Australian Research Council 

The 2009 Discovery Indigenous Researchers Development, Linkage Projects and Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment and Facilities rounds are now open.

You can now download from the relevant ARC webpages:

• Discovery Indigenous Researchers Development Funding Rules
• Discovery Indigenous Researchers Development Instructions to Applicants
• Linkage Project Funding Rules
• Linkage Project Instructions to Applicants
• LIEF Funding Rules
• LIEF Instructions to Applicants

Applications can be entered via the ARC's Grant Management System (GAMS). If you require GAMS IDs for your application, please email Annette Ryan with the relevant details, i.e. full name and date of birth. Research Services can only action GAMS IDs for James Cook University staff or Fellows or international collaborators. Other Partner Investigators must visit the ARC website for instructions to obtain a GAMS ID.

GAMS can be very slow and difficult at peak periods, so start early and/or access at off-peak times.

Please: carefully read the Rules and Instructions to Applicants before starting an application in GAMS.

Please note in particular the recent changes by the ARC to the LP Funding Rules: permitting the use of ARC funds for international travel for PIs, removing the citizenship/residency requirements for APAI and APAI-IT students, and making provision so preference may be given to award APDIs to candidates who have the potential to enhance international collaboration.

Deadlines follow. (Note that the LIEF round involves the internal submission of Expressions of Interest.)

* To ensure timely delivery to the ARC, the RO despatches applications 2 days prior to the ARC close.

LIEF Process JCU's LIEF applications are determined through a process that requires potential applicants to submit Expression of Interests to their Faculties. The process is explained in the Internal Guidelines. Expressions of interest should be submitted using the standard form. EoIs are due in Faculty offices by c.o.b. Friday 4 April.

Applications (section E and preferably section B) should be peer-reviewed. An application will only be accepted by the Research Office if it has been reviewed by a senior colleague recommended by the Faculty's Associate Dean (Research) and Head of School, unless the ADR and HoS waive this requirement.

Peer review sign-off (or waiver) is accommodated in the abbreviated Application Cover Sheet.

To assist with completing your application:

• Information and Calculator for Salaries (C1)
• JCU's IP and Commercialisation Statement (A7.3)
• Essential background - the ARC's statistics on past rounds
• Check your application with the RO's internal checklists for LPs, LIEFs and DIRDs

Tailored for Discovery applications, but also relevant for other schemes:

• Prof Nick Oliver's Dec 2007 workshop notes
• Try these basic strategies

Link to the ARC's College of Experts (Panel members).

The ARC's National Competitive Grants Program - includes:

DISCOVERY
Discovery programs recognise the importance of fundamental research to the national innovation system. 

Objectives:

• To support excellent fundamental research by individuals and teams 
• To assist researchers to undertake their research in conditions most conducive to achieving best results 
• To expand Australia’s knowledge base and research capability 
• To encourage research training in high quality research environments 

Schemes:

• Federation Fellowships 
• Discovery - Projects 
• Discovery - Indigenous Researchers Development 

LINKAGE
Brokering research partnerships within the Australian innovation system and capturing economic, social and cultural benefits of research.

Objectives:

• To encourage excellent collaborative research within universities and across the innovation system 
• To contribute to a strong knowledge economy 
• To create opportunities for cooperation with related programmes across Commonwealth portfolios 
• To facilitate international linkages both within universities and industry 
• To encourage industry oriented research training. 

Schemes:

• Linkage - Projects
• Linkage - Infrastructure
• Linkage - International