Australian Research Council (ARC)

The ARC is calling for funding under its ARC Linkage-Project Grant scheme for funding commencing in July 2010.

About the ARC Linkage-Project Scheme

Linkage Projects supports research and development projects which are collaborative between higher education researchers and other parts of the national innovation system, which are undertaken to acquire new knowledge, and which involve risk or innovation.

Changes from last year

A number of clarifications and revisions have been made in these Funding Rules. Significant changes from the 2009 Linkage Projects Funding Rules include:

1. For the purposes of improved clarity, the Definitions section includes definitions of an Eligibility Advice Request and an Eligibility Exemption Request (Section 3);
2. The Definitions section contains a definition of Adjunct or Emeritus Appointment or equivalent (Section 3). The term is used in relation to the eligibility of CIs;
3. The employment-related eligibility criteria for CIs has been changed to, 'at least 50 per cent (0.5 Full Time Equivalent) of her/his time' (subsection 8.3.2.a);
4. Clarification of the conditions under which it is permissible for a project to be continued under replacement CIs after a Proposal has been approved for funding (subsections 8.3.6 and 8.3.7);
5. Changes to the Partner Organisations contributions which are now expressed as a percentage of total ARC request rather than dollar values (Appendix E Section E3); and
6. The Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies (AIATSIS) is now eligible to submit Proposals for the full range of funding available in Linkage Projects (Appendix C).

The list of changes above is not comprehensive. Applicants and other parties involved in Proposals should read and understand the entire Funding Rules and standard Funding Agreement before a Proposal is submitted to the ARC.

Level of funding supported

The minimum level of funding which will be provided by the ARC is $20,000 per calendar year and the maximum is $500,000 per calendar year. Under exceptional circumstances the ARC is prepared to consider higher funding levels of up to $2,000,000 per year, where an outstanding case is made, and where there is clear evidence of a very high level of commitment by, and very significant cash contribution from the Partner Organisation.

Partner Organisations

Each proposal must identify at least one Partner Organisation which will be involved in the proposed project. Partner Organisation(s) must satisfy the requirements of Appendix E of the Funding Rules. If you need help identifying a Partner Organisation, please contact your Business Development Manager

Early Career Researcher Category (ECR)

The ECR category that applies in the ARC Discovery Projects scheme is not used in the ARC Linkage-Project Funding rules.

Submission of ARC Linkage-Project proposals

For your convenience Research and Innovation Services has prepared an ARC Linkage Project Toolkit (LP10 Toolkit). The LP10 Toolkit is a collection of online resources that should be useful in writing a successful ARC Linkage Project in 2009 for funding in 2010, especially for first-time applicants.

• LP10 Round 2 Toolkit: resources to help your ARC Linkage Project application succeed (PDF file, 103kb) (staff and student access only)

Online submission - what you need to know

Using the ARC's Research Management System (RMS)

Will development funding be available to support my ARC Linkage Project application?

Please be advised that the Australian Competitive Grants and Fellowships Development Committee is currently reviewing a plan to introduce a development program to support ARC Linkage Projects. More details about this program will be announced over the coming weeks by Research and Innovation Services.

Key timelines

Further questions?

If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact:

• Dr Bruce Chadwick, Acting Manager: Capacity and Compliance Officer (1 September 2009 to January 2010) on ext 25143 or email Bruce.Chadwick@unisa.edu.au
• Craig Hill, Capacity and Compliance Officer, ext 25229 or email Craig.Hill@unisa.edu.au
• Kate Greenfield, Capacity and Compliance Officer, ext 25681 or email Kate.Greenfield@unisa.edu.au or
• Sally Mathews, Capacity and Compliance Project Officer, ext 23954 or email Sally.Mathews@unisa.edu.au

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Using the ARC's Research Management System (RMS)

The ARC's Research Management System (RMS) is a web-based system used to prepare and submit research proposals, assessments and rejoinders. Grant applications are drafted electronically via the RMS and automatically assigned a project number. You can use the RMS to:

• submit a proposal in a scheme round opening from March 2009 onwards
• submit a pre-submission eligibility issue in a scheme round opening from March 2009 onwards.

Access the online Research Management System (RMS)

User Accounts

All RMS users must have an RMS User Account. Each account has a single RMS User ID and password. Discuss your account request with the Research Capacity and Compliance Office prior to submitting an online request for a User Account. Outcomes of your User Account request will be emailed to you.

Training resource for using the RMS

Creating and submitting proposals (PPT file, 748kb): slides from the RMS training sessions held March and April 2009