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Monash University The ARC Linkage Program Leveraging your R&D dollars June , 2006. Dr Ian Mackinnon Programme Coordinator: Linkage Projects Executive Director: Engineering and Environmental Science Australian Research Council. The ARC.
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Monash UniversityThe ARC Linkage ProgramLeveraging your R&D dollarsJune , 2006 Dr Ian Mackinnon Programme Coordinator: Linkage Projects Executive Director: Engineering and Environmental Science Australian Research Council
The ARC • Is a Commonwealth organisation which became an independent agency in July 2001 under the Australian Research Council Act 2001, within the Education, Science and Training portfolio. • Administers funds on behalf of the Commonwealth for the purpose of supporting research in Australia • Provides policy advice to Government regarding research • Provides: • Support for the highest quality research, leading to the discovery of new ideas and the advancement of knowledge • Funds for the facilities and equipment that our researchers need so that they can compete with the best in the world • Support for training and skills development of our next generation of researchers • Incentives for our most talented researchers to work in partnership with leading researchers throughout the national innovation system and internationally, and form alliances with Australian industry
The ARC Community • CEO – Professor Peter Hoj • DCEO and COO – senior public servants • 6 EDs – 3 year positions, coming from senior roles in universities or research organisations • Approx 70 staff • National office at 8 Brindabella Circuit, Canberra Airport • Annual departmental budget approx $15 M to administer research funding of $556 M per annum • College of Experts, 75 senior university and industry researchers contracted to the ARC for up to 3 years. • A pool of active researchers who assist the assessment process via peer-review of proposals
National Competitive Grants Program (FY 05/06 $555M) Linkage (LP, LIEF and LX) collaborative research and infrastructure use - national & international (FY $160M) Discovery (DP, IRD and Fed Fellows) excellent research by individuals and teams (FY $290M) Centres (Centres and Research Networks) national centres of research excellence (FY $105M)
2005-06 $M 2005-06 $M Major Federal Research Agencies Major Federal Research Agencies 329.7 329.7 · DSTO · DSTO · CSIRO · CSIRO 593.9 593.9 · Other R&D Agencies, ANSTO, GA, AIMS etc · Other R&D Agencies, ANSTO, GA, AIMS etc 400.1 400.1 1323.7 1323.7 SUB-TOTAL SUB-TOTAL Business Enterprise Sector Business Enterprise Sector · IR&D Tax Concession · IR&D Tax Concession 491.0 491.0 · R&D Start · R&D Start 87.4 87.4 · Other Innovation Support · Other Innovation Support 396.3 396.3 974.7 974.7 SUB-TOTAL SUB-TOTAL Higher Education Sector Higher Education Sector · Australian Research Council · Australian Research Council 556.5 556.5 · Performance Based Block Funding · Performance Based Block Funding 1251.3 1251.3 · Other R&D Support and Research Training 449.5 · Other R&D Support and Research Training 449.5 '' '' 2257.3 2257.3 SUB-TOTAL SUB-TOTAL Multisector Multisector · NH&MRC and Other Health · NH&MRC and Other Health 431.9 431.9 · Cooperative Research Centres · Cooperative Research Centres 208.2 208.2 · Rural R&D · Rural R&D 207.2 207.2 · Energy and Environment · Energy and Environment 63.7 63.7 · Other Science and Technology Support · Other Science and Technology Support 71.4 71.4 982.4 982.4 SUB-TOTAL SUB-TOTAL 5538.1 5538.1 TOTAL COMMONWEALTH TOTAL COMMONWEALTH Commonwealth support for R&D
National Research Priorities • An Environmentally Sustainable Australia • Promoting and Maintaining Good Health • Frontier Technologies for Building and Transforming Australian Industries • Safeguarding Australia
Linkage Projects • Primary aim • Encourage and extend cooperative approaches to research by strengthening links within Australia’s innovation system and within innovation systems internationally • Participant roles • Chief Investigator, Partner Investigator • APAI (Aust. Postgraduate Award, Industry) • APDI (< 3 years from PhD), • Linkage Industry Fellowships (LIF) • Partners • Private sector; private non-profit organisation; a Govt org with funds not committed to internal research or any other purpose of research, evaluation and/or consultancy. • Does not fund clinical medical and dental research & training • Eligibility ruling can be requested
Linkage Projects • Selection Criteria • Investigators’ Track Record 20% • Project significance and innovation 25% • Project approach and training 20% • Project national benefit 10% • Collaborating Organisation commitment 25%
LP Selection process • Assessment by Australian based readers (who read and rank up to 20 applications), or by committee members only for smaller value applications • Where received, provision of assessment reports to applicants, and receipt of applicant rejoinders • Consideration of applications, assessment reports, and rejoinders by the Committee, who rank applications and form recommendations for funding (including duration and budget).
Linkage Projects 2006 Rd 1 * These amount include 1/2 APAI amount for year 4.
Suggestions … • LP is about collaboration – relationships matter • Establish shared expectations and goals • Sort out IP early and clearly; establish fundamentals of contractual arrangements as early as possible (e.g. while drafting proposal) • Review the ARC draft funding agreement with University before proposal submission • Appreciate the “cash leverage” – about 2:1 – within your organisation as an industry partner; understand IP implications • Establish regular and alternate communication channels within the R&D group • Recognise possible cultural differences in workplace (including where the work will be undertaken)
Linkage Infrastructure • Primary aims • encourages institutions to collaborate to develop research infrastructure • supports large-scale cooperative initiatives for sharing expensive facilities • supports areas of research strength and researchers in recognised areas of research potential • Funding • Applications request > $100,000 • ARC contributes at most 75% of the direct cost of purchasing equipment or establishing facility.