RESEARCH INFRASTRUCTURE PROGRAM (GURIP)
GUIDELINES FOR APPLICANTS - 2014 ROUND
1. Introduction
The University receives Commonwealth funding to support its Australian Competitive Grants through the
Research Infrastructure Block Grant (RIBG). Since 2001 the University has distributed the majority of its
RIBG allocation via the Griffith University Research Infrastructure program.
The Griffith University Research Infrastructure program supports the objectives of the RIBG by.
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Encouraging researchers within areas of strategic investment (ASIs), research centres and schools
to develop collaborative arrangements amongst themselves, across the University and with external
organisations, to develop research infrastructure;
Enhancing support for areas of research strength; and
Ensuring that the University’s ASIs, research centres and schools have access to the infrastructure
to support their development.
The program aims to assist ASIs, research centres and schools to achieve their research goals by providing
support for the procurement of a range of research infrastructure, including equipment and facilities
specifically to support research higher degree students.
2. Privacy Statement
Griffith University collects, stores and uses personal information for the purposes of administering the
Research Infrastructure Program, assessing grant applications and reporting to University senior
management. The information collected will not be disclosed to third parties without your consent, except to
meet government, legal or other regulatory authority requirements. For further information consult the
University’s Privacy Plan at http://www.griffith.edu.au/about-griffith/plans-publications/griffith-universityprivacy-plan.
3. NHMRC Equipment Grant
The NHMRC also provides an annual equipment allocation to support research funded through the NHMRC.
The NHMRC Equipment Grant is allocated through the GURIP grant process. At least one applicant on a
GURIP application must currently hold an NHMRC grant to be considered for this funding.
The NHMRC’s objectives for awarding Equipment Grant funding are:
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Institutions are to be strategic in the purchase of larger items of equipment that will benefit health
and medical research in Australia;
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equipment will be used collaboratively; and
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to support, where possible, the purchase of Australian-made equipment.
While considering these objectives, the NHMRC requires the following criteria to be met:
 the equipment should support the highest quality health and medical research funded by the
NHMRC (or through another competitive grant process);
 consideration should be given to whether similar equipment can already be accessed in the
University or region; and
 thought should be given to the collaborative gain to be achieved through the use of the equipment
e.g. multi-user equipment which crosses disciplines, research groups and departments.
4. Eligibility
Groups of researchers within Griffith University’s ASIs, research centres and schools are invited to apply for
assistance through this scheme. Only applications for research infrastructure, as defined in 5.0 below, will
be considered.
2012 GURIP Guidelines
RESEARCH INFRASTRUCTURE PROGRAM (GURIP)
Applications, which seek funding to develop institutional equipment or facilities rather than strictly campus
or single research centre/school based facilities, will be considered favorably.
Any participant may only be named on two GURIP applications whether first or subsequently named. Any
additional applications bearing the name/s of participants (whether first or subsequently named) will be
deemed ineligible. In this situation, the Committee will give participant/s the opportunity to nominate which
of their application/s, from the total number they have submitted, will be withdrawn from the round.
5. Research Infrastructure
Research infrastructure, for the purpose of this Scheme, includes:
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an item of equipment or a cohesive package of equipment items (i.e. a suite of equipment which
obviously contributes to a particular type of research), installation and maintenance;
maintenance of existing pieces of major equipment in an area of research strength where there
is a short term inability to fund the maintenance from existing resources;
non-capital aspects of facilities such as libraries, computing centres, animal houses, specimen
collections, experimental sites;
subscriptions to external research facilities including databases;
databases;
bibliographic materials;
salaries of research support staff (including research assistants and technicians) employed to
provide general support for the infrastructure but not dedicated to a particular project;
and other equivalent resource materials.
The following are not regarded as research facilities for the purpose of this scheme:
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any piece of equipment/infrastructure that is not specifically for research purposes;
capital works;
salaries of teaching and research staff (including the cost of "buying time" to free such staff to do
more research);
postgraduate research student stipends;
infrastructure used for teaching in undergraduate or non-research programs.
any costs directly associated with individual projects.
Note: Where the requested infrastructure already exists within the University, the applicant must justify the
need for another such item by completing question 17 on the application form.
6. Installation, Accommodation and Maintenance of the Equipment/Facility
Many pieces of equipment and major facilities require installation and/or ongoing maintenance. For larger
pieces of equipment consideration must be given to the availability of space and the type of space required.
Applications which request funding for new equipment or facilities which have special installation needs (eg
special air-conditioning, additional services such as three-phase power, water or renovations) or ongoing
maintenance must provide an explanation of how these costs are to be met. Where appropriate, applicants
may need to discuss their proposals with Campus Life and technical services staff within their Group in
order to determine costs associated with the installation, operation, maintenance and technical staff support
of the facility and any health and safety aspects of installing and maintaining the facility. Elements must
ensure that risk assessments are conducted for the equipment prior to purchase, and that the equipment is
operated in accordance with the University’s Health and Safety Policy.
Requests for recurrent funding for a maximum period of three (3) years will be considered. Applicants in
receipt of a three year recurrent GURIP grant will immediately become ineligible to apply for GURIP funding
within this three year period for a related item of infrastructure. Applications for recurrent maintenance
costs should only be made to meet temporary shortfalls in maintenance funding of major equipment in an
area of research strength (ie where there has been significant Australian Competitive Grant (ACG) funding
in the past and where it is anticipated that future ACG funding will be forthcoming). Applicants will need to
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RESEARCH INFRASTRUCTURE PROGRAM (GURIP)
convince the assessment panel that it is crucial to the research area that the particular piece of equipment
be maintained. In addition, the applicant must indicate the strategy that will be put in place in the future to
meet these maintenance costs should external funding not be forthcoming.
In judging eligibility for recurrent funding, the GURIP Assessment Panel will take into consideration whether:
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The applicants have consistently high research performance and output,
There would be university-wide use of strategic equipment,
The applicants apply and obtain substantial grant funding.
For the purposes of this program chemicals and other consumables required for operating particular pieces
of equipment are not considered to be maintenance.
Equipment purchased under this scheme is the property of Griffith University.
7. Funding/Budget Justification
The majority of grants awarded will be in the order of $100,000, but there will also be smaller grant
allocations of approximately $50,000. Whilst grants of less than $50,000 are occasionally awarded, this is
not usual practice, and applications are expected to be for at least $50,000.
Applications which demonstrate that funding has been sought or acquired in part from another funding
source may be considered more favorably. Applications should also justify why funding has not been sought
or is not available for the facilities requested.
Budget items detailed in the application must be priced exclusive of GST. The cost of GST may be part of
the purchase price but it will not be charged to the GURIP account. Instead the GST will be paid by a
University account which the University will reclaim from the Australian Tax Office.
Quotations for all equipment purchases, exclusive of GST or clearly stating the tax-free and GST
components must be attached to the application.
Requests for the salaries of research support staff must indicate why these salaries cannot be provided
from existing research grant funds AND indicate the on-going benefit of the resource beyond the granting
period. For example, in the case of research support staff employed to construct a database, the ongoing
resource would be the database that would be available for researchers to use.
Where applicants are applying for equipment/infrastructure (including maintenance requests), which was
included within an application to a previous University Infrastructure Scheme round, applicants must state
why this further application is being made.
Where applicable, applicants are required to advise how GURIP funded facilities will generate income and
indicate how these funds are to be used – see section 13 of the application form.
8. Endorsement
Written endorsement, demonstrating how the proposed infrastructure will complement the Centre,
Academic Group or University research plan must be provided within section 19 of the application:
 For applications not aligned with a centre – written endorsement for the proposal must be
provided by the Head of School.
 For applications aligned with a centre – written endorsement for the proposal must be provided
by the Centre Director.
 For all applications - signed endorsement for the proposal must also be provided by the relevant
Research Dean, except for research centres that report directly to the Academic Group Pro Vice
Chancellor. In the latter case, the relevant PVC should endorse the proposal.
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RESEARCH INFRASTRUCTURE PROGRAM (GURIP)
Where more than one application is submitted by a School or Centre, the Head of School or Research
Centre Director must advise the Office for Research of the priority order of those applications, no later than
one week following the closing date for the scheme.
9. Assessment
Applications will be assessed, and reviewed according to the assessment criteria, by a University Panel
chaired by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) and with at least one representative from each
Academic Group as nominated by the Group Pro Vice Chancellors. Members of the Panel will exclude
themselves during consideration of any proposals in which they are an applicant. The Panel may seek the
advice of appropriately qualified assessors inside or outside the University, and may request additional
advice from the applicants, but is not obliged to do so.
10. Assessment Criteria
The primary criteria for assessing applications are:
50%
The track record of the applicants, relative to opportunity, as assessed by standard research
performance indicators – research income, research publications and research higher degree
completions;
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The extent to which funds will be used to address a need in an area of strategic priority to the
University, by remedying a deficiency in current research infrastructure. Preference will be given
to applications that leverage funds from other than the GURIP fund.
11. How to Apply,Closing Date and Outcomes
The guidelines and application form are available on the Office for Research website at :
http://www.griffith.edu.au/research/research-services/research-grants/funding-opportunities/internal-grants
Closing date: Monday, 24 June 2013 – late applications will not be accepted
Lodgement: Applicants must email an electronic copy of the full application as a single file using the
naming convention ‘Lead CI Name_GURIP 2014 application’ by 5pm on the closing date to:
researchgrants@griffith.edu.au Contact: Kath Murrie-Jones
A separate Research Grant Cover sheet is not required.
Outcomes: Applicants can expect to receive notification of the outcome of their applications by late
September 2013.
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