:
i. AIFs - co-funded between the Australia-Israel Scientific Exchange Foundation and the ARC;
ii. Anglo-Australian Observatory Fellowships - co-funded under an International Research Fellowship Agreement between the United Kingdom Particle Physics and Astronomy Research Council and the ARC.
13.1.4 Eligibility criteria
13.1.4.1 ARCIF candidates must have at least postdoctoral status or equivalent research qualification or experience obtained at the closing time for submission of Proposals, unless an exemption has been granted by the ARC. Exemptions may be requested for an ARCIF candidate where the required qualification and/or timing of award of qualification are not met, according to the process described in Section 7.1. The request must contain a statement justifying the Fellowship candidate’s special circumstances for an eligibility exemption.
13.1.4.2 If a fellowship candidate does not have a PhD or equivalent research qualification the exemption request should demonstrate that her/his research record is equivalent to a PhD.
13.1.4.3 An ARCIF candidate must not have previously been awarded an ARCIF.
13.1.5 Duration of Funding
13.1.5.1 An ARCIF may be awarded for up to 12 months. Minimum durations for the various fellowship types are specified within the appropriate sections of the Funding Rules.
13.1.6 Budget items supported
13.1.6.1 Fellowship salaries and relevant travel-related costs may be requested for the ARCIF candidate.
13.1.6.2 Relocation costs may be requested for a fellowship candidate and accompanying family member(s) (unless specifically excluded for a Fellowship type) up to the maximum of the relevant amount(s) shown in Appendix 3. The need for relocation costs must be justified to the satisfaction of the ARC.
13.1.7 Number of Proposals
13.1.7.1 The following limits apply to Linkage International ARCIF Proposals:
a. Only one ARCIF may be requested per Proposal.
b. A person nominated as a project leader on an ARCIF Proposal may participate in only one ARCIF Proposal in 2006.
13.1.8 Selection criteria
13.1.8.1 Further to Section 8.1, ARCIF Proposals which meet the eligibility criteria; will all be assessed and merit-ranked using the following criteria and weightings:
a. ARCIF candidate 30%
Assessment against this criterion will take into account the excellence of the ARCIF candidate, including:
i. her/his contribution to the proposed activities;
ii. her/his track record relative to opportunities; and
iii. her/his capacity to undertake the proposed research and collaborative activities, including in relation to commitments to other research programs, teaching, committee memberships and administrative duties.
b. Proposed program of collaborative research 30%
Assessment against this criterion will take into account the aims, significance, research management plan and methods of the Proposal, including:
i. the management plan for the collaboration, including the proposed schedule of research activities;
ii. the expected results, including the potential of the research to result in economic and/or social benefits for Australia and to contribute to one or more of the National Research Priorities; and
iii. value for money and budget justification, including where appropriate, any cash or in-kind financial contributions to be made from non-ARC sources.
c. Quality of host group 20%
Assessment against this criterion will take into account:
i. the research environment of the Host Organisation; and
ii. the intellectual and physical resources for the ARCIF candidate.
d. Strengths and benefits of the collaboration 20%
Assessment against this criterion will take into account the nature and merit of the collaboration including:
i. prospects of ongoing collaboration between the Australia-based and overseas participants; and
ii. the research teams which are to be involved in and associated with the projects, including all named CIs, PIs and OIs; and
iii. the demonstrated strength of commitment by the Administering Organisation and the proposed host university or research organisation.
13.2 ARCIF Proposals for Australia-based researchers to work in overseas research organisations (excluding AIFs)
13.2.1.1 In addition to the requirements specified in Section 13.1, ARCIF Proposals for Australia-based researchers to work in overseas research organisations (excluding AIFs) must satisfy the requirements in Section 13.2.
13.2.1.2 ARCIF Proposals for Australia-based researchers to work in overseas research organisations (excluding AIFs) must be submitted by the Eligible Organisations specified in Appendix 2, Item 1.
13.2.2 Investigator roles and eligibility criteria
13.2.2.1 A Proposal for an ARCIF to work in an overseas research organisation must identify one ARCIF candidate and at least one OI.
13.2.2.2 The first-named participant on a Proposal for an ARCIF to work in an overseas research organisation must be identified as a CI or an ARCIF and that person must be a CI or ARC Fellow on at least one ARC project being funded for 2006 under the CE, DP, Federation Fellowship, IRD, LIEF, LP or SRC schemes, or be a RN Convenor for a RN being funded by the ARC for 2006.
13.2.2.3 An ARCIF candidate must, at the closing time for submission of Proposals and for the full term of the funding, satisfy the eligibility criteria for CIs, excluding 5.2.1a.
13.2.3 Duration of Funding
13.2.3.1 Funding for ARCIFs may be awarded for a period of, or periods totalling, 12 months.
13.2.4 Budget Items supported
13.2.4.1 The following project costs may be supported for an ARCIF to work in an overseas research organisation:
a. ARCIF salary support at the relevant level of the ARC Notional Salary rates (plus on-costs), providing that, for any or all of the duration of the fellowship, the ARCIF’s salary is not supported by any other Commonwealth funding source (including other ARC funding), unless otherwise approved by the ARC;
b. One return economy class airfare, reasonable local travel to and from airports, visas and vaccinations for the ARCIF holder;
c. Consumables up to a total of A$5,000;
d. The cost of attendance at one conference relevant to the project aims during the term of the ARCIF, including registration, travel and accommodation; and/or
e. Costs associated with relocation, in accordance with subsection 13.1.6.2.
13.3 ARCIF Proposals for overseas researchers to work in Australia (excluding AIFs and Anglo-Australian Observatory Fellowships)
13.3.1 ARCIF Proposals for overseas researchers to work in Australia under international research fellowship agreements with agencies in France, Germany or the Republic of Korea are dealt with in Sections 13.4, 13.5 and 13.6, respectively.
13.3.2 Co-funded ARCIFs under other agreements, including AIFs and Anglo-Australian Observatory Fellowships, are dealt with in Sections 13.7 and 13.8, respectively.
13.3.3 A Proposal for an ARCIF candidate to work in Australia, excluding proposed ARCIFs under an agreement specified in subsections 13.3.1 or 13.3.2, must meet the requirements:
a. specified in Section 13.1; and
b. specified in the following subsections of Section 13.3.
13.3.4 ARCIF Proposals for overseas researchers to work in Australia, excluding ARCIFs under international research fellowship agreements with agencies in France, Germany or the Republic of Korea, and AIFs and Anglo-Australian Observatory Fellowships, must be submitted by the Eligible Organisations specified in Appendix 2, Item 1.
13.3.5 Investigator roles and eligibility criteria
13.3.5.1 In addition to the ARCIF candidate, an ARCIF Proposal for an overseas researcher to work in Australia must include at least one CI.
13.3.5.2 The first-named participant on an ARCIF Proposal for an overseas researcher to work in Australia must be a CI.
13.3.5.3 If an ARCIF candidate does not have permanent resident status he/she must obtain temporary resident status from the Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs before the ARC will commence payments for that ARCIF.
13.3.5.4 Proposals may also include other CIs, OIs and PIs.
13.3.6 Duration of Funding
13.3.6.1 Funding for an ARCIF Proposal for an overseas researcher to work in Australia may be awarded for a period of, or periods totalling, 12 months.
13.3.7 Budget items supported
13.3.7.1 The following project costs may be supported for an ARCIF Proposal for an overseas researcher to work in Australia:
a. ARCIF salary support at the relevant level of the ARC Notional Salary rates (plus on-costs);
b. One return economy class airfare, reasonable local travel to and from airports, visas and vaccinations for the ARCIF holder;
c. Consumables up to a total of A$5,000;
d. The cost of attendance at one conference in Australia relevant to the project aims during the term of the ARCIF, including registration, travel and accommodation; and/or
e. Costs associated with relocation, in accordance with subsection 13.1.6.2.
13.4 ARCIFs pursuant to an agreement with the French Ministry of National Education, Research and Technology
13.4.1 Agreement
13.4.1.1 The ARC has a reciprocal research fellowship agreement with the then French Ministry of National Education, Research and Technology (now the French Ministry of National Education, Higher Education and Research). Under the agreement (ARC-French Ministry agreement) the ARC and the French Ministry provide support for citizens of France and Australia or permanent residents of Australia to collaborate on research projects in French academic institutions and Eligible Organisations (Appendix 2, Item 2).
13.4.1.2 Support for Australian citizens or permanent residents of Australia to collaborate in French academic institutions may be sought through the French Ministry of National Education, Higher Education and Research.
13.4.1.3 In addition to the requirements specified in Section 13.1, ARCIF Proposals pursuant to an agreement with the French Ministry of National Education, Research and Technology for French researchers to collaborate in Australia, must satisfy the requirements in Section 13.4.
13.4.2 Number Available and Target Group
13.4.2.1 Subject to the ARC receiving an adequate number of Proposals of the required type and sufficient quality and subject to the availability of funding, up to five ARCIFs (ARC-French Ministry agreement) each year may be recommended by the ARC to provide support for French researchers to collaborate in Australia. Postdoctoral researchers under 35 years of age are particularly encouraged to apply.
13.4.3 Investigator roles and eligibility criteria
13.4.3.1 An ARCIF Proposal for a French researcher to collaborate, pursuant to the French Agreement, on a research project in Australia must be submitted by an Eligible Organisation as specified in Appendix 2, Item 2.
13.4.3.2 In addition to the ARCIF (ARC-French Ministry agreement) candidate, a Proposal must include at least one CI.
13.4.3.3 An ARCIF (ARC-French Ministry agreement) candidate must not have previously been awarded such a Fellowship.
13.4.3.4 The first-named researcher on an ARCIF (ARC-French Ministry agreement) Proposal must be a CI from an Eligible Organisation as specified in Appendix 2, Item 2.
13.4.3.5 Proposals may include other CIs, OIs and PIs, as well as the ARCIF candidate.
13.4.4 Duration of Funding
13.4.4.1 Proposals for ARCIFs (ARC-French Ministry agreement) may request support for between 6 to 12 months in total. Preference will be given to Proposals of one period only, although the distribution of the stay over more than one period will be considered. Fellows are required to take up the fellowship offer within 6 months of the ARC’s letter of offer to the Administering Organisation of the ARCIF. An ARCIF (ARC-French Ministry agreement) will not be extended.
13.4.5 Budget Items supported
13.4.5.1 The ARC may provide funding for the following items for this type of fellowship:
a. ARCIF salary support at the relevant level of the ARC Notional Salary rates (and on-costs);
b. one return economy class airfare for the ARCIF (ARC-French Ministry agreement) holder;
c. local travel to and from airport;
d. reasonable costs directly incurred by the Host Organisation, eg cost of consumables necessary for the research; and
e. the cost of attendance at a conference in Australia, which is relevant to the project during the term of the ARCIF (ARC-French Ministry agreement), including registration, travel and accommodation.
13.4.6 Budget Items not supported
13.4.6.1 In addition to the items specified in Sections 3.4 and 3.5, the ARC will not provide funding for other items for this type of fellowship, including, but not limited to:
a. medical and accident insurance for the ARCIF (ARC-French Ministry agreement). This is the responsibility of the Administering Organisation; and/or
b. any costs associated with visits by family members.
13.5 ARCIFs pursuant to an agreement with Alexander von Humboldt-Foundation (AvH), Federal Republic of Germany
13.5.1 Agreement
13.5.1.1 The ARC has a reciprocal research fellowship agreement with the AvH. Under the agreement (the ARC-AvH agreement), the ARC and the AvH provide support for German researchers and Australian citizens and permanent residents of Australia to collaborate on research projects in German universities and research institutes, and in Eligible Organisations (Appendix 2, Item 3). The fellowships are named the ARC Ferdinand von Mueller Fellowships.
13.5.1.2 Support for Australian residents or citizens to collaborate in German academic institutions may be sought through the AvH.
13.5.1.3 In addition to the requirements specified in Section 13.1, ARC Ferdinand von Mueller Fellowship Proposals for German researchers to collaborate in Australia and must satisfy the requirements specified in Section 13.5.
13.5.2 Number Available and Target Group
13.5.2.1 Up to five ARC Ferdinand von Mueller Fellowships each year may be recommended by the ARC to provide support for up to three outstanding German researchers of international standing and up to two German “brilliant, young researchers”.
13.5.3 Investigator roles and eligibility criteria
13.5.3.1 A Proposal for a German researcher to collaborate on a research project in Australia must be submitted by an Eligible Organisation as specified in Appendix 2, Item 3.
13.5.3.2 In addition to the ARC Ferdinand von Mueller Fellowship candidate, a Proposal must include at least one CI, unless CSIRO is the Administering Organisation. If CSIRO is the Administering Organisation there must be at least one PI who is an employee of CSIRO.
13.5.3.3 An ARC Ferdinand von Mueller Fellowship candidate must not have previously been awarded such a Fellowship.
13.5.3.4 The first-named researcher on an ARC Ferdinand von Mueller Fellowship Proposal must be a CI, other than where CSIRO is the Administering Organisation. If CSIRO is the Administering Organisation, the first-named researcher must be a PI who is an employee of CSIRO.
13.5.3.5 Proposals may include other CIs, OIs and PIs, as well as the ARC Ferdinand von Mueller Fellowship candidate.
13.5.4 Duration of Funding
13.5.4.1 A Proposal for an ARC Ferdinand von Mueller Fellowship may request support for between 4 and 12 months in total. The supported stay may comprise several periods. An ARC Ferdinand von Mueller Fellowship will not be extended.
13.5.5 Budget Items supported
13.5.5.1 The ARC may provide funding support for the following items:
a. ARCIF salary support plus on-costs at the relevant level of the ARC Notional Salary rates;
b. one return business class airfare for an unaccompanied ARC Ferdinand von Mueller Fellow (see also subsection 13.5.6);
c. local travel to and from airport;
d. consumables up to a total of A$5000; and
e. the cost of attendance at a conference in Australia, which is relevant to the project during the term of the fellowship, including registration, travel and accommodation.
13.5.6 Relocation
13.5.6.1 The ARC will pay reasonable costs relating to relocation to Australia and return of the Fellow’s partner and/or dependant(s) only where an ARC Ferdinand von Mueller Fellowship is provided for more than 6 months, and the Fellow’s partner and/or dependant(s) accompany the Fellow and reside in Australia, for a minimum of 6 months. If a Fellow is accompanied by dependants, airfares for the Fellow and dependant(s) will be paid at the economy class rate.
13.5.7 Budget Items not supported
13.5.7.1 The ARC will not provide funding support for other travel-related items, including, but not limited to, medical and accident insurance for the ARC Ferdinand von Mueller Fellow. This is the responsibility of the Administering Organisation.
13.6 ARCIFs pursuant to an agreement with the Korea Science and Engineering Foundation (KOSEF)
13.6.1 Agreement
13.6.1.1 The ARC has a research fellowship agreement with KOSEF, the Australian Academy of Science (AAS) and the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering (ATSE). Under the agreement, (ARC-KOSEF agreement), the ARC and KOSEF provide support for visiting fellows to collaborate on research projects in academic institutions in the Republic of Korea and in Eligible Organisations (Appendix 2, Item 3).
13.6.1.2 Under the Agreement the AAS and ATSE administer visits by researchers from the Republic of Korea, other than visiting fellows.
13.6.1.3 Support for Australian citizens or permanent residents of Australia to collaborate in academic institutions in the Republic of Korea may be sought through KOSEF.
13.6.1.4 In addition to the requirements specified in Section 13.1, ARCIF (ARC-KOSEF agreement) Proposals for Korean researchers to collaborate in Australia must satisfy the requirements in Section 13.6.
13.6.2 Number Available and Target Group
13.6.2.1 Subject to the ARC receiving an adequate number of Proposals of the required type and sufficient quality and subject to the availability of funding, up to ten ARCIFs (ARC-KOSEF agreement) each year will be recommended by the ARC to provide support for researchers from the Republic of Korea who must be of at least Postdoctoral status.
13.6.3 Investigator roles and eligibility criteria
13.6.3.1 An ARCIF (ARC-KOSEF agreement) Proposal for a Korean researcher to collaborate on a research project in Australia must be submitted by an Eligible Organisation as specified in Appendix 2, Item 3.
13.6.3.2 In addition to the ARCIF (ARC-KOSEF agreement) candidate, a Proposal must include at least one CI, unless CSIRO is the Administering Organisation. If CSIRO is the Administering Organisation there must be at least one PI who is an employee of CSIRO.
13.6.3.3 The first-named researcher on an ARCIF (ARC-KOSEF agreement) Proposal must be a CI, unless CSIRO is the Administering Organisation. If CSIRO is the Administering Organisation, the first-named researcher must be a PI who is an employee of CSIRO.
13.6.3.4 Proposals may include other CIs, OIs and PIs, as well as the ARCIF (ARC-KOSEF agreement) candidate.
13.6.4 Duration of Funding
13.6.4.1 Proposals for ARCIFs (ARC-KOSEF agreement) may request support for between 4 and 12 months in total.
13.6.5 Budget Items supported
13.6.5.1 The ARC may provide funding support for the following items:
a. ARCIF salary support at the relevant level of the ARC Notional Salary rates (and on-costs);
b. one return economy class airfare for the ARCIF (ARC-KOSEF agreement) holder;
c. local travel to and from airport;
d. consumables up to a total of A$5000; and
e. the cost of attendance at a conference in Australia, which is relevant to the project during the term of the ARCIF (ARC-KOSEF agreement), including travel and accommodation. Any registration fees are the responsibility of the Fellow.
13.6.6 Relocation
13.6.6.1 The ARC will pay reasonable costs relating to relocation to Australia and return of the Fellow’s partner and/or dependant(s) only where an ARCIF (ARC-KOSEF agreement) is provided for more than 6 months, and the Fellow’s partner and/or dependant(s) accompany the Fellow and reside in Australia, for a minimum of 6 months. Airfares for the Fellow and dependant(s) will be paid at the economy class rate.
13.6.7 Budget Items not supported
13.6.7.1 In addition to the items specified in Sections 3.4 and 3.5, the ARC will not provide funding support for other travel-related items including, but not limited to, medical and accident insurance for the ARCIF (ARC-KOSEF agreement). This is the responsibility of the Administering Organisation.
13.7 Australia-Israel Fellowships (AIFs)
13.7.1 Agreement
13.7.1.1 The ARC has a fellowship agreement with the Australia-Israel Scientific Exchange Foundation (AISEF). Under the agreement, AIFs are co-funded by the AISEF and the ARC for Australian and Israeli researchers to collaborate in research projects in Australia and Israel.
13.7.1.2 Proposals for AIFs (in either direction) must be submitted only by an Eligible Organisation (Appendix 2, Item 2).
13.7.1.3 In addition to the requirements specified in Section 13.1, Proposals for AIFs must satisfy the requirements specified in Section 13.7.
13.7.2 Number Available and Target Group
13.7.2.1 Up to two AIFs each year may be recommended by the ARC to provide support for Israeli researchers to collaborate on research projects in Australia or Australian citizens and permanent residents of Australia to collaborate on research projects in Israel.
13.7.3 Duration of Funding
13.7.3.1 Proposals for AIFs may request support for up to 12 months.
13.7.4 Budget Items supported
13.7.4.1 The ARC may provide funding support for the following items:
a. AIF salary support at the relevant level of the ARC Notional Salary rates (and on-costs);
b. one return economy class airfare for the AIF holder;
c. local travel to and from airport;
d. consumables up to a total of A$5000; and
e. the cost of attendance at a conference, which is relevant to the project during the term of the Fellowship, including registration, travel and accommodation.
Requirements for AIF holders coming to Australia
13.7.5 Investigator roles and eligibility criteria for AIF-to-Australia candidates
13.7.5.1 In addition to the AIF candidate, an AIF-to-Australia Proposal must include at least one CI.
13.7.5.2 The first-named researcher on an AIF-to-Australia Proposal must be a CI from an Eligible Organisation as specified in Appendix 2, Item 2.
13.7.5.3 Proposals may include other CIs, OIs and PIs, in addition to the AIF candidate.
Requirements for AIF holders going to Israel
13.7.6 Investigator roles and eligibility criteria for AIF-to-Israel candidates
13.7.6.1 An AIF-to-Israel Proposal must identify one AIF candidate and at least one OI.
13.7.6.2 The AIF candidate must, at the closing time for submission of Proposals and for the full term of the funding, satisfy the eligibility criteria for CIs, excluding 5.2.1a.
13.7.6.3 The first-named researcher on an AIF-to-Israel Proposal must be the AIF candidate or a CI from an Eligible Organisation as specified in Appendix 2, Item 2.
13.7.6.4 Proposals may include other CIs, OIs, and PIs, in addition to the AIF candidate.
13.7.7 Budget Item not supported
13.7.7.1 AIF salary support at the relevant level of the ARC Notional Salary rates (plus on-costs), providing that, for any or all of the duration of the fellowship, the AIF’s salary is not supported by an Eligible Organisation or any other Commonwealth funding source (including other ARC funding).
13.8 Anglo-Australian Observatory Fellowships
13.8.1 Anglo-Australian Observatory (AAO) fellowships are co-funded under an International Research Fellowship Agreement between the United Kingdom Particle Physics and Astronomy Research Council and the ARC, and are managed by the Anglo-Australian Telescope Board.
13.8.2 One fellowship is generally awarded alternately to Australian or British postdoctoral researchers to undertake postdoctoral work at the AAO.
13.8.3 Application and selection processes are managed by the AAO and any Australian or British researcher is eligible to apply for the fellowship when Proposals are called for by advertisement by the AAO. Funding may be provided by the ARC towards AAO Fellowships. ARC funding is provided under the Funding Rules for the Special Research Initiatives scheme and will be recommended in accordance with the selection process managed by the AAO (see the Funding Rules for the ARC’s SRI scheme for further details).
14 Linkage International Internationally Coordinated Initiatives (ICIs)
14.1 Introduction
14.1.1 From time to time, the ARC may collaborate with overseas funding agencies to fund Linkage International Internationally Coordinated Initiatives (ICIs).
14.1.2 Depending upon the specific initiative, the ARC may fund the costs associated with the conduct of research projects, travel and/or salary support costs for researchers.
14.1.3 The ARC takes a proactive role in identifying specific ICIs to be undertaken in this Linkage International category. ICIs may be identified by the ARC in consultation with overseas funding agencies and professional organisations. Initiatives may result from ARC reviews or other research strategies, from reviews of National Competitive Grants Program (NCGP) outcomes in a particular field or from other reviews or reports of a similar nature. In providing advice to government on Australian research, the ARC may identify initiatives to be funded under ICIs.
14.1.4 ICIs will be identified in Appendix 4 of the Funding Rules. After Ministerial approval has been obtained for the conduct and funding of any new ICI under Linkage International, Appendix 4 will be varied as required to provide details pertaining to the particular initiative. The ARC will issue a call for Proposals for ICI initiatives in accordance with these Funding Rules.
14.1.5 Proposals under the ICI category may be submitted only when invited by the ARC in a call for Proposal(s) for funding for the specific ICI initiative. The ARC may invite Proposals from one or more Eligible Organisations.
14.1.6 The objective of ICIs is to support high-quality research and/or international collaboration/s which will assist in advancing Australia’s research excellence to be globally competitive and deliver benefits to the community.
14.1.7 Funding under the ICI category is available to support activities related to high-quality research collaboration in all or any fields of research supported by the ARC, in collaboration with one or more overseas funding organisations. The relevant overseas funding organisations are specified against the relevant initiative in Appendix 4, Column 1.
14.1.8 Proposals for ICIs must satisfy the requirements specified in Sections 1 and 3-11, unless otherwise specified, in addition to the requirements specified in Section 14 for the particular initiative.
14.2 Organisational types, roles and eligibility
14.2.1 Eligible Organisations
14.2.2 ICI Proposals must be submitted by an Eligible Organisation. Eligible Organisations for particular ICIs under Linkage International Funding Rules are specified in Appendix 2, Item 4.
14.3 Investigator types, roles and eligibility
14.3.1 There are three roles which investigators may undertake under ICIs. These are CI, OI and PI. The roles and eligibility requirements for each of these roles are described at Section 5.
14.3.2 In order to participate in a project as a CI, OI or PI, a person must satisfy the eligibility requirements specified for the relevant role. The investigator roles available for specific initiatives under the ICI category under these Funding Rules are specified against the relevant initiative in Appendix 4, Column 4.
14.3.3 Unless otherwise specified in Appendix 4, Column 4 against the relevant ICI initiative, each Proposal must have at least one CI. Any other requirements for the participation of researchers in specified roles will be specified in Appendix 4, Column 4.
14.3.4 Further to subsection 5.2.4, unless specified in Appendix 4 against the relevant ICI initiative, a first-named CI on a ICI Proposal is not required to be a CI or ARC Fellow on an ARC project being funded for 2006.
14.4 Types of research supported
14.4.1 The types of activities supported under ICIs are specified against the relevant initiatives in Appendix 4, Column 1.
14.5 Funding
14.5.1 The indicative duration and any funding thresholds for particular initiatives are specified against the relevant initiatives in Appendix 4, Column 6. Any funding awarded will be subject to parliamentary appropriations and the provisions of the ARC Act.
14.6 Budget Items Supported
14.6.1 Unless otherwise specified in Appendix 4, only the following project costs may be supported under ICIs:
a. personnel (salaries and on-costs), including Research Associates, technicians, laboratory attendants, but excluding those items detailed in subsection 3.5.2b and e;
b. equipment;
c. maintenance; and
d. travel.
14.7 Budget Items Not Supported
14.7.1 In addition to the items specified in Sections 3.4 and 3.5, the ARC may specify other items which may not be supported for a particular ICI. These other items, if any, are specified against the relevant initiative in Appendix 4, Column 7.
14.8 Researchers from Commonwealth-funded Research Centres
14.8.1 Duplication with Commonwealth-funded Research Centres
14.8.1.1 Funding will not be provided for research already funded by a Commonwealth-funded Research Centre or which could reasonably be expected to be supported by the Centre given its research program and its level of funding. The proposed research outlined in the Proposal must not duplicate work that is or will be undertaken by a Commonwealth-funded Research Centre.
Letter showing association between the Proposal and a Commonwealth-funded Research Centre
14.8.1.2 If a Proposal identifies a CI who is substantially associated (subsection 14.8.5) with a Commonwealth-funded Research Centre, the Proposal must include a letter from the Centre Director which describes the relationship between the proposed research outlined in the Proposal and the research undertaken by the Centre, and states that “the proposed research does not duplicate work that is already funded or could reasonably be expected to be funded by the Centre”. This letter should be no longer than one page. If such a letter is not provided in the Proposal, the ARC may in its absolute discretion decide to not recommend the Proposal for approval.
14.8.1.3 The ARC reserves the right to determine if a proposed project duplicates work funded or likely to be funded as part of a Commonwealth-funded Research Centre. In making a determination the ARC may have regard to, amongst other matters, the Centre application, Centre funding agreement, business plans, strategic plans and/or Annual Reports. If the ARC considers that any information contained in the ICI Proposal, the accompanying letter from the Centre Director and/or the Centre Annual Report, is inaccurate, incomplete, or misleading in a material respect, the ARC may in its absolute discretion decide to not recommend the Proposal for approval. If, however, the ARC considers that parts of the proposed project remain worthy of support, the ARC may assess the Proposal in the usual way and instead recommend that reduced funding be approved for the Proposal. If the ARC becomes aware of duplication of funding after a project has been funded the project may be terminated and the Centre Director may be asked to show cause why any ARC funding for the Commonwealth-funded Research Centre should not be terminated.
14.8.2 Substantial association
14.8.2.1 The persons nominated as the Centre Director and Deputy Directors in the initial Centre application or their successors, and researchers who receive more than 30% of their salary from a Commonwealth-funded Research Centre, are considered to be “substantially associated with” the Centre.
14.8.2.2 Notwithstanding subsection 14.8.6, the ARC reserves the right to determine whether researchers are substantially associated with a Commonwealth-funded Research Centre and also reserves the right to take into account the magnitude of in-kind contributions when deciding whether a researcher is substantially associated with a Centre (see subsection 14.10.1.1b).
14.9 Number of Proposals
14.9.1 The ARC may seek ICI Proposals, by the times specified in Appendix 4, Column 2. Proposals may be submitted only when invited by the ARC.
14.9.2 The ARC may specify limits on the number of Proposals and/or funded projects which an organisation may submit, or in which a researcher may participate, for a particular initiative. The limits, if any, are specified against the relevant initiative in Appendix 4, Column 7. Submitting Proposals that exceed these limits may result in all Proposals involving the relevant researcher(s) not being recommended or approved for funding.
14.10 Application, Selection and Approval Process
14.10.1 All Proposals for ICI support which meet the eligibility criteria will be assessed and merit ranked using the following criteria:
a. the nature and merit of the ICI Proposal in relation to the objective of the ICI detailed in subsection 14.1.6 and the additional objectives, if any, specified for the specific ICI as outlined in Appendix 4, Column 5, taking into consideration:
i. the goals of the collaborative Proposal;
ii. the method and approach proposed;
iii. expected results, including the potential of the research to result in economic and/or social benefits to Australia and to contribute to one of the National Research Priorities; and
iv. value for money and budget justification, including where appropriate any cash or in-kind financial contributions to be made from non-ARC sources;
b. the parties who are to be involved in and associated with the project, including their track record relative to opportunities and their capacity to undertake the proposed activities.
14.10.2 Sections 7 and 8 of the Funding Rules set out the general requirements for all categories of Linkage International, including the Application, Selection and Approval processes.
14.10.3 The ARC may refer recommended Proposals to the collaborating overseas agency or agencies specified in Appendix 4, Column 1, for further coordinated discussion.
14.10.4 ARC funding of a ICI Proposal may be subject to the decision of the collaborating overseas agency or agencies to fund the counterpart Proposal submitted by overseas counterparts.
14.11 Closing time for Proposals
14.11.1 At the time of inviting ICI Proposals the ARC will set and advise prospective Applicants about the relevant timeframes for the closure of ICI Proposals. For specific initiatives these details are shown in Appendix 4, Column 2. Proposals may be withdrawn but may not be changed after submission. Additions, deletions and modifications to Proposals will not be accepted after submission, unless invited by the ARC. Subject to this subsection, Proposals received after the closing time will not be accepted. The ARC may, in its absolute discretion, and only in exceptional circumstances, accept late Proposals.
14.12 Other Requirements
14.12.1 In addition to the above requirements for ICI Proposals, other requirements may be specified against any initiative in Appendix 4, Column 7.
Appendix 1: National Research Priorities and associated Priority Goals
Research Priority 1: An Environmentally Sustainable Australia
Transforming the way we utilise our land, water, mineral and energy resources through a better understanding of human and environmental systems and the use of new technologies
Natural resources have traditionally fuelled our national and regional economies. They have the potential to generate further wealth and employment opportunities in the future. But our natural resources and biodiversity must be used on a sustainable basis so that the benefits continue to be enjoyed by future generations.
Australia faces significant environmental challenges:
· Efficient and sustainable water use is a critically important issue for our economic and social development;
· Significant land degradation issues, such as salinity, need to be arrested to underpin our agricultural production systems;
· Climate change can be expected to have complex, long-term consequences for the environment, for our agricultural and marine production systems and for communities; and
· The cleanliness and efficiency of our energy production systems should be enhanced.
There is substantial effort underway to develop more efficient water utilisation practices, to protect our rivers and groundwater resources, and to protect and remediate our fragile soils.
Our agricultural and mining industries are being transformed through the adoption of new technologies, and the development of new types of foods.
This will help to revitalise our regional communities and generate substantial export earnings for the nation over the coming decades.
The Government is committed to meeting the greenhouse gas emissions target set for Australia at Kyoto.
Australia is well placed to take an international lead in developing new and improved energy technologies and in capturing and ‘sequestering’ carbon dioxide.
Other opportunities lie in managing and using our unique, rich land- and marine-based biodiversity, and in developing our deep earth resources.
Australia has a strong record of achievement in research in fields in the natural sciences, such as agriculture, natural resource management, climate change, horticulture, forestry, mining, energy, and marine sciences, as well as in the social sciences and humanities.
We must build on these strengths to improve our competitive advantages while enhancing our understanding of natural systems and the interplay of human activities.
In particular, there needs to be an increased understanding of the contributions of human behaviour to environmental and climate change, and on appropriate adaptive responses and strategies.
To understand and manage these complex interactions better will require significant collaboration within the research community and with other stakeholders.
Priority goals for research fall in the seven areas of water utilisation, transforming resource-based industries, overcoming land degradation, developing cleaner, more efficient fuels and energy sources, managing biodiversity, deep earth resources and responding to climate change and variability.
Priority Goals
Water – a critical resource
Sustainable ways of improving water productivity, using less water in agriculture and other industries, providing increased protection of rivers and groundwater and the re-use of urban and industrial waste waters.
Australia is one of the driest continents and is dependent upon access to freshwater supplies for economic and social development. It has a complex geological structure, a highly variable climate, unique ecosystems, flora and fauna and a distinctive indigenous and settler history. Enhancing our understanding of the links between these factors and water availability will result in a better understanding of sustainable water management practices.
Transforming existing industries
New technologies for resource-based industries to deliver substantial increases in national wealth while minimising environmental impacts on land and sea.
Resource-based industries underpin much of Australia’s prosperity and have the potential to do so in the future. For example, Australia remains highly prospective for minerals discoveries and highly attractive for the development of new era foods from agricultural and marine sources. Our competitive advantage and national well being will depend on research and on the development and adoption of new technologies.
Overcoming soil loss, salinity and acidity
Identifying causes and solutions to land degradation using a multidisciplinary approach to restore land surfaces.
The Australian landscape is fragile: soil salinity, acidity, and nutrient levels pose significant, long term challenges for agriculture and the environment. Research is helping to find solutions to these problems. For example, the National Land and Water Resources Audit shows the extent of salinity, soil erosion and soil acidification in the Australian environment and illustrates Australia’s leading edge in national mapping of critical resource data. Further multidisciplinary effort is required to develop sustainable land management practices that are appropriate for Australian conditions and mitigate major land degradation processes and increase biodiversity.
Reducing and capturing emissions in transport and energy generation
Alternative transport technologies and clean combustion and efficient new power generation systems and capture and sequestration of carbon dioxide.
Australia is well positioned to produce world class solutions to reduce and capture greenhouse gas emissions and the Government is committed to meeting the emissions target set for Australia at Kyoto. We are also well placed to develop alternative energy technologies and ecologically sustainable transport and power generation systems.
Sustainable use of Australia’s biodiversity
Managing and protecting Australia’s terrestrial and marine biodiversity both for its own value and to develop long term use of ecosystem goods and services ranging from fisheries to ecotourism.
Australia has a unique and rich flora and fauna. Many of our complex ecosystems – on which our agricultural, fisheries and tourism industries depend - have adapted to events such as drought and fire, and have been shaped by indigenous and settler management practices. There is a need for a more comprehensive understanding of these natural systems and the interplay with human activities, and the effects of management and protection measures.
Developing deep earth resources
Smart high-technology exploration methodologies, including imaging and mapping the deep earth and ocean floors, and novel efficient ways of commodity extraction and processing (examples include minerals, oil and gas) while minimising negative ecological and social impacts.
Many of Australia’s known mineral assets may be nearly exhausted within the next decade. New land-based deposits are believed to be buried deeper in the crust and the deep marine areas surrounding Australia are also largely unexplored. New technologies, such as remote sensing, indicate scientists are on the brink of being able to ‘see’ inside the earth and identify deeply buried deposits.
Responding to climate change and variability
Increasing our understanding of the impact of climate change and variability at the regional level across Australia, and addressing the consequences of these factors on the environment and on communities.
Australia already has a highly variable climate, and climate change can be expected to have further significant impacts. It is important to enhance our understanding of the consequences of climate change and variability at the regional level across Australia, and the implications for the environment and for communities. It is also important to explore beneficial adaptation strategies to climate change and variability to ensure ongoing social, economic and environmental well being.
Research Priority 2: Promoting and Maintaining Good Health
Promoting good health and well being for all Australians
Average life expectancies have increased markedly in recent decades. Australians also expect to lead longer and healthier lives in the future, and to remain productive and independent over an extended period.
Enabling individuals and families to make choices that lead to healthy, productive and fulfilling lives will yield economic and social benefits and add materially to national well being.
Australians expect that their children and grandchildren should have a healthy start to life.
Developing strategies to promote the healthy development of young Australians, and addressing the causes and reducing the impact of the genetic, social and environmental factors which diminish their life potential will be critical.
A revolution is also underway at the other end of the life cycle. Australia, like many other developed nations, is undergoing a major demographic shift involving significant growth in the aged population.
To meet this challenge, it will be important to promote healthy ageing by developing better social and medical strategies to ensure that older Australians enjoy healthy and productive lives.
Informed insights into the causes of disease and of mental and physical degeneration will contribute to the achievement of this goal.
All Australians stand to benefit from preventive healthcare through the adoption of healthier attitudes, habits and lifestyles.
Evidence-based preventive interventions may help reduce the incidence and severity of many diseases, including major health problems such as cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases, mental ill-health, obesity, diabetes, asthma and chronic inflammatory conditions. These could include interventions that reduce exposure to contamination of the physical environment (e.g. air pollution).
Improvements in the health and well being of the young, of older Australians and in preventive healthcare will be underpinned by research.
However, while Australia has an enviable record in health and medical research, the research effort is spread across the many universities, hospitals and health and medical research institutes, resulting in critical mass only in limited areas of research.
There is also a need to draw on multidisciplinary approaches that include research contributions from the social sciences and humanities.
This priority is designed to promote health and prevent disease through a more focused and collaborative effort.
Priority goals for research fall in the four areas of a healthy start to life, ageing well, ageing productively, preventive healthcare and strengthening Australia’s social and economic fabric.
Priority Goals
A healthy start to life
Counteracting the impact of genetic, social and environmental factors which predispose infants and children to ill health and reduce their well being and life potential.
Human health in the developing foetus and in early childhood is critical to the future well being of the adult. Research shows that health and well being in early childhood is predictive of later positive outcomes, and that health in middle and late childhood is also crucial. This goal supports the Government’s National Agenda for Early Childhood initiative.
Ageing well, ageing productively
Developing better social, medical and population health strategies to improve the mental and physical capacities of ageing people.
Australia’s population is ageing, with a significant projected increase in the number of people aged over 65 and over 85. While Australia is relatively well placed compared with many OECD nations, major shifts in cultural expectations and attitudes about ageing are necessary to respond constructively, at both an individual and population level. A healthy aged population will contribute actively to the life of the nation through participation in the labour market or through voluntary work. This goal supports the Government’s National Strategy for an Ageing Australia.
Preventive healthcare
New ethical, evidence-based strategies to promote health and prevent disease through the adoption of healthier lifestyles and diet, and the development of health-promoting products.
Preventive healthcare research will improve the prediction and prevention of disease and injury for all Australians through the adoption of healthier behaviours, lifestyles and environments. Research will generate an improvement in the design, delivery and uptake of programmes such as exercise-based rehabilitation. There are several major disease targets amenable to immediate study, such as cardiovascular health, neurodegenerative diseases, mental ill-health, obesity, diabetes, asthma and chronic inflammatory conditions. Research on prevention will emphasise interdisciplinary approaches, including research on ethics, drawing on contributions from the social sciences and humanities, as well as from the health and medical sciences. It will also focus on developing new health promoting foods and nutraceuticals. This goal supports the Government’s Focus on Prevention initiative.
Strengthening Australia's social and economic fabric
Understanding and strengthening key elements of Australia's social and economic fabric to help families and individuals live healthy, productive, and fulfilling lives.
Living in today's society involves a complex web of choices, yet many of the traditional support structures are weaker than they have been in the past. Enabling people to make choices that lead to positive pathways to self reliance and supportive family structures is more important than ever. The interactions between the social safety net, social and economic participation, financial incentives and community and private sources of support are critical in helping people maximise their potential and achieve good, healthy, lifetime outcomes. In the decade ahead, it will be vital to understand and support the drivers for workforce participation and the broader social and economic trends influencing Australian families and communities. This goal supports the Government's welfare reform and participation agendas. Research in this area will emphasise interdisciplinary approaches, drawing on contributions from the economic, behavioural and social sciences
Research Priority 3: Frontier Technologies for Building and Transforming Australian Industries
Stimulating the growth of world-class Australian industries using innovative
technologies developed from cutting-edge research
Progress and wealth often derive from the unforeseen application of new discoveries. Australia must be at the leading edge if it is to stay abreast of international developments and take advantage of opportunities.
Our national capabilities in emerging sciences and their underpinning disciplines determine our capacity to develop and implement new technologies. Australia has a strong base of expertise, skills and technological capacities in the fundamental sciences and key technologies.
Our strengths are in a wide range of areas such as biotechnology, material sciences, information and communications technology (ICT), photonics, nanotechnology and sensor technology.
ICT is currently the critical enabling technology and is a major contributor to national productivity and growth.
But breakthrough science underpins technological advancements in many areas and Australia needs to foster an environment that stimulates creativity and innovation.
Applications for frontier technologies are potentially very large. Australia has the capacity to exploit niche markets for new products and services.
Australia also has an enviable track record as an innovator and developer of advanced materials and must grasp the opportunity to stay ahead.
Smart information use involving improved data management, intelligent transport systems and digital media to develop creative applications for digital technologies provides huge opportunities to improve the performance of key Australian industries.
Australia needs to invest in this research area as it is fundamental to our future competitiveness and well being.
This priority will help to strengthen the capacity of Australian researchers to participate in new areas of research, enhance Australia’s international scientific reputation, stimulate local expertise, and help create vibrant new industries.
A better understanding of the conditions that are conducive to innovation will ensure that Australia’s investment in research will maximise the benefits for Australia.
Enhanced research effort will also be achieved through initiatives that develop a critical mass of researchers in key areas.
Priority goals for research fall in the five areas of breakthrough science, frontier technologies, advanced materials, smart information use, and promoting an innovation culture and economy.
Priority Goals
Breakthrough science
Better understanding of the fundamental processes that will advance knowledge and facilitate the development of technological innovations.
Breakthrough science underpins technological innovation across a range of industries critical to maintaining Australia’s position as a developed country. Some examples include bio-, cultural- and geo-informatics, nano-assembly and quantum computing. Technological advances are often unexpected and a strong foundation in mathematics and the fundamental sciences will provide an environment that fosters creativity and innovation. Early participation in leading edge areas of research will enable Australian researchers to benefit more fully from international developments.
Frontier technologies
Enhanced capacity in frontier technologies to power world-class industries of the future and build on Australia’s strengths in research and innovation (examples include nanotechnology, biotechnology, ICT, photonics, genomics/phenomics, and complex systems).
The potential applications of frontier technologies across a range of industries in Australia are vast. Australia has significant capacity to exploit niche markets for new products and services emerging from frontier technologies. Australia has world-class research expertise in many such areas. Some examples include nanotechnology, biotechnology, ICT, photonics, genomics and phenomics. Also important are advanced frameworks such as complex systems in which these technologies are applied. Future directions in this priority area need to target the cutting-edge science critical for each emerging technology.
Advanced materials
Advanced materials for applications in construction, communications, transport, agriculture and medicine (examples include ceramics, organics, biomaterials, smart material and fabrics, composites, polymers and light metals).
The development of advanced materials will underpin growth in many areas of industrial and economic activity in Australia. Australia has substantial infrastructure in this area and an enviable track record as an innovator and developer of advanced materials. The era of advanced materials is just beginning, in spite of the tremendous progress in recent years. Substantial scientific and technological challenges remain ahead, including the development of more sophisticated and specialised materials. Some examples include ceramics, organics, biomaterials, smart materials and fabrics, composites, polymers, and light metals.
Smart information use
Improved data management for existing and new business applications and creative applications for digital technologies (examples include e-finance, interactive systems, multi-platform media, creative industries, digital media creative design, content generation and imaging).
ICT applications are providing huge opportunities to deliver new systems, products, business solutions, and to make more efficient use of infrastructure. Examples include e-finance, multi-media, content generation and imaging. Improved data management is central to the future competitiveness of key industries such as agriculture, biotechnology, finance, banking, education, transport, government, and health and ‘info-tainment’. The ability of organisations to operate virtually and collaborate across huge distances in Australia and internationally hinges on our capabilities in this area. The media and creative industries are among the fastest growing sectors of the new economy. Research is needed to exploit the huge potential in the digital media industry.
Promoting an innovation culture and economy
Maximising Australia’s creative and technological capability by understanding the factors conducive to innovation and its acceptance.
Understanding the factors that lead to highly creative and innovative ideas and concepts, and the conditions that lead to their introduction, transfer and uptake is critical for any nation that aspires to lead the world in breakthrough science, frontier technologies, and in other forms of innovation. Promoting an innovation culture and economy requires research with a focus on developing and fostering human talent, societal and cultural values favourable to creativity and innovation, and structures and processes for encouraging and managing innovation.
Research Priority 4: Safeguarding Australia
Safeguarding Australia from terrorism, crime, invasive diseases and pests, strengthening our understanding of Australia’s place in the region and the world, and securing our infrastructure, particularly with respect to our digital systems.
The importance of security and safety to Australia has been underscored by recent events.
Australia has to be capable of anticipating and tackling critical threats to society, strategic areas of the national economy and the environment.
The threats can potentially come from within and outside Australia.
The world is now characterised by the widespread and rapid movements of people, digitally coded data, goods and services, and exotic biological agents.
Critical infrastructure in Australia is increasingly dependent on digital technology for its management and integration.
Information protection and the integrity of security systems are now more important than ever before.
It is also necessary to protect the status of Australia as a nation free of many of the diseases affecting primary production around the world.
Terrorism has emerged as a very real global threat and crime is taking a significant toll on Australian society and economy.
Maintaining the operational advantage of Australia’s defence forces through superior capabilities is also fundamental to our national security.
Enhancing our nation’s understanding of social, political and cultural issues will help Australia to engage with our neighbours and the wider global community and to respond to emerging issues.
Leading edge research in Australia is already yielding high dividends and as a national research priority will improve the effectiveness of that contribution.
Stronger research capabilities will ensure that solutions are tailored to Australia’s unique circumstances, reflecting its geographic features and small population.
Greater collaboration within the research community and with other stakeholders will allow us to better understand and manage potential threats to Australia.
Harnessing the knowledge and capabilities across Australia offers us the best chance of developing innovative and rapid solutions to serious threats.
Australia’s international relations and its regional influence will be strengthened through new collaborative approaches and new science and technologies that enhance security and safety.
The heightened interest in personal and electronic security across the world also provides opportunities for Australian solutions.
Priority goals for research fall in the five areas of critical infrastructure, understanding our region and the world, protecting Australia from invasive diseases and pests, protecting Australia from terrorism and crime, and transformational defence technologies.
Priority goals
Critical infrastructure
Protecting Australia’s critical infrastructure including our financial, energy, communications, and transport systems.
Protecting our critical infrastructure is important to national security and to the social and economic well being of Australia. An important aspect of this priority goal is e-security which is an enabler of e-commerce. Maintaining a critical mass of research in e-security will be essential in providing Australia with the tools to protect our way of life.
Understanding our region and the world
Enhancing Australia’s capacity to interpret and engage with its regional and global environment through a greater understanding of languages, societies, politics and cultures.
Social, cultural and religious issues are of growing significance due to the insecurities of globalisation and the increasing role of non-state players in the security environment. Australia’s capacity to interpret and engage with its regional and global environment will be substantially improved by enhancing its research base in apposite languages, societies and cultures. An approach that enhances Australia’s capacity to interpret itself to the rest of the world is also needed.
Protecting Australia from invasive diseases and pests
Counteract the impact of invasive species through the application of new technologies and by integrating approaches across agencies and jurisdictions.
Australia is free of many of the pests and diseases affecting primary production around the world. This status needs to be protected as the introduction of exotic species has the potential to adversely affect our exports and the environment. Australia already has strong skills and expertise in this area of research and further work will offer immediate benefits to the community. A greater level of coordination of our research effort will mean that Australia can more effectively develop innovative and rapid solutions to serious threats.
Protecting Australia from terrorism and crime
By promoting a healthy and diverse research and development system that anticipates threats and supports core competencies in modern and rapid identification techniques.
Protecting Australia from terrorism is now more important than ever before in light of recent events and our involvement in the ‘war on terror’. The new threat requires a more sophisticated response which should harness Australia’s research capabilities, and which will focus on all phases of counter-terrorism; prevention, preparedness, detection, response and recovery. Crime takes a significant toll on Australian society and economy. The June 2000 report from the Prime Minister’s Science, Engineering and Innovation Council estimated that crime costs Australia at least $18 billion per annum. Personal identification, information protection and the integrity of security systems are fundamental towards ensuring the national security of Australia. An effective solution will include building on Australia’s existing strengths in rapid detection using new analytical technologies and managing significant data collections.
Transformational defence technologies
Transform military operations for the defence of Australia by providing superior technologies, better information and improved ways of operation.
Australia has a small defence force to protect a large continent and a substantial maritime region of responsibility. Its operational advantage has been maintained through a superior capability which is dependent on leveraging innovative technologies. Although some benefits can be gained from overseas research, Australia has to conduct its own research to address uniquely Australian demands. A systems approach which harnesses the research capabilities of all stakeholders is essential to the successful development and introduction of innovative technologies.
Appendix 2: Eligible Organisations
Item 1: Eligible Organisations for Linkage International Awards and relevant ARCIFs
New South Wales
Charles Sturt University
Macquarie University
Southern Cross University
The University of New England
The University of New South Wales
The University of Newcastle
The University of Sydney
University of Technology, Sydney
University of Western Sydney
University of Wollongong
Victoria
Deakin University
La Trobe University
Melbourne College of Divinity
Monash University
RMIT University
Swinburne University of Technology
The University of Melbourne
University of Ballarat
Victoria University
Queensland
Bond University
Central Queensland University
Griffith University
James Cook University
Queensland University of Technology
The University of Queensland
The University of the Sunshine Coast
University of Southern Queensland
Western Australia
Curtin University of Technology
Edith Cowan University
Murdoch University
The University of Notre Dame Australia
The University of Western Australia
South Australia
The Flinders University of South Australia
The University of Adelaide
University of South Australia
Tasmania
Australian Maritime College
University of Tasmania
Northern Territory
Charles Darwin University
Batchelor Institute of Indigenous Tertiary Education
Australian Capital Territory
The Australian National University
University of Canberra
Multi-State
Australian Catholic University
Museums and herbaria which are Australian publicly funded organisations not directly funded to carry out research, but with research-related purposes and objectives.
Item 2: Eligible Organisations for ARCIFs pursuant to the ARC’s agreement with the French Ministry of National Education, Research and Technology, and the ARC’s agreement with the Australia-Israel Scientific Exchange Foundation (AISEF)
Those organisations listed in Item 1, excluding Museums and herbaria.
Item 3: Eligible Organisations for ARCIFs pursuant to the ARC’s agreement with the Alexander von Humboldt-Stiftung (AvH) and the ARC’s agreement with the Korea Science and Engineering Foundation (KOSEF), the Australian Academy of Science (AAS) and the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering (ATSE)
Those organisations listed in Item 1, and the CSIRO.
Item 4: Eligible Organisations for ICIs
Those organisations listed in Appendix 4, Column 3 for the relevant initiative.
Appendix 3. Notional Fellowship salaries, relocation allowances and teaching relief contributions
Item 1. ARC Notional Fellowship Salaries for Funding Commencing in 2007
Salaries are indexed annually.
Fellowship
Step/Option
Salary
28% on-costs
TOTAL
Australian Postdoctoral Fellowship;
Australian Postdoctoral Fellowship Industry;
3 year, 100% option
$60,180
$16,850
$77,030
Australian Research Fellowship
100% option
$75,480
$21,134
$96,614
Queen Elizabeth II Fellowship
100% option
$89,760
$25,133
$114,893
Australian Professorial Fellowship
Step 1 – 100% option
$104,040
$29,131
$133,171
Australian Professorial Fellowship
Step 2 – 100% option
$120,360
$33,701
$154,061
Federation Fellowship
$255,989
$71,677
$327,666
Item 2. Maximum ARC Fellows and ARCIF Relocation Allowances
North America $17,000;
Europe/Asia (Northern Hemisphere)/ Africa/South America $14,000;
Asia (Southern Hemisphere)/Oceania $11,000; or
within Australia $8,000.
Unless otherwise specified in these Funding Rules, travel associated with relocations will only be funded up to a maximum of one return economy class airfare for each person approved for relocation.
Appendix 4: Particular Linkage International Internationally Coordinated Initiatives (ICIs) undertaken under these Funding Rules
Initiative being funded
(Column1)
Closing Time for Proposals
(Column 2)
Eligible Organisations
(Column 3)
Applicable Investigator roles[1] and requirements
(Column 4)
Specific objectives
(Column 5)
Indicative duration and funding thresholds
(Column 6)
Other Items specific to the initiative
(Column 7)
Title: Materials World Networks (MWN)
· Joint initiative between the ARC and the US National Science Foundation in Materials World Network: Cooperative Activity in Material Research between Australian and US Investigators.
· 5:00pm AEST 13 October 2006.
· Those organisations listed in Appendix 2, Item 1.
· Chief Investigator
· Overseas Investigator
· Partner Investigator
· Each Proposal must have at least one CI and OI.
· The first-named CI will be considered the ‘Project Leader’ and must be an employee, or holder of an adjunct appointment or equivalent, at the proponent Eligible Organisation.
· To fund collaborative Australian/US Proposals in the field of materials science.
· To stimulate enhanced collaborations among material science researchers and create networks linking individuals and centres in Australia and the USA.
· Proposals must have clear relevance to fundamental materials phenomena, synthesis, characterization and/or properties.
· Funding may be awarded for 1 to 3 years, subject to sufficient funding being available for Linkage International, and the provisions of the ARC Act.
· The duration of the proposed ICI project should match the duration of the counterpart project proposed to the NSF.
· Total funds of up to $100,000 per year will be provided for any one project.
· A person nominated as a CI on an MWN ICI Proposal submitted in 2006 may participate in only one MWN ICI Proposal in 2006.
Title: Social Sciences Collaboration (SSC)
· Joint initiative between the ARC and the Economic and Social Research Council of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (ESRC) in the field of Social Sciences: Cooperative Activity in Social Sciences Research between Australian and British Investigators.
· 5:00pm AEST 2 June 2006
· Those organisations listed in Appendix 2, Item 1.
· Chief Investigator
· Overseas Investigator
· Partner Investigator
· Each Proposal must have at least one CI and OI.
· The first-named CI will be considered the ‘Project Leader’ and must be an employee, or holder of an adjunct appointment or equivalent, at the proponent Eligible Organisation.
· To fund collaborative Australian/British Proposals in the fields of economics, economic and social history, political science, socio-legal studies, education, psychology, cognitive studies, linguistics, management and business studies, human geography, environmental planning, international studies, area and development studies, social statistics, demography, social science computing, sociology, social anthropology, social policy and social work.
· To stimulate enhanced collaborations among social science researchers and create networks linking individuals and centres in Australia and the UK.
· Funds may be awarded for 1 to 5 years, subject to sufficient funding being available for Linkage International, and the provisions of the ARC Act.
· The duration of the proposed ICI project should match the duration of the counterpart project proposed to the UK ESRC.
· The maximum level of funding which will be provided per project is $250,000.
· A person nominated as a CI on an SSC ICI Proposal submitted in 2006 may participate in only one SSC ICI Proposal in 2006.
1Refer Section 5 for a description of investigator types and their associated eligibility criteria.
[1] Refer Section 5 for a description of investigator types and their associated eligibility criteria.
