ARC Centres of Excellence
for funding commencing in 2017
June 2015
Australian Research Council
Presentation Overview
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Overview of ARC Centres of Excellence
Applying for a 2017 Centre
Key points on the process
Key changes since 2014 round
Selection criteria
Personnel, organisations and budgets
Other tips and timeline
Questions
Web: arc.gov.au I Email: centres@arc.gov.au
National Competitive Grants Program
Discovery Program
Australian
Laureate
Fellowships
Discovery
Indigenous
Future Fellowships
Discovery Early
Career Researcher
Award
Discovery Projects
Linkage Program
ARC Centres of
Excellence
Industrial
Transformation
Research Hubs
Co-funded
Centres and
Special Research
Initiatives
Industrial
Transformation
Training Centres
Linkage Projects
Web: arc.gov.au I Email: centres@arc.gov.au
ARC Linkage Program
National Competitive Grants Program (NCGP)
Linkage Program
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Linkage Projects
Industrial Transformation Research Program
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment and Facilities
ARC Centres of Excellence
Co-Funded Centres
Special Research Initiatives
Linkage Learned Academies Special Projects
Web: arc.gov.au I Email: centres@arc.gov.au
Overview of ARC Centres of Excellence
The ARC Centres of Excellence scheme was
originally established in 2002 to support research
intended to build national capability in areas of
national importance and develop the scale and
focus necessary for Australia to achieve
international standing in those areas.
The scheme funds world class, internationally
competitive research teams investigating, and
finding solutions to, challenging and important
Australian and international problems.
Web: arc.gov.au I Email: centres@arc.gov.au
ARC NCGP funding by scheme 2006–2014
100%
LASP
90%
Thinking Systems
Research Networks
80%
Linkage International
LP
70%
LIEF
Future Fellows
60%
Linkage Postdoctoral (CSIRO)
Super Science Fellows
50%
Laureates
Federation Fellows
40%
DECRA
DP
30%
Discovery Indigenous
DIRD
20%
ITRP Hubs
ITRP Centres
10%
Centres of Excellence
Centres (special)
0%
2006
SRIs
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
Previous statistics—2014
EOIs
EOIs
received shortlisted
103
24
Full
proposals
received
Number
interviewed
Successful
proposals
22
22
12
Australian Government commitment of $284.9 million
over seven years
Web: arc.gov.au I Email: centres@arc.gov.au
Overview of ARC Centres of Excellence
ARC Centres of Excellence involve significant
collaboration with:
• universities
• publicly funded research organisations
• other research bodies
• governments and
• businesses
in all fields of research (except Medical Research)
Web: arc.gov.au I Email: centres@arc.gov.au
The ARC Centres of Excellence—objectives
• highly innovative and potentially transformational
research
• interdisciplinary, collaborative approaches
• develop relationships and build new networks
• build Australia’s human capacity
• postgraduate and postdoctoral training
• large-scale problems over longer periods of time
• impact on wider community through interaction with
universities, government, industry, private and nonprofit sector
Web: arc.gov.au I Email: centres@arc.gov.au
Consultation and Feedback
• The ARC consulted the sector in November 2014 on
various options for the 2017 round through a formal
consultation paper
• The findings of the mid-term reviews for CE11 in 2014
have provided valuable input
• ARC post-award business following the establishment
of CE14 has also informed the 2017 round
Web: arc.gov.au I Email: centres@arc.gov.au
Key changes since 2014
Major changes
Minor changes
Revisions to scheme objectives and
selection criteria
New Eligible Organisations—Torrens
University Australia and AIATSIS
Increases in maximum funding level
to $5 million per annum and salary
on-costs to 30%
CI eligibility aligned with other ARC
schemes
Inclusion of external peer review at
Expression of Interest stage
Minimum time commitment of 0.2
FTE for CIs
Clarification on commitments from
participating organisations
Clarification on better practice in
governance and expectations of
outstanding leadership
Web: arc.gov.au I Email: centres@arc.gov.au
The process—key participants
• Organisations
- Administering Organisations
- Other Eligible Organisations
- Partner Organisations
• The collaboration of these organisations must form a
national entity, not a distributed network
Web: arc.gov.au I Email: centres@arc.gov.au
Current Centres
of Excellence—
Collaborations
Centre of
Excellence
Australian Org.
International
Higher Ed.
Government
The process—key participants (2)
• Personnel
- Centre Director
- Chief Investigators
- Partner Investigators
• A Centre may also involve other participants with more
informal arrangements (for example, Associate
Investigators)
Web: arc.gov.au I Email: centres@arc.gov.au
The process of applying for a Centre
Competitive three stage process for applications
1. Expressions of Interest
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external expert assessment/rejoinder (new)
shortlisted by Selection Advisory Committee (SAC)
2. Full Proposal
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–
external expert assessment/rejoinder
SAC shortlists Proposals for interview phase
3. Interviews in Canberra with SAC
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Proposed Centre Director, key researchers
DVCR
The SAC will make recommendations to ARC CEO for
Ministerial approval
Web: arc.gov.au I Email: centres@arc.gov.au
The process—key changes
• No budget will be required for EOIs
• EOIs will be externally peer reviewed to improve
applicant feedback and increase the robustness of
expert advice
• One ‘Request Not To Assess’ submission to cover
both EOI and full Proposal assessment process
Web: arc.gov.au I Email: centres@arc.gov.au
The process—cross scheme eligibility
• Note the revised definition of ARC Research
Centres Program and its exclusions of certain
initiatives:
ARC Research Centres Program means a research
centre wholly or partly funded by the ARC and
includes ARC Centres of Excellence, Co-funded
Centres and specific ARC Special Research Initiatives
(excluding Initiatives providing funding for
Synchrotron Science, the Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander Researchers’ Network and Type 1 Diabetes)
Web: arc.gov.au I Email: centres@arc.gov.au
The process – cross scheme eligibility – limits
of grants held
• The ARC has allowed researchers to retain all
grants/Fellowships/Awards held or Proposals
submitted through other ARC funding schemes until
the outcome of the ARC Centres of Excellence
Proposal is publicly known.
• If the Centre Proposal is successful, the relevant
Centre Director and Chief Investigators will be
required to relinquish projects to comply with
specified limits of permissible grants held.
Web: arc.gov.au I Email: centres@arc.gov.au
The process – duplication of research
The ARC will initially allow researchers to submit
proposals to and hold grants in other ARC schemes.
Researchers, however, will need to identify those
projects which overlap or duplicate the research
program proposed in the Centre Proposal and explain
to the ARC that if the Centre Proposal is successful:
• the projects which overlap with the Centre Proposal
will be relinquished; or
• the projects may be retained if they demonstrate
compliance with stated eligibility and duplication
requirements in the Funding Rules.
Web: arc.gov.au I Email: centres@arc.gov.au
The selection criteria
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One set of selection criteria but
- there are different weightings for EOIs and full
Proposals
The selection criteria have been revised
•
Expression of Interest
Selection Criteria
EOI Weighting
A. Research program – quality
and innovation
70%
B. Investigators
30%
Web: arc.gov.au I Email: centres@arc.gov.au
The selection criteria (2)
Full Proposal
Selection Criteria
Weighting
A. Research program – quality 20%
and innovation
B. Investigators
20%
C. Institutional support
20%
D. Governance, leadership
and mentoring
20%
E. Outcomes and linkages
20%
Web: arc.gov.au I Email: centres@arc.gov.au
Key matters relating to personnel
• Centre Directors
– commit a minimum of 70% (0.7 FTE) of their time
– be employed by Administering Organisation at
time of Centre commencement
• A Centre Director can only be nominated for that
role on one EOI/full Proposal
• A Centre Director must demonstrate outstanding
leadership
Web: arc.gov.au I Email: centres@arc.gov.au
Key matters relating to personnel (2)
• Chief Investigators and Partner Investigators
– CI must be an employee for at least 20% (0.2
FTE) at an Eligible Organisation
– CI must commit a minimum of 20% (0.2 FTE) to
the activities of the Centre
What will be the contribution of the Centre Director,
Chief Investigators and Partner Investigators to the
proposed research program and do they have
appropriate capacity and commitment to the Program?
Web: arc.gov.au I Email: centres@arc.gov.au
Other Eligible Organisations
• An EOI or Proposal must include one or more Other
Eligible Organisations (see section A15 of the
Funding Rules for list of eligible organisations)
• There must be a significant contribution of cash
and/or in-kind contributions and/or other material
resources from the Other Eligible Organisation(s)
• The ARC is not prescriptive as to the type or level of
contribution.
Web: arc.gov.au I Email: centres@arc.gov.au
Partner Organisations
• An EOI or Proposal must include one or more Partner
Organisations
• A Partner Organisation must not be an Eligible
Organisation, or a controlled entity, or an entity (for
example a joint venture) where more than 50% is owned
by one or more Eligible Organisations.
• There must be a significant contribution of cash and/or
in-kind Contributions and/or other material resources
from the Partner Organisation(s).
• The ARC is not prescriptive as to the type or level of
contribution.
Web: arc.gov.au I Email: centres@arc.gov.au
Changes to Funding Agreement in the 2017
Round (1)
Please read the Funding Agreement as there have
been changes to the administrative and
operational process:
• Strategic Planning
• Equity Plan
• Advisory Committees
• Use of Discretionary Expenditure
• Associate Investigators
Web: arc.gov.au I Email: centres@arc.gov.au
Changes to Funding Agreement in the 2017
Round (2)
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Cross-discipline, Cross-node Research Program
Capacity Building and Training
Communication, Education and Outreach Plan
CE11 Centres—a word on rebids
Web: arc.gov.au I Email: centres@arc.gov.au
Research Impact
• Research Impact means the demonstrable
contribution that research makes to the economy,
society, culture, national security, public policy or
services, health, the environment, or quality of life,
beyond contributions to academia
• It is included in objectives and selection criteria
• The ARC is seeking better communication about
research outcomes
Web: arc.gov.au I Email: centres@arc.gov.au
Research Impact Pathways
Research Impact Pathway*
Inputs
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Research
income
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Staff
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Background IP
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Infrastructure
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Collections
Activities
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Research Work and
Training
Workshop/Conference
Organising
Facility Use
Membership of Learned
Societies and Academies
Community and
Stakeholder Engagement
Outputs
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Publications
including EPublications
Additions to
National Collections
Outcomes
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New IP: Patents and
Inventions
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Policy Briefings
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Media
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Commercial
Products, Licences
and Revenue
Benefits
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New Companies –
Spin offs, Start Ups
or Joint Ventures
Job Creation
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Implementation of
Programs and Policy
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Citations
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Economic, Health,
Social, Cultural,
Environmental,
National Security,
Quality of Life,
Public Policy or
Services
Higher Quality
Workforce
Job Creation
Risk Reduction in
Decision Making
Integration into
Policy
*Items listed above are high level examples that may assist with the development of a Research
Plan and in understanding your Research Impact Pathway
Web: arc.gov.au I Email: centres@arc.gov.au
Tips for new players!
• Track records: success is important. The ARC
is looking for the best people to conduct
research and capacity building in the future
• Collaborations, linkages, networks: the whole
must be greater than the sum of the parts
Web: arc.gov.au I Email: centres@arc.gov.au
Tips for new players! (2)
• Objectives of the scheme: think carefully about
the objectives and how you address them
• Research program: well thought out and
developed—workshopping with relevant parties
Web: arc.gov.au I Email: centres@arc.gov.au
Timeline
• Work with the proposed Administering Organisation
– Research Office
• Regularly monitor the indicative dates on Centres
page on ARC website
ARC Centres of Excellence
Key Indicative Dates
Expression of Interest open
3 June
Expression of Interest close
22 July
Rejoinders open and close
21 August–31 August
Proposals open
7 October
Proposals close
16 December
Rejoinders open and close
Interviews
3 March–17 March
16 May–20 May
Forthcoming discussion topics
• ARC peer review process—presentations
now happening
• Release of new ARC Research Integrity
and Misconduct Policy
• Introduction of ORCID in future grant
proposals
Web: arc.gov.au I Email: centres@arc.gov.au
ARC Centres of Excellence