Australia-India Strategic Research Fund
GUIDELINES FOR ROUND EIGHT OF THE:
Indo-Australian Fund for Scientific and Technological Cooperation
(‘Indo-Australian S&T Fund’)
Indo-Australian Fund for Scientific and Technological Cooperation
in Biotechnology (‘Indo-Australian Biotechnology Fund’)
aisrf@industry.gov.au | industry.gov.au/aisrf
Table of Contents
PURPOSE OF THESE GUIDELINES ............................................................................................. 4
SYMBOLS ............................................................................................................................... 4
PART 1 – OVERVIEW .................................................................................................................... 5
1.1
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES............................................................................. 5
1.2
SUPPORT AVAILABLE UNDER ROUND EIGHT ......................................................... 5
1.3
INDO-AUSTRALIAN S&T FUND .................................................................................. 6
1.4
INDO-AUSTRALIAN BIOTECHNOLOGY FUND........................................................... 6
1.5
TIMELINE FOR ROUND EIGHT ................................................................................... 6
PART 2 – ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS ...................................................................................... 8
2.1
ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA ................................................................................................ 8
PART 3 – FUNDING ....................................................................................................................... 9
3.1
LEVEL OF FUNDING AVAILABLE ............................................................................... 9
3.2
DURATION OF ACTIVITIES ......................................................................................... 9
3.3
OTHER GOVERNMENT FUNDING.............................................................................. 9
3.4
ELIGIBLE EXPENSES................................................................................................ 10
3.5
COSTS NOT ELIGIBLE FOR SUPPORT.................................................................... 12
3.6
CASH AND IN-KIND SUPPORT FROM OTHER SOURCES ...................................... 12
PART 4 – ASSESSMENT CRITERIA AND PROCESS ................................................................. 13
4.1
NOTES ON THE ASSESSMENT CRITERIA .............................................................. 13
4.2
ASSESSMENT CRITERIA .......................................................................................... 13
4.3
CONDITIONS RELATING TO ASSESSMENT CRITERIA .......................................... 17
4.4
SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION ............................................................................ 18
4.5
ELIGIBILITY CHECKS AND ASSESSMENT OF APPLICATIONS .............................. 19
4.6
SUCCESSFUL AISRF APPLICANTS – FUNDING AGREEMENT .............................. 19
4.7
ETHICS AND RESEARCH PRACTICES .................................................................... 20
4.8
EVALUATION OF THE PROGRAMME ...................................................................... 20
4.9
UNSUCCESSFUL AISRF APPLICANTS .................................................................... 20
4.10
QUESTIONS, FEEDBACK AND COMPLAINTS ......................................................... 20
PART 5 – HOW TO APPLY .......................................................................................................... 22
5.1
APPLICATION PROCESS .......................................................................................... 22
5.2
APPLICANTS’ RESPONSIBILITIES ........................................................................... 22
5.3
ONLINE APPLICATION PROCESS............................................................................ 22
5.4
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE APPLICATION .................................................. 23
5.5
AFTER SUBMISSION................................................................................................. 23
5.6
FREEDOM OF INFORMATION (FOI) ......................................................................... 23
5.7
THE PRIVACY ACT 1988 ........................................................................................... 24
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5.8
PUBLICATION OF CERTAIN INFORMATION ............................................................ 25
5.9
CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION ................................................................................ 25
PART 6 – ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ...................................................................................... 26
6.1
DISCREPANCIES, AMBIGUITIES, INCONSISTENCIES, ERRORS OR OMISSIONS
IN AN APPLICATION............................................................................................................. 26
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Purpose of these Guidelines
These guidelines are provided to assist applicants in lodging an online application for
Round Eight of the S&T and Biotechnology components of the Australia-India Strategic
Research Fund (AISRF).
The guidelines apply only to Australian applicants. Indian applicants must consult the
guidelines issued by the Government of India for the two respective components, available
via these websites: www.dst.gov.in/ and http://dbtindia.nic.in/index.asp.
Part 1 of the guidelines provides an overview of the AISRF, including information on the
components of the fund, current priority areas and important dates for Round Eight.
Part 2 provides information on the requirements that must be met in order to be eligible for
funding under Round Eight.
Part 3 provides information about funding provided to successful applicants.
Part 4 provides the assessment criteria that applicants must address and which will be
used to determine successful proposals under Round Eight.
Part 5 provides applicants with instructions on the application process.
Part 6 provides additional information on the application process.
Symbols
This symbol indicates information that is essential for completing an
application. These reminders and examples have been included to assist with
preparation of your application form.
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Part 1 – Overview
1.1 BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES
The Australia-India Strategic Research Fund (AISRF) is a platform for bilateral
collaboration in science, jointly managed and funded by the governments of Australia and
India.
Since its establishment in 2006, the AISRF has supported collaborative, leading-edge
research between scientists in India and Australia across a range of agreed priority areas.
It has also helped to build linkages between premier research institutions in both countries.
The AISRF is Australia’s largest fund dedicated to bilateral science collaboration. It is also
one of India’s largest sources of support for international collaboration in science. The
Australian Government’s commitment of $64 million over the ten-year life of the
programme (to 2015-16) supports Australian researchers’ participation in joint activities
with their Indian counterparts. The Government of India supports costs incurred by the
Indian teams.
The objectives of the AISRF are to:

increase the uptake of leading-edge science and technology (S&T) by supporting
collaboration between Australian and Indian researchers in strategically focused,
leading-edge scientific research and technology projects, and strengthening strategic
alliances between Australian and Indian researchers; and

facilitate Australia’s and India’s access to the global S&T system.
Further information is available from the AISRF website: www.industry.gov.au/aisrf.
1.2 SUPPORT AVAILABLE UNDER ROUND EIGHT
Applications are sought for proposals in the eighth round of the following AISRF
components:

the Indo-Australian Fund for Scientific and Technological Cooperation (‘Indo-Australian
S&T Fund’); and

the Indo-Australian Fund for Scientific and Technological Cooperation in Biotechnology
(‘Indo-Australian Biotechnology Fund’).
Support is provided for collaborative research projects involving Australian and Indian
partners. Unlike previous rounds, separate workshops will not be funded in this round.
Please note that, although the application process for Australian applicants to
the Indo-Australian S&T Fund and the Indo-Australian Biotechnology Fund
are similar, each component covers different priority areas. Applicants must
therefore make it clear under which component and which priority area of the
AISRF they are applying.
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1.3 INDO-AUSTRALIAN S&T FUND
The Indo-Australian S&T Fund is jointly managed by the Australian Government’s
Department of Industry (DoI) and the Government of India’s Department of Science and
Technology (DST).
The priority areas for collaborative research projects in Round Eight of the Indo-Australian
S&T Fund are:

water management; and

agricultural research.
All applications for the Indo-Australian S&T Fund must fall within one of these two priority
areas. Applications not related to either of these areas will not be considered.
1.4 INDO-AUSTRALIAN BIOTECHNOLOGY FUND
The Indo-Australian Biotechnology Fund is jointly managed by DoI and the Government of
India’s Department of Biotechnology (DBT).
Applications for Round Eight of the Indo-Australian Biotechnology Fund are open only to
previously successful applicants who received funding for collaborative research projects
under Rounds One to Five inclusive, held from 2006 to 2010 and with project numbers
BF01xxxx through BF05xxxx, which are moving from proof of concept to validation and
end-use stage. These projects can be in any previously set priority area.
The new application should build on the work of the original project that has been
completed or is nearing completion. An application in Round Eight may not be appropriate
if the original project has come to a logical conclusion already and/or was of a nature
which does not lend itself to further useful work.
Applications may be made, subject to meeting the eligibility requirement in Part 2, by:

the same project manager through the same organisation as for the original project;

the same project manager through a different organisation, if he/she has moved to a
new position and retains ownership of the original project; or

a different project manager who has assumed carriage of the project from the original
project manager, either through the same or a different organisation.
1.5 TIMELINE FOR ROUND EIGHT
The call for applications for Round Eight is open for six weeks. The round opens at
10.00am (Australian Eastern Daylight Time) on 12 March 2014 and closes at 4.00pm
(Australian Eastern Standard Time) on 22 April 2014.
The table below summarises the steps and indicative timing for the selection process for
Round Eight:
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12 March 2014
Round Eight opens for applications
Application form available via www.industry.gov.au/aisrf
22 April 2014
Closing date for applications
April – July 2014
Applications assessed and ranked by AISRF advisory
panel
August 2014
Joint meeting between Australian and Indian governments
to agree on final set of projects to be supported
September 2014
Australian and Indian governments announce successful
applications
September – November
2014
Funding agreements executed with successful applicants
December 2014
Projects can commence
Please note that the timeline is subject to change. Please refer to the AISRF website for
updates (www.industry.gov.au/aisrf).
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Part 2 – Eligibility Requirements
2.1 ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
To be eligible to apply for funding through the Indo-Australian S&T Fund or the IndoAustralian Biotechnology Fund, the Australian applicant must:

Be one of the following eligible organisations (or a consortium of eligible organisations):
- Australian tertiary education institution
- Australian Cooperative Research Centre
- Australian Commonwealth-funded research organisation
- Australian State/Territory-funded research organisation
- Australian public research company
- Australian private research company
- Australian not-for-profit research organisation
- Other Australian incorporated entity
Note: Any organisation that is subject to the Financial Management and Accountability
Act 1997 is ineligible to apply for funding under the Indo-Australian S&T Fund or the
Indo-Australian Biotechnology Fund.

Be from an organisation that is incorporated and is registered for GST, and, if a
university, is registered as exempt from income tax.

Have at least one Indian partner.
Note: The Australian Government will obtain confirmation from the relevant Indian
department that a corresponding application has been lodged by the Indian partner.

Complete and submit an online application, available at www.industry.gov.au/aisrf, in
one of the two priority areas of collaboration identified for the Indo-Australian S&T Fund
or be a previous recipient of an Indo-Australian Biotechnology Fund grant (as per
sections 1.3 and 1.4 respectively). All assessment criteria must be addressed in full as
required under section 4.2.
Applicants must satisfy all of the above eligibility criteria to be considered for funding.
A corresponding application, with the identical title as the Australian
application, must be submitted by the Indian partner to the relevant Indian
department (DST or DBT) by the closing date. If DST/DBT have not received
the Indian application, the Australian application will be deemed ineligible and
will not be considered for funding.
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Part 3 – Funding
3.1 LEVEL OF FUNDING AVAILABLE
Under the Indo-Australian S&T Fund and the Indo-Australian Biotechnology Fund, the
Australian Government will contribute towards the direct costs of joint projects as outlined
in sections 1.3 and 1.4.
The maximum funding available to Australian applicants for a collaborative research
project is $200,000.
This maximum amount must be taken into account when drafting the project plan and
budget.
3.2 DURATION OF ACTIVITIES
Projects may range from short bilateral collaborations to more complex projects spanning
up to two years. Funding under this round is only available in the 2014-15 and 2015-16
financial years. DoI will not be able to provide any funds beyond this timeframe.
3.3 OTHER GOVERNMENT FUNDING
AISRF grants are not intended to duplicate support available from other sources, including
other Australian Government funding mechanisms. Where applicants already receive
Australian Government funding for their core activities, they will only be eligible if they can
demonstrate that the activity for which funding is sought is additional to their core activities.
Applicants must list all current and requested funding under any other Commonwealth
funding scheme for all key personnel included in their proposal.
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3.4 ELIGIBLE EXPENSES
3.4.1 Collaborative Research Projects
The table below lists the expenses for which funding provided under the AISRF for
collaborative research projects can be used.
Expense
Notes
International Travel
International airfares for Indian researchers
International economy class return airfares travelling to Australia will be met by the
Government of India.
for Australian researchers travelling to
India to participate in meetings and
activities related to the joint project.
The Australian Government’s support is limited
Living expenses, including accommodation to a maximum of AUD300 per person per day,
and meals, for Indian researchers travelling or AUD4,000 per person per month, whichever
to Australia to participate in meetings and is the lesser amount.
activities related to the joint project.
Living expenses, including accommodation
and meals, for Australian researchers
travelling to India will be met by the
Government of India.
Living Expenses
Salaries
Salaries and on-costs for Australian nonongoing (temporary) researchers and staff
employed specifically for the purposes of
the project.
The occupant/s of the position/s must reside in
Australia. Postdoctoral and postgraduate
salaries listed in the application should be
consistent with ARC notional amounts
provided per annum for postdoctoral
fellowships and postgraduate stipends.
Information can be accessed from:
http://www.arc.gov.au/applicants/salaries.htm
Bench Fees
Project-specific bench fees, consumables,
freight and access to facilities.
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3.4.2 Other project-specific expenses
Any other project-specific expenses are subject to negotiation with DoI and will be
considered in relation to the value of the projected benefit to Australia and India. Funding
of other project-specific expenses is at the discretion of DoI.
Please note that grants are intended to contribute towards the cost of eligible activities and
are not intended to fully reimburse expenditure.
Funding sought for eligible expenses must be clearly itemised in the
application form. Funding will not be awarded for any other expense except
at the discretion of DoI where the applicant can demonstrate a specific need
for the expense.
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3.5 COSTS NOT ELIGIBLE FOR SUPPORT
The following activities/costs will not be funded for research projects.
Expenses not eligible for funding
Any activities, equipment or supplies that are already being supported through other
sources (see section 3.3).
Any cost incurred prior to the execution of a funding agreement with the Australian
Government.
Costs that duplicate the in-kind support from the applicant or other participants in the
project.
Capital expenditure for the purchase of assets such as office furniture, motor vehicles,
computers, printers or photocopiers not directly related to the project.
Costs involved in the purchase or upgrade/hire of software (including user licenses) and
ICT hardware (unless it can be used only for the project).
Administration/overhead and infrastructure costs.
Australian salaries and salary-related expenses for existing staff.
Staff recruitment and relocation costs.
International travel and living expenses for undergraduate and master’s students.
Costs associated with the internal preparation of finance and audit statements.
Debt financing.
3.6 CASH AND IN-KIND SUPPORT FROM OTHER SOURCES
Applicants will be assessed on the level of support that they can procure from both
Australian and Indian organisations (including the applicant’s own organisation) for their
collaborative research project (see section 4.2).
Australian contributions to the project may be in cash and/or in-kind. The contributions
may be from the applicant’s own organisation, other Australian sources (for example,
collaborative participants) or industry contributions. Salaries for project managers may be
included as an in-kind contribution.
In-kind contributions must be specific to the project and not part of a broader contribution
to the applicant organisation. Letters of support should provide specific details of in-kind
contributions. There is no requirement for applicants to demonstrate that the Australian
contribution (cash and/or in-kind) to the project matches or is more than the funding sought
from the Australian Government.
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Part 4 – Assessment Criteria and Process
4.1 NOTES ON THE ASSESSMENT CRITERIA
Applicants should note that, in accordance with the ‘value with public money’ requirements
of the Commonwealth Grant Guidelines, they should clearly demonstrate that the intended
outcomes cannot be achieved without grant assistance from the AISRF.
Please note the maximum number of words or pages specified for each criterion, use clear
language, avoid technical jargon wherever possible and spell out acronyms or
abbreviations in the first instance. Include all information and do not refer to other
sources, e.g. websites.
Supporting documentation should be provided as listed under each of the criteria. It can
be uploaded in the ‘Attachments’ section of the online application form.
A document checklist is provided in section 4.4.
The information provided in your application must be consistent with that provided by your
Indian partner’s application to the Government of India.
4.2 ASSESSMENT CRITERIA
Applicants will be assessed against the following criteria, all of which must be addressed:
A. The scientific merit of the proposed activity, including the potential of the anticipated
outcomes to advance the knowledge base of the discipline, and the likely impact of the
proposed research.
B. The value of the collaboration between Australia and India.
C. Project plan and budget.
D. Support for the project from participating Australian and Indian organisations.
The following table provides a guide on how to address each of the assessment criteria
and the weight given to each. Applications to the Indo-Australian Biotechnology Fund
should also address the additional items where indicated.
Weighting
Guide to addressing criteria
A.
The scientific merit of the proposed research, including the potential
of the anticipated outcomes to advance the knowledge base of the
discipline, and its likely scientific impact.
60%
The following documentation must be provided in support of this
criterion:
 A written proposal of no more than 10 A4 pages in 12-point Times
New Roman font addressing all of the headings, A1–A8, below. All
information contained in the proposal must be consistent with that
provided to the Government of India by the Indian partner.
 Curricula vitae for both Australian and Indian key personnel identified
under A6. No more than 4 pages for each person using the
template provided on the AISRF website.
 A letter from the Indian partner confirming both that the proposal is
jointly prepared and that the Indian partner is submitting an
equivalent proposal to the Government of India.
 For applications to the Indo-Australian Biotechnology Fund only:
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Weighting
Guide to addressing criteria
Letter from potential end user(s) stating their interest in applying the
project’s research outcomes.
POINTS TO BE ADDRESSED IN THE WRITTEN PROPOSAL:
A1. Proposal title: Use the same title as the title in the Project Details page
of the online application form. The proposal title must be identical in
both the Australian and Indian applications.
A2. Aims and background: Describe the aims and list the specific
objectives of the proposed research collaboration in the context of recent
international progress in the field of research, detailing how it will relate to,
and benefit, work in the field. Refer only to papers that are available to
national and international research communities.
For applications to the Indo-Australian Biotechnology Fund only: Specify the
key outcomes, including any joint publications, from the original AISRFfunded project — whether completed or nearing completion — and explain
how the proposed project will bring the research closer to end-use stage.
A3. Significance and innovation: Describe



how the proposed activity is significant;
the need for the proposed activity to address an important problem; and
how the anticipated outcomes will advance the knowledge base of the
discipline and/or address the problem.
A4. Approach and methodology: Outline the conceptual framework,
design and methods, and demonstrate that these are adequately
developed, well-integrated and appropriate to the aims of the proposed
research collaboration.
A5. Expected outcomes and benefits resulting from the collaboration:
Describe the expected outcomes and the likely impact of the proposed
research collaboration including the possible tangible benefits for the two
sides, including:


how the research collaboration might result in economic, environmental
and/or social benefits for Australia and/or India; and
how consortium members will ensure they collaborate effectively over
the course of the project.
For applications to the Indo-Australian Biotechnology Fund only: Explain
how the outcomes of the proposed project are expected to be applied by
potential end users. Statements from end users as to the utility of the work
and their interest in application of the project results will be noted as part of
the assessment process.
A6. Roles and research capability of personnel: Summarise

the role, responsibilities and contributions of each Chief Investigator /
Principal Investigator, Fellow and Partner Investigator, including the
proportion of their time each will spend on this activity;
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Weighting
Guide to addressing criteria


the leading-edge research capability of the project’s Australian and
Indian partners which must be demonstrated by evidence of their
academic awards and citations as contained in the submitted CVs,
and/or other measures of research or innovation excellence (limit 300
words); and
the roles and levels of involvement of other participants, such as
technical staff, including the division of work between Australian and
Indian investigators.
A7. References cited: Include a list of all references/documents cited in
support of claims made against Criterion A, within the page limit of 10 A4
pages.
A8. Details of governance arrangements, including intellectual
property (IP) provisions. Provide details of governance arrangements,
including use of intellectual property (IP), the proposed ownership of IP
generated by the project and strategies for protecting Australia’s interests
(limit 300 words).
Demonstrate that you have thought about and planned the governance of
the project and that set arrangements have been organised around the use
of IP. For example, a well-structured response will include more than one
sentence stating that the organisation’s IP procedures will be followed.
Outline how these will be applied and make it clear to the assessors that a
sound governance structure is in place.
B.
The value of collaboration between Australia and India
15%
Describe in no more than 2 A4 pages in 12-point Times New Roman
font why collaboration between the Australian and Indian partner
organisations is integral to achieving the outcomes of the proposed
research project.
C.
Project plan and budget
15%
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Weighting
Guide to addressing criteria
The following documentation must be provided in support of this
criterion:
 Project plan (no more than 5 A4 pages in 12-point Times New
Roman font) and budget (using the template provided on the
online application form).
POINTS TO BE ADDRESSED:


D.
10%
Your project plan should be presented as a mature research plan ready
for implementation, leading towards the overall project objectives and
include proposed timelines and milestones. It will form the basis of the
funding agreement between the Australian Government and successful
applicants.
The indicative budget for the Australian applicant should detail eligible
expenses for which AISRF funding is sought from the Australian
Government (refer to section 3.4) and should clearly detail in-kind
contributions.
Level of support for the research project from Australian and Indian
organisations (including the applicant’s own organisation)
The following documentation must be provided in support of this
criterion:
 Letter(s) of support from the applicant organisation and, if
applicable, any other Australian partner organisation(s),
demonstrating and clearly articulating the organisation’s financial
support (cash and/or in-kind) for the project, and a commitment to
engage in the research collaboration.
 Letter(s) of support from the Indian partner organisation and, if
applicable, any other international partner organisations,
demonstrating and clearly articulating the organisation’s financial
support (cash and/or in-kind), and a commitment to engage in the
research collaboration.
All letters of support must be prepared on official letterhead and be
signed by a person who is authorised to commit such support.
POINTS TO BE ADDRESSED:

This criterion requires the applicant to demonstrate, in no more than 300
words, the level of support for the research project from Australian and
Indian partners (including the applicant’s own organisation).
ADDITIONAL NOTES:


The supporting documentation must confirm and demonstrate claims.
Support for the project may encompass either a financial commitment or
an in-kind commitment.
In-kind costs must be directly related to costs of delivering the activities
of the project and can include salaries of staff for the time they are
involved, and other costs incurred for the duration of the activity. The
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Weighting
Guide to addressing criteria
proportion of each staff member’s time allocated to the project should be
specified.

An Australian partner organisation can include, though is not limited to,
industry bodies, state governments, Australian universities, Australian
Government research agencies and/or non-government sources.
Total
100%
4.3 CONDITIONS RELATING TO ASSESSMENT CRITERIA
The assessment criteria provide the basis for assessment of an application. It is the
applicant’s responsibility to provide all relevant information and documentation as required.
Please note that:
i)
ii)
iii)
applicants may be asked to provide additional information to clarify any issues
raised during the assessment process;
DoI may also seek the applicant’s permission to obtain further advice from third
parties, if appropriate; and
assessment of applications for grants exceeding $100,000 may include financial
viability checks on the applicant.
Supporting documentation is essential for the full assessment of your
application. Plan your application ahead of time to ensure all required
supporting documentation is submitted with your application form by the
closing date. Documents will not be accepted after this date.
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4.4 SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION
Supporting documentation checklist to assist with the preparation of your application.
Supporting Documentation
Have you attached this to
your application form?
Criterion A: Detailed written proposal that demonstrates the
scientific merit of the research collaboration.

Criterion A: Letter from the Indian primary partner confirming
that the proposal is jointly prepared. The letter should state
that the Indian partner agrees to submit an equivalent
proposal to the Government of India.

Criterion A: Curricula vitae for each of the key personnel
(both Australian and Indian) identified under A6.

Criterion A: For applications to the Indo-Australian
Biotechnology Fund only: Letter from potential end user(s)
stating their interest in applying the project’s research
outcomes.

Criterion B: Describe why collaboration between the
Australian and Indian partner organisations is integral to
achieving the outcomes of the proposed research project.

Criterion C: Detailed project plan and Australian budget.

Criterion D: Letter of support from the applicant organisation
clearly articulating the organisation’s financial support (cash
and/or in-kind) for the project and commitment to engage in
the research collaboration.

Criterion D: If applicable, letter of support from any other
Australian partner organisations clearly articulating the
organisation’s financial support (cash and/or in-kind) for the
project and commitment to engage in the research
collaboration.

Criterion D: Letter of support from the Indian partner
organisation clearly articulating the organisation’s financial
support (cash and/or in-kind) and commitment to engage in
the research collaboration.

Criterion D: If applicable, letter of support from any other
international partner organisations clearly articulating the
organisation’s financial support (cash and/or in-kind) and
commitment to engage in the research collaboration.

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4.5 ELIGIBILITY CHECKS AND ASSESSMENT OF
APPLICATIONS
All Australian applications received by DoI by the notified closing date will be checked to
confirm whether or not the eligibility criteria at section 2.1 have been met.
Eligible Australian applications will be peer reviewed against the assessment criteria at
section 4.2 by an independent Australian advisory panel of scientific experts appointed by
the responsible Minister. Panel members are required to adhere to the requirements of a
Roles and Responsibilities document that defines and details processes for the
identification, disclosure and management of conflicts of interest. Any conflicts of interest
will be managed by a DoI probity officer in accordance with Departmental policy.
Should an applicant identify a potential conflict of interest (e.g. they become aware that a
panel member is a current or former supervisor, colleague or collaborator, or a relative,
friend or personal acquaintance), they should notify DoI via e-mail at aisrf@industry.gov.au
immediately after submitting their online application form or as soon as they become
aware of such a situation afterwards, quoting the form receipt number and project title. A
potential conflict of interest will not adversely affect the application; however, DoI will seek
to ensure it is assessed independently by other members of the panel in order to avoid any
probity concerns being raised subsequently.
Applications submitted in parallel by the Indian partner will be assessed by advisory panels
established, for the Indo-Australian S&T Fund, by DST, and for the Indo-Australian
Biotechnology Fund, by DBT.
Drawing on recommendations from the relevant advisory panels, the Australian and Indian
governments, represented by the respective programme delegates, will decide on the
projects to be supported under the round. Their decision will be final.
The contact officer listed in each application will be notified by e-mail of the outcome of the
assessment process and the list of successful applicants will be published on DoI’s
website.
4.6 SUCCESSFUL AISRF APPLICANTS – FUNDING
AGREEMENT
DoI will contact all successful Australian applicants advising them of the level of funding
the Australian Government will offer to support the activity. To accept this offer, successful
applicants will be required to enter into a funding agreement with the Commonwealth.
The project plan and budget submitted in the application will form the basis of the funding
agreement, which will also include schedules that set out the details of payments,
performance indicators, reporting requirements and other terms and conditions associated
with the funding.
Successful applicants should note that they must not start work on the project until the
funding agreement is in place.
A DoI officer with the appropriate delegation, on behalf of the Commonwealth, will be the
last signatory to the funding agreement. DoI has no obligation to provide successful
applicants with any funding until the funding agreement has been executed by both
parties.
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4.7 ETHICS AND RESEARCH PRACTICES
The National Health and Medical Research Council’s (NHMRC) web site
(www.nhmrc.gov.au) provides a series of publications which outline principles of ethical
conduct in research. All proposals and funded research projects must, unless otherwise
authorised by DoI, conform to the principles outlined in the following and their successor
documents:

NHMRC/ARC/UA Australian Code for the Responsible Conduct of Research (2007);

as applicable, the NHMRC/ARC/AVCC National Statement on Ethical Conduct in
Human Research (2007); and

as applicable, codes on animal research promulgated by the NHMRC.
If there is any conflict or inconsistency between a successor document and its
predecessor, then the successor document prevails.
4.8 EVALUATION OF THE PROGRAMME
Successful applicants will, under the terms of the funding agreement, be required to
participate in a broad evaluation of the programme if requested to do so by DoI. This
evaluation, if conducted, will seek to identify the degree to which the programme is
meeting its objectives. One such evaluation was finalised in February 2013 and a
summary of the report is available on the DoI website (www.industry.gov.au/aisrf).
4.9 UNSUCCESSFUL AISRF APPLICANTS
Limited written feedback on individual applications will be provided to unsuccessful
applicants. No further correspondence will be entered into.
4.10 QUESTIONS, FEEDBACK AND COMPLAINTS
Feedback on the AISRF is welcome and can be submitted by e-mail to
aisrf@industry.gov.au.
If you have a question or complaint concerning the AISRF programme, assessment and/or
decision, please contact the AISRF team in the first instance via the e-mail address above,
or call the information line on (02) 6102 9079 (9am–5pm AEST/AEDT, Monday–Friday).
If you are not satisfied with the response or handling of your complaint, you can contact:
Ms Lisa Schofield
General Manager
Research, Collaboration & International Engagement Branch
Science, Research & Innovation Division
Department of Industry
GPO Box 9839
Canberra ACT 2601
E-mail: lisa.schofield@industry.gov.au
You may decide to lodge a complaint with the Commonwealth Ombudsman. There is no
fee for making a complaint and the Ombudsman will conduct an independent investigation
of your concerns. You should note that the Ombudsman usually prefers that you first work
through relevant internal processes before complaining about a decision.
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The Ombudsman has offices in all States and Territories. You can contact the
Ombudsman by telephone on 1300 362 072 or in writing to the relevant contact address
specified on the Ombudsman’s website at www.ombudsman.gov.au.
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Part 5 – How to apply
5.1 APPLICATION PROCESS
The AISRF is a bilateral fund and each Australian applicant must have an Indian partner.
These guidelines apply only to Australian AISRF applicants. The Indian partner must
submit an application to the Government of India in accordance with the guidelines issued
by DST (for the Indo-Australian S&T Fund) or DBT (for the Indo-Australian Biotechnology
Fund).
Australian applicants must lodge their application online. Applications received after the
closing date or outside of a formal round will not be considered (see section 1.5).
5.2 APPLICANTS’ RESPONSIBILITIES
Before submitting an application, applicants must ensure that:

they have thoroughly read these guidelines and noted the documents required;

they have satisfied themselves as to the correctness and sufficiency of their
applications; and

their proposal meets the eligibility criteria (see section 2.1) and addresses the
assessment criteria (see section 4.2).
Applicants are responsible for any and all costs incurred in the preparation and lodgement
of applications and in respect of any discussions, negotiations, enquiries or any work
undertaken by them after the application has been submitted.
5.3 ONLINE APPLICATION PROCESS
Australian applicants must apply to the fund using the online application form, which will be
available on the AISRF website (www.industry.gov.au/aisrf) from the opening date for this
round. Applicants should lodge their application form electronically by the closing time and
date (see section 1.5). Applications will not be accepted after this deadline or in any other
manner (e.g. hard copy). Applicants are encouraged to submit their application form as
early as possible to allow time to resolve any unexpected technical issues that may arise.
Each form you download can only be submitted once. If you want to submit a
second application, please download a new copy of the form. You can save
a copy of the form to your computer and edit the application without being
connected to the Internet, but you will require an Internet connection to
submit the form.
Information about applying online can also be found on the Department’s website:
www.industry.gov.au/aisrf.
If you encounter difficulties with the application process, please e-mail the AISRF team at:
aisrf@industry.gov.au.
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5.4 INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE APPLICATION
Important issues to consider before submitting an online application are described below.
5.4.1 GST and the project budget
The applicant’s project budget must include detailed costing (GST exclusive) of eligible
activities to be funded. An applicant receiving Commonwealth funding may incur tax
obligations. All applicants should seek independent professional advice on any tax
implications. DoI does not provide advice on tax.
DoI will not provide funding to cover any amount of GST incurred by an applicant where
the applicant is entitled to claim input tax credits for those GST amounts. Therefore, when
submitting project budgets, applicants must identify the GST exclusive cost of all items in
respect of which the applicant is entitled to an input tax credit.
5.4.2 Governance arrangements and intellectual property rights
Applicants must provide details of intellectual property (IP) issues in their applications.
This includes both the use of IP in the project and the proposed ownership of rights to IP
generated by the project as well as strategies for protecting Australia’s interests. Where IP
is likely to be generated by the project, successful applicants will be required to conclude
protocols or contracts with their Indian partners on the management of IP issues. These
agreements should be in accordance with laws and regulations prevailing in Australia and
India and provide for:

adequate and effective protection and equitable distribution of any benefits from IP
rights created in or resulting directly from cooperative activities (foreground IP rights);

ownership of foreground IP rights to be allocated on the basis of respective contribution
and equitable interests;

terms and conditions for the commercialisation and other forms of dissemination of the
foreground IP rights; and

adequate and effective protection of IP rights provided by the organisations,
enterprises and institutions prior to or in the course of such cooperative activities, for
example, the licensing or utilisation of such IP rights on equitable terms (background IP
rights).
5.5 AFTER SUBMISSION
Following the successful submission of an application form, applicants will be provided
with a submission acknowledgement and receipt number. This number should be retained
for future reference. Applicants can save or print a copy of the completed form and
acknowledgement. Copies of uploaded supporting documentation will need to be saved
and printed separately.
Applicants are responsible for ensuring the correctness, sufficiency and eligibility of their
application (see section 6.1).
5.6 FREEDOM OF INFORMATION (FOI)
All documents created or held by DoI with regard to the AISRF are subject to the Freedom
of Information Act 1982. Unless a document falls under an exemption provision, it will be
made available to the general public if requested under the Freedom of Information Act
1982 (Cth).
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All FOI requests are to be referred to the FOI team, Legal Services Branch, Corporate
Division, in DoI’s National Office. The FOI team may be contacted via e-mail at
foi@industry.gov.au.
Decisions regarding requests for access will be made by an authorised officer in
accordance with the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (Cth).
5.7 THE PRIVACY ACT 1988
DoI, its contractors and agents are bound by the provisions of the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth),
which prescribes how personal information can be collected, stored, used and disclosed.
Section 14 of the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) contains the Information Privacy Principles (IPPs)
which prescribe the rules for handling personal information. All personal information
provided to, and collected and held by, DoI is handled in accordance with the IPPs.
As of 12 March 2014, reforms to the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) will commence and the IPPs
will be replaced with the new Australian Privacy Principles (APPs). All personal
information provided to, and collected and held by DoI, will be handled in accordance with
the APPs from this date. Further information on the privacy reforms and APPs is available
on the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) website at
http://www.oaic.gov.au/privacy/about-privacy.
The IPPs can be viewed here: http://www.oaic.gov.au/privacy/privacy-resources/privacyfact-sheets/other/privacy-fact-sheet-1-information-privacy-principles-under-the-privacy-act1988 and the APPs here: http://www.oaic.gov.au/privacy/privacy-resources/privacy-factsheets/other/privacy-fact-sheet-17-australian-privacy-principles.
As stated in section 4.5, eligible Australian applications will be peer reviewed against the
assessment criteria by an independent Australian advisory panel of scientific experts
appointed by the responsible Minister. The information requested in the application form
and during the application process is collected for the purpose of assessing applications
against the selection criteria, selecting successful applicants for the receipt of a grant and
announcing successful applications to the general public. For these purposes, DoI may
provide some or all of the information collected in the application form and during the
application process to:

the Government of India’s Department of Science and Technology;

the Government of India’s Department of Biotechnology;

members of the advisory panel of scientific experts appointed by the Minister to assess
the applications, and any external assessors recruited by them;

law enforcement bodies; or

other agencies or individuals.
DoI may also publish certain information about successful applications on its website and
in media releases (see section 5.8).
The information collected in the application form and during the application process will not
be used for any other purpose or disclosed to any other person or organisation unless
such a use or disclosure is authorised by or under the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) or any other
laws.
The online application form offers applicants an opportunity to provide consent to release
information to a third party, specifically the Australian Trade Commission, known as
Austrade. Austrade has close links with companies in Australia, India and in other
countries and may be able to identify opportunities for private sector funding or
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commercialisation of the research for which you are seeking AISRF support. If you elect
to provide this consent, DoI may share basic details of your application with Austrade (i.e.
the Australian project manager’s name and contact details, names of participating
organisations, project title, summary and priority area). The provision of this consent is
entirely voluntary and will not affect your application in any way.
Complaints about alleged breaches of privacy should be referred to the Privacy Contact
Officer, Legal Services Branch, Corporate Division, in DoI’s National Office at
privacy@industry.gov.au. Privacy complaints also can be made directly to the OAIC.
Further information on making a privacy complaint to the OAIC is available on
http://www.oaic.gov.au/privacy/making-a-privacy-complaint. However, the OAIC prefers
that DoI be given an opportunity to deal with the complaint in the first instance.
5.8 PUBLICATION OF CERTAIN INFORMATION
For each successful application, DoI will publish the following information on its website at
www.industry.gov.au/aisrf and may also publish the following information in media
releases issued by the Government to announce the outcomes of Round Eight:

the project title of successful applications;

the names of the Australian and Indian partner organisations;

the names of the Australian and Indian project managers; and

the amount of Australian Government funding awarded.
5.9 CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION
DoI gives no undertaking to keep confidential the information provided in the application
form, or during the application process, unless that information is clearly identified by the
applicant as information that should be treated as confidential, including reasons for the
request.
The DoI obligations to keep information confidential will not be breached if the information
is:

authorised or required to be disclosed by law;

disclosed to the responsible Minister;

disclosed by DoI in response to a request by a House or a Committee of the Parliament
of the Commonwealth of Australia;

in the public domain otherwise than due to a breach of confidentiality by DoI.
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Part 6 – Additional information
6.1 DISCREPANCIES, AMBIGUITIES, INCONSISTENCIES,
ERRORS OR OMISSIONS IN AN APPLICATION
The Australian Government will not accept responsibility for any misunderstanding arising
from the failure by an applicant to comply with the guidelines, or arising from any
ambiguity, discrepancy, error or omission contained in an application.
If an applicant discovers any material discrepancy, ambiguity, inconsistency, error or
omission in their application, they must immediately bring it to the attention of DoI via email to aisrf@industry.gov.au.
DoI may request further information from an applicant and allow an applicant to remedy
any discrepancies, ambiguities, inconsistencies, errors or omissions in an application at
any time, including after the round closing date. DoI reserves the right to consider new
information regarding matters referred to in the original application at any time, including
after the round closing date.
DoI reserves the right to allow applicants to correct errors or omissions in submitted
applications. On these matters, DoI’s decision will be final. No correspondence will be
entered into in relation to the decision other than to inform the applicant of the decision.
Please note that giving false or misleading information to a Commonwealth entity is
an offence under section 137 of the Criminal Code 1995 (Cth).
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