Grants - Frequently asked Questions
ARC Discovery – Projects
Frequently Asked Questions relating to ARC Discovery
ARC Linkage - Projects
If you are considering applying for an ARC Linkage Project grant, contact the Office for Research, Research Development Officer (07 387 57406) to discuss your proposal and have access to further information.
What is an ARC Linkage Project grant?
ARC Linkage Projects supports research and development projects which are collaborative between higher education researchers and industry, which are undertaken to acquire new knowledge, and which involve risk or innovation.
What project costs are supported?
ARC Linkage Projects supports:
- Personnel, including Research Associates, technicians, laboratory attendants etc
- Australian Postgraduate Awards Industry (APAI) for postgraduate research students studying towards a Masters or PhD award (See Appendix 3 of the Funding Rules available on the ARC website)
- Australian Postdoctoral Fellowships Industry (APDI) for researchers with less than three years’ postdoctoral experience (See Appendix 4 of the Funding Rules)
- Linkage Industry Fellowships – support for costs associated with short-term transfers for Chief Investigators or some Partner Investigators between eligible higher education institutions and Industry, where in the opinion of the ARC, an outstanding case is made (See Section 5.3 of the Funding Rules)
- Teaching relief for Chief Investigators, but only where the request is justified to the satisfaction of the ARC (See Section 5.5 of the Funding Rules)
- Equipment
- Maintenance
- Travel
Who can be an collaborative industry partner?
The short answer, is that an industry partner may be any organisation which is not funded for research purposes. A full explanation is available in Appendix 2 (Page 27-30) of the Funding Rules
How much funding is available and what is the duration of Linkage grants?
Projects can be for a minimum of $20,000 pa to a maximum of $500,000 pa with duration from 12 months to 5 years. Full details are available on Page 12 of the Funding Rules.
How is the industry partner involved in the application and project?
The industry partner must match fund the request you make of the ARC, which is made up of 20% Cash and 80% in-kind contribution. For example, if you request $100,000 from the ARC per annum, the industry partner must contribute a minimum of $20,000 cash and $80,000 in-kind.
Interaction with an industry partner is required for the whole period of the project. Applicants determine, in collaboration with the industry partner(s), which type of resources are appropriated and necessary for the project they wish to undertake. The contribution from the industry partner(s) must be specific to the project and must not be part of a broader contribution to the institution. Information for industry partner(s) and prospective applications about the eligibility of industry partners(s) is set out in Appendix 2 of the Funding Rules, together with information about an application, contributions and tax incentives.
What sorts of support constitute ‘in-kind’ contributions?
- Access to unique databases
- Analytical and other services
- Equipment
- Materials
- Patents and licences
- Salaries of industry partner staff
- Contribution of software
- Travel
- Use of facilities
What are the expenditures which the Linkage funds can not be used for?
- Costs of capital works and general infrastructure
- Salaries of Chief Investigators and Partner Investigators
- Special Studies Programs
- Research support for investigators not resident in Australia
- International students’ fees and HECS liability
- Computer facilities for molecular analysis
- Basic facilities
- Publication costs
What funding is associated with the Australian Post graduate Award (Industry)- APAI?
The Commonwealth provides a stipend (living allowance of $23,556 pa) to a graduate who is studying for a Masters or PhD full time. Projects focus on a subject that is of importance to Industry.
What funding is associated with the Australian Post-doctoral Award (Industry) - APDI?
The Commonwealth provides match funding for a Research Fellow salary. The Collaborative project focuses on a subject that is of importance to Industry.
What funding is associated with the Linkage Industry Fellowships - LIF?
The Commonwealth provides support for costs involved in a temporary transfer from an eligible higher education institutions to an Industry Partner, or vice versa. For a single period of between 3 and 12 months during the life of the proposed project, up to a maximum of $100,000.
What are the benefits to Industry?
- 50% Commonwealth funding
- inexpensive method of funding full time post graduate researcher on a project of direct benefit to industry
- demonstration of company involvement in formal, independent and state-of-art Research and Development
- access to leading research expertise and knowledge
- project can be carried out in University laboratories, equipment and facilities
- eligible for R&D tax concessions
- may be utilised as staff development opportunity for a company staff involved in project research
- provision of incentive to promising graduates to work with Queensland companies rather than take employment overseas following graduation
- method of funding R&D that is further from market, or testing of “ideas” or independent development and validation of delivery models / mechanisms