ARC Linkage 2013 – Major Changes

1. ARC Linkage 2013 – Major Changes Rose Firkin Executive Officer - Grants Deakin Research – Grants

2. Outline • Main features of the Scheme • Major Changes • Deakin Research - Grants Website & Resources • Questions

3. Main features - Objectives • Initiate & develop long-term strategic alliances between higher education & other organisations • Enhance the scale & focus of research in National Research Priorities • Foster opportunities for researchers to pursue internationally competitive research targeting those who have demonstrated a clear commitment to high-quality research • Produce a national pool of world-class researchers

4. Main features – Funding & Duration • Minimum = $50,000 p.a(was $30K) • Maximum = $300,000 p.a(was $500K) • Duration = 2 to 3 years (was 2 – 5 years)

5. Main features–Selection Criteria (weightings unchanged) • 20% - Investigators • 50% - Project • Significance & Innovation (25%) • Approach & Training (15%) • Research Environment (10%) • 30% - Commitment from Partner (was Nature of the Alliance & commitment)

6. Major changes - Funding • Changes to minimum and maximum funding amounts - now 50K - $300K per annum (was $30K - $500K with up to $2M in exceptional circumstances) • Change to funding formula - combined PO’s eligible cash contribution must be at least 25% of the total ARC request (was 20% or 50%)

7. Major changes - Personnel • No provision for Australian Postdoctoral Fellow (Industry) fellowships (APDIs) • NB: Deakin does NOT provide centrally-funded PhD stipends for Linkage – you must request from ARC or partner funds • PhD stipend level set by Institution • No provision for Linkage Industry Fellows (LIFs) • Each PO must provide a Partner Investigator to work on the project (Track Record assessed)

8. Major changes – Budget Items • Domestic and international travel is capped at $50K over the life of the project • Field or survey research expenses (except travel) can be claimed above the $50K • Teaching relief capped at $40K per annum for ALL CIs • No support for mobile phones or web hosting

9. Partner Organisation requirements • Projects must have at least one AustralianPO • POs cannot be an eligible organisation; a controlled entity of any eligible organisation or; an entity more than 50% owned by an eligible organisation

10. Partner Organisation requirements • Each PO must meet 3 conditions • Evidence of new or ongoing collaboration with Deakin • No duplication of Commonwealth funding for the research and/or activities funded for the project • Cash and/or in-kind contribution

11. PO Exemptions from cash contribution requirement • Registered charities • Not-for-profit organisations • Start-up companies (those commercialising R&D with average annual revenue not exceeding $5M over past 2 years & majority of employees and assets in Australia • Museums or herbaria

12. Major Changes -Partner Investigators (PIs) • Each PO must now provide a PI for the project • PIs must satisfy the eligibility criteria: • Take significant intellectual responsibility &/or • Have the experience & capacity to provide supervision, support and mentoring of research personnel associated with the project &/or • Have the skills and experience to manage a similar scale research project

13. Major Changes - Partner Contributions • Combined PO’s eligible contributions (cash & in-kind) must at least match the total ARC request • Combined PO’s eligible cash contribution must be at least 25% of the total ARC request (was 20% or 50%)

14. Partner Contributions examples

15. Major Changes? - Partner Contributions • Cash contributions cannot be sourced from funds awarded or appropriated by the Commonwealth or an Australian State or Territory for the purposes of research nor from funds previously used to leverage government research funding • ie. Cash would have to gained from other sources – fund raising, patent licensing, provision of services or products

16. Major Changes? - Partner Contributions • What is meant by “funds previously used to leverage government research funding”? • Funds which an organisation has already used to leverage government research funding, such as (but not limited to) funds which have already been included by the organisation in a successful application to a Commonwealth or Australian State or Territory funding program or scheme in order to receive a grant or award

17. Major Changes - Partner Contributions • Of the required Partner Organisation contribution to match the total ARC request, a maximum of 25% can be made up of cash and/or in-kind contributions from one or more POs whose funds are appropriated predominantly from Commonwealth or State or Territory funding sources for the purposes of research.

18. Major Changes - Partner Contributions • If the PO is predominantly funded by Commonwealth or State or Territory funding sources for the purposes of research they can make contributions over and above 25% of the required contribution BUT these additional contributions are not eligible to make up part of the required PO contribution

19. Major Changes - Partner Contributions • Lead CI’s should ensure their Partner Organisation read and understand both the 2013 Linkage Projects Funding Rules AND all of the FAQs relating to Partner Organisations (section 4) • Deakin Research – Grants will draw up a questionnaire that POs will have to sign so that we can undertake an accurate eligibility check

20. Eligible Partner Organisation Contribution egs

21. Major Changes - PO Cash Contributions • Cash contributions are now defined in the LP rules “..cash funding which is transferred to and managed by the Administering Organisation.” • Are financial contributions paid to Deakin on invoice • Must come via Deakin’s financial system • Are subject to audit

22. Major Changes - PO In-Kind Contributions • In-kind contribution definition expanded: “..contribution of goods, services, materials or time to the Project …calculated based on current market rates/valuations/rentals/charges … of the costs of labour, work spaces, equipment and databases..”

23. Major Changes - PO In-Kind Contributions • NB: The ARC LP 2013 funding rules state “..the calculations covering time and costs should be documented by the Administering Organisation . The ARC may require these calculations to be audited from time to time” • Partners MUST be able to substantiate their in-kind contributions and should provide a schedule of their costs that we can file

24. Grants Website & Resources • We provide a dedicated page for each major round and scheme http://www.deakin.edu.au/research/grants/opportunities/arc-linkage-projects.php • Contains links to ARC documentation, timelines and specific resources (salary calculators, application templates, stipend rates)

25. Important Note • Deakin Research – Grants will • Expect you have read all funding rules, instructions and any FAQs • Applicants must certify application information is true and correct • Expect that you have clarified your Partner Organisation’s funding sources with them

26. Final Tip • Applications are not yet open on RMS • Get an RMS profile immediately • Get your co CIs and PIs to do the same

27. Questions? • Information Session #2 will cover: • Key elements of the scheme • Tips and Hints • Common Mistakes and Errors • Information Session #3 will cover: • Linkage budgets