Australian Research Council Act 2001 - Linkage International - Funding Rules for Arc International Fellowships commencing in 2006 and Awards submitted in 2005 (Cth)

Linkage International

Funding Rules

For

ARC International Fellowships commencing in

2006 and Awards submitted in 2005

Australian Research Council

Linkage International

Funding Rules for funding commencing in 2006

Table of Contents

ACRONYMS

KEY DATES

CONTACTS

1. INTRODUCTION

1.1. NCGP OBJECTIVES

1.2. LINKAGE INTERNATIONAL

1.2.1. ARC INTERNATIONAL FELLOWSHIPS

1.2.2. LINKAGE INTERNATIONAL AWARDS

1.3. FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES AND REQUIREMENTS

1.3.1. ETHICS AND RESEARCH PRACTICES

1.3.2. DUPLICATION

1.3.3. CONFLICT OF INTEREST

1.3.4. ACKNOWLEDGING ARC SUPPORT

2. CHANGES FROM LAST YEAR

3. FUNDING

3.1. LEVEL OF FUNDING

3.2. DURATION OF FUNDING

3.3. AREAS OF INVESTIGATION NOT SUPPORTED

3.4. BUDGET ITEMS NOT SUPPORTED

3.5. NUMBER OF GRANTS AND APPLICATIONS

4. ORGANISATIONAL TYPES, ROLES AND ELIGIBILITY

5. INVESTIGATOR TYPES, ROLES AND ELIGIBILITY

5.1. APPLICANT ROLES

5.2. ELIGIBILITY OF APPLICANT

5.3. ELIGIBILITY OF PROJECT

6. CROSS-PROGRAM FUNDING

7. APPLICATION PROCESS

7.1. ELIGIBILITY EXEMPTIONS

7.2. APPLICATIONS

7.3. CERTIFICATION

7.4. SUBMISSION OF APPLICATIONS

7.4.1. APPLICATION FORMAT

7.4.2. APPLICATION CONTENT FOR ARC INTERNATIONAL FELLOWSHIPS

7.4.2.1. ADDITIONAL TEXT

7.4.2.2. CURRICULUM VITAE AND SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION

7.4.3. APPLICATION CONTENT FOR LINKAGE INTERNATIONAL AWARDS

7.4.3.1. ADDITIONAL TEXT

7.4.3.2. CURRICULA VITAE AND SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION

7.4.3.3. AWARDS FUNDED UNDER AN INTERNATIONALLY-COORDINATED INITIATIVE OF THE ARC AND OVERSEAS FUNDING AGENCY OR AGENCIES

7.4.4. NUMBER OF COPIES

7.4.5. CLOSING DATE FOR APPLICATIONS

7.4.6. HOW TO COMPLETE AND SUBMIT APPLICATIONS

8. SELECTION AND APPROVAL PROCESS

8.1. SELECTION CRITERIA

8.1.1. ARC INTERNATIONAL FELLOWSHIPS

8.1.2. LINKAGE INTERNATIONAL AWARDS

8.1.3. ADDITIONAL CONSIDERATIONS

8.2. ASSESSMENT AND SELECTION PROCEDURE

8.2.1. APPLICATIONS FOR AWARDS FUNDED UNDER INTERNATIONALLY COORDINATED INITIATIVES OF THE ARC AND OVERSEAS FUNDING AGENCY OR AGENCIES

8.2.2. EXCLUSION

8.3. OFFER OF GRANT

9. APPEALS PROCESS

10.ADMINISTRATION OF GRANTS

10.1. FUNDING AGREEMENT

10.1.1. VARYING THE FUNDING AGREEMENT

10.1.2. VARYING THE FUNDING APPROVAL

10.1.3. REPORTS

11.OTHER MATTERS

11.1. APPLICABLE LAW

11.1.1. APPLICATIONS FOR AWARDS FUNDED UNDER INTERNATIONALLY COORDINATED INITIATIVES OF THE ARC AND OVERSEAS FUNDING AGENCY OR AGENCIES

11.2. CONFIDENTIALITY

11.3. PROJECT TITLES

11.4. INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

11.5. INCOMPLETE OR MISLEADING INFORMATION

11.6. INSURANCE AND LIABILITIES

APPENDIX 1. ELIGIBLE ORGANISATIONS

A: HIGHER EDUCATION ORGANISATIONS

B: OTHER ELIGIBLE ORGANISATIONS

APPENDIX 2. NOTIONAL ARC FELLOWSHIP SALARIES FOR FUNDING COMMENCING IN 2006 (2006$)

APPENDIX 3. ANGLO-AUSTRALIAN OBSERVATORY FELLOWSHIPS

APPENDIX 4. FRENCH FELLOWSHIPS

APPENDIX 5. GERMAN FELLOWSHIPS

APPENDIX 6. THE REPUBLIC OF KOREA (SOUTH KOREA) FELLOWSHIPS

APPENDIX 7. AUSTRALIA-ISRAEL FELLOWSHIPS

APPENDIX 8. LINKAGE INTERNATIONAL AWARDS

APPENDIX 9. DESCRIPTIONS OF DESIGNATED NATIONAL RESEARCH PRIORITIES AND ASSOCIATED PRIORITY GOALS

Acronyms

The following acronyms are used in ARC Funding Rules.

AEST Australian Eastern Standard Time

AEDT Australian Eastern Daylight Saving (Summer) Time

AIMS Australian Institute of Marine Science

ANSTO Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation

APA Australian Postgraduate Award

APAI Australian Postgraduate Award (Industry)

APD Australian Postdoctoral Fellowship

APDC Australian Postdoctoral Fellowship (CSIRO)

APDI Australian Postdoctoral Fellowship (Industry)

APF Australian Professorial Fellowship

ARC Australian Research Council

ARCIF Australian Research Council International Fellowship

ARF Australian Research Fellowship

AVCC Australian Vice-Chancellors’ Committee

CoE College of Experts

CI Chief Investigator

CRC Cooperative Research Centre

CSIRO Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation

DSTO Defence Science and Technology Organisation

ECR Early Career Researcher

ERISS Environmental Research Institute of the Supervising Scientist

GA Geoscience Australia

GAMS Grant Application Management System

GST Goods and Services Tax

HECS Higher Education Contribution Scheme

KCTR Key Centre for Teaching and Research

LASP Learned Academies Special Projects

LIEF Linkage Infrastructure Equipment and Facilities Program

LIF Linkage Industry Fellowship

NC Network Convenor

NCGP National Competitive Grants Program

NHMRC National Health and Medical Research Council

NP Network Participant

PI Partner Investigator

QEII Queen Elizabeth II Fellowship

SPIRT Strategic Partnerships with Industry – Research and Training

SRC Special Research Centre

URL Universal Resource Locator

Key Dates

1. Linkage International Awards

There are no closing dates for Awards. Applications are accepted at any time and are batched several times a year for assessment.

The ARC will from time to time make a call for internationally co-ordinated proposals. These will have specific closing dates listed at the time of the announcement.

2. International Fellowships

Closing date for eligibility exemption requests for Linkage International Fellowships - Friday 4 February 2005 5pm AEDT

Closing date for applications for Linkage International Fellowships - Friday 18 March 2005 5pm AEDT

Last date for letters requesting non-use of an assessor for Linkage International Fellowships – Friday 18 March 2005 5pm AEDT

Contacts

The ARC deals with many thousands of applications each year. Where possible, applicants should direct requests for information to the Research Office or similar unit within their organisation.

Enquiries about Linkage International may be addressed to:

Linkage International Program Coordinator

Australian Research Council

GPO Box 2702

CANBERRA ACT 2601

Email: [email protected]

Phone: 02 6284 6600

Fax: 02 6284 6638

Web:       align="center">Australian Research Council
Linkage International
Funding Rules for ARC International Fellowships commencing in
2006 and Awards submitted in 2005
Introduction
This document sets out the Funding Rules for Linkage International, a scheme funded under the Australian Research Council’s National Competitive Grants Program (NCGP), which comply with the requirements of the Australian Research Council Act2001 (the Funding Rules).
Applicants should read and understand the entire Funding Rules and the ARC’s standard Funding Agreement [which is available at before submitting an application to the ARC. Applicants are responsible for ensuring that their applications are complete and accurate.
1.1.   NCGP Objectives
The Australian Research Council (ARC) is an Australian Government statutory authority established under the Australian Research Council Act 2001 (the ARC Act). The primary functions of the ARC, as specified by the ARC Act, are to make recommendations regarding the funding of research programs, to administer funding to support research programs, and to provide policy advice related to research and research training.
The ARC has established a range of competitive funding schemes for the support of research and research training under the framework of the NCGP. A list of current NCGP funding schemes is available on the ARC web site at the operation of a range of funding schemes under the NCGP, the ARC aims to:
a.   Maintain and build on existing research and research training;
b.   Build the scale and focus of research and research training;
c.   Encourage inter-disciplinary approaches to research and research training;
d.   Facilitate collaborative approaches to research and research training; and
e.   Support research and research training in the following National Research Priority Areas:
An Environmentally Sustainable Australia,
Promoting and Maintaining Good Health,
Frontier Technologies for Building and Transforming Australian Industries, and
Safeguarding Australia.
Full descriptions of these National Research Priority Areas and their associated Priority Goals can be found in Appendix 9, and on the ARC web site ( Assessment of the degree to which a proposed project would contribute to National Research Priority Areas and Priority Goals may be used as part of the selection process in NCGP schemes.
1.2.   Linkage International
The Commonwealth provides funding under Linkage International for movement of researchers between Australian research institutions and centres of research excellence overseas, and to foster collaboration and networking between Australian and overseas researchers. It provides two types of support:
1.   Awards: to build links between researchers, research teams and research centres of excellence in Australia and overseas by funding extended collaborations.
Internationally co-ordinated proposals.
From time to time, the ARC may collaborate with overseas funding agencies to fund internationally coordinated collaborative Awards. The ARC’s call for proposals will be coordinated with those of the other participating agencies. The selection process and criteria for Awards will apply to applications for internationally coordinated Awards, and applications will be assessed competitively with other Awards applications under consideration. The ARC will refer recommended proposals to the collaborating overseas agency or agencies for further coordinated discussion. ARC funding of internationally coordinated Awards may be subject to the decision of the collaborating overseas agency or agencies to fund the counterpart application(s) submitted by overseas investigators.
2.   Fellowships, including:
a.   ARC International Fellowships funded under international agreements for the reciprocal exchange of postdoctoral researchers, including the Anglo-Australian Observatory (AAO) Fellowship Agreement;
b.   ARC International Fellowships to fund overseas researcher/s to work in Australia;
c.   ARC International Fellowships to fund Australian researcher/s to work in overseas institutions; and
d.   Australia-Israel Fellowships co-funded by the ARC and the Australia-Israel Scientific Exchange Foundation.
Linkage International aims to:
a.   build strong ongoing collaborations between researchers, research teams or centres of excellence in Australia and overseas;
b.   strengthen international research experience for early career researchers and generate opportunities for postgraduate and postdoctoral researchers to link into leading-edge international research networks;
c.   build Australian research capability by enhancing existing, and developing new, collaborations among experienced and senior researchers; and
d.   develop innovative modes of international collaboration and links into global innovation networks.
A Linkage International application must propose a research collaboration of international standard in a relevant discipline or multi-disciplinary field.
1.2.1.   ARC International Fellowships
ARC International Fellowships fund outstanding postdoctoral, research or senior research fellows to work in Australian or overseas institutions. ARC International Fellowships are available for a period of up to 12 months.
To bring international fellows to Australia, Australian-based Chief Investigator/s submit an application for a collaborative project with the Fellow as a named participant on the application.
For Australian researchers to work in overseas institutions, the researcher applies as a Fellow directly to the ARC, with an Australian eligible higher education institution as the administering organisation. At least one Overseas Investigator must be included as a named participant on the application. The application must demonstrate the support of the proposed host institution and researcher collaborator/s in the host institution.
Australian researchers currently employed in overseas institutions are encouraged to apply for ARC International Fellowships to maintain and develop collaborations with Australian-based colleagues.
The following Fellowships are funded:
a.   The Anglo-Australian Observatory Fellowship (refer to Appendix 3);
b.   ARC International Fellowships, which meet obligations under reciprocal agreements with France, Germany, and the Republic of Korea (South Korea) for early career postdoctoral and senior researchers (see Appendices 4-6). A Fellowship is a grant for up to one year for the selected overseas Fellow to work in Australia. It includes support for salary and salary on-costs (26%), travel to a major conference in Australia, and return international travel and consumables. The Australian-based Chief Investigator submits the application for a collaborative project with the applicant Fellow;
c.   Australia-Israel Fellowships, which are co-funded by the ARC and the Australia-Israel Scientific Exchange Foundation to promote scientific exchange with Israel. Fellowship grants will fund selected postdoctoral, research or senior research fellows to work in Australia or in Israel. To bring Israeli Fellows to Australia, Australian-based Chief Investigator/s submit an application to the ARC for a collaborative project with the applicant Fellow. For an Australian researcher to work in Israel, the Fellow applies directly to the ARC, with an Australian eligible higher education institution as the administering organisation, and demonstrates the support of the proposed host institution and researcher collaborator/s in Israel (refer to Appendix 7);
d.   ARC International Fellowships (other than those described above), which fund overseas researchers to work in Australia. Preference may be given to applications involving countries with which the ARC has a Memorandum of Understanding (see Appendix 8) and countries with which the ARC has traditional research links (the United States of America, the United Kingdom, Canada, New Zealand and India); and
e.   ARC International Fellowships (other than those described above), which fund Australian researchers to work in overseas institutions. Preference may be given to applications involving countries with which the ARC has a Memorandum of Understanding (see Appendix 8) and countries with which the ARC has traditional research links (the United States of America, the United Kingdom, Canada, New Zealand and India).
1.2.2.   Linkage International Awards
Linkage International Awards provide funds for Australian-based researchers to participate in joint research projects with overseas researchers, establishing new collaborations, strengthening on-going collaborations and providing international research experience for early career researchers. Applications for support under Linkage International Awards may be for collaboration with appropriate researchers in any country or countries. Funding is available to Australia-based researchers for the direct costs of the collaboration.
Preference may be given to applications involving countries with which the ARC has a Memorandum of Understanding (refer to Appendix 8) and countries with which the ARC has traditional research links (the United States of America, the United Kingdom, Canada, New Zealand and India).
Australian researchers currently employed in overseas institutions are encouraged to use Linkage International Awards to maintain and develop collaborations with Australian-based colleagues.
Collaborations for which funding may be requested include:
a.reciprocal visits by leading researchers (Chief Investigators (CIs) and Overseas Investigators. Appendix 8 sets outs guidelines for funding requests and reciprocal funding;
b.reciprocal exchanges for postgraduate and/or postdoctoral researchers working in the CI’s and OI’s research teams: visits by early career researchers should be for substantial uninterrupted periods, typically three months or more (Appendix 8 sets out guidelines for funding requests and reciprocal funding);
c.funding for innovative modes of international research collaboration, for example through e-research networking;
d.participation in international activities, such as meetings and workshops, that are likely to move the research agenda of the field(s) forward, and shape collaborative and complementary research programs to address significant problems or capture new opportunities; and
e.collaborative research and/or network activities, as specified in ARC calls for internationally coordinated proposals funded under collaborative initiatives with overseas funding agencies.
1.3.   Fundamental principles and requirements
1.3.1.   Ethics and Research Practices
The National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) website, provides a series of publications which outline the principles of ethical conduct in research. All research proposals should conform with the principles outlined in:
a.   the Joint NHMRC/AVCC Statement and Guidelines on Research Practice (1997),
b.   as applicable, the NHMRC’s National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Research Involving Humans, and
c.   as applicable, the principles outlined in the NHMRC’s codes on animal research.
1.3.2.   Duplication
The ARC will not duplicate financial assistance for research already funded by the Commonwealth.
1.3.3.   Conflict of Interest
All applicants associated with ARC funding proposals have an obligation to disclose affiliations with or financial involvement in any organisation with a direct interest in the subject matter or materials of the researchers. Researchers have an obligation to disclose at the time of applying for an ARC grant, or reporting on it, any conflict of interest which has the potential to influence their research and investigations, publication and media reports, or grant applications.
1.3.4.   Acknowledging ARC support
The ARC requires that research funded by the ARC will be appropriately acknowledged. When, at any time during or after completion of a project, the organisation or researcher publishes or produces material such as books, articles, newsletters or other literary or artistic works which relate to the project and/or Fellowship, the organisation or researcher shall acknowledge, at a prominent place in the publication, the support of the ARC in a form acceptable to the ARC. Similar efforts should be made to acknowledge ARC support when participating in television and radio programs, and when interviewed by the print media.
Advice on acceptable forms of acknowledgement and use of the logo is provided on the ARC website at type="1">
Changes from last year
Changes from the Linkage International Funding Rules for ARC International Fellowships commencing in 2005 and Awards submitted in 2004 are listed below:
a.Applications will no longer be held-over between rounds, and will be assessed within one round only.
b.   Section 11.3: clarification that the ARC has the discretion to change project titles and descriptions.
c.Appendix 3: specifies the Notional ARC Fellowship salary rates for Fellowships commencing in 2006, and relocation expenses.
d.Appendix 5: Under the Agreement between the Alexander von Humboldt-Stiftung (AvH) and the ARC the Fellowships awarded to German applicants are now named ‘ARC Ferdinand von Mueller Fellowships’.
e.Appendix 8: For Linkage International Awards the ARC may provide, for researchers coming to Australia, a contribution to living expenses (up to $700 per week).
f.    The ordering of a number of sections and sub-sections has been altered as part of an ongoing initiative to enhance consistency and common terminology across all NCGP funding schemes. Minor changes in wording and dates have been introduced throughout the Funding Rules.

Funding

3.1. Level of funding

a. ARC International Fellowships

ARC International Fellowship applications for overseas fellows may seek funding for the salary of the Fellow. ARC International Fellowship salaries are based on the ARC notional salary scale (See Appendix 2).

Australian applicants for ARC International Fellowships, including the Australia-Israel Fellowship working in Israel, may request a living allowance or stipend.

The ARC may recommend levels of support for, and durations of, ARC International Fellowships which differ from those requested.

b. Linkage International Awards

The minimum Linkage International Award grant is $A5000.

Guidelines for funding requests for reciprocal visits and exchanges are set out in Appendix 8. The ARC expects that Australian Government funding will be normally augmented by matching cash and in-kind contributions from the overseas collaborating partners to meet the direct costs of their participation. Contributions from the overseas source in the form of primary project costs and salary should not be included as matching contributions. Funds from the ARC may not normally be used for this purpose. ARC International Fellowships may not be used to provide salary and travel support as the overseas matching component of an Award.

Applications which do not include matching reciprocal funding will be considered in relation to the objectives of the program, noting that strength of commitment from overseas collaborators’ institutions is a selection criterion.

Where Awards are funded under an internationally coordinated initiative, ARC funding will support Australian participation and the collaborating overseas agencies will fund the participation of overseas investigators.

Guidelines for funding requests for reciprocal visits and exchanges are set out in Appendix 8.

Applicants seeking funding for innovative modes of research collaboration, for example through e-research networking, residencies or modes other than reciprocal visits and exchanges, should explain the nature of the innovation in the proposed collaboration, and identify and justify budget items in relation to the proposed collaboration.

3.2. Duration of funding

ARC International Fellowships may fund salary and salary-related on-costs for up to 12 months, subject to parliamentary appropriations. Australia-Israel Fellowships and Fellowships funded under reciprocal agreements must be undertaken within a period of one year. Other ARC International Fellowships may be taken in blocks of not less than two months per year over a total period of up to three years.

Funding for Awards is available to Australia-based researchers for the direct costs of the collaboration for a period of up to three years, subject to parliamentary appropriations. In exceptional circumstances, and subject to review after three years, a period of up to five years may be awarded, subject to parliamentary appropriations.

Recommendations on the duration of grants rests with the ARC which may recommend Fellowships and Awards for a duration different from that requested.

3.3. Areas of investigation not supported

Linkage International does not support the following work:

a. clinical medicine and dental research that are covered by the NHMRC;

b. activities leading solely to the creation or performance of a work of art, including visual art, musical compositions, drama, dance, designs and literary works, for which Commonwealth Government support is provided through the Australia Council for the Arts;

c. scholarly investigations that, while important in themselves, do not lead to conceptual advances or discoveries, or to novel practical outcomes or applications. Projects such as uncritical biographical compilations and purely descriptive catalogues or editions that do not involve original research are not funded;

d. production of teaching materials, even though some research may be involved in their production;

e. compilation of data, unless this is an integral part of a project, in which case applicants must provide a statement indicating the research objectives to which the data would contribute; and

f. development of research aids and tools (including computer programs), unless they form an integral part of a project, in which case applicants must provide a statement indicating the research objectives to which these activities would contribute.

3.4. Budget items not supported

The following items are not normally eligible for support under Linkage International:

a. salaries of academic staff engaged in teaching and research, and in research only (including the cost of ‘buying time’ to free such staff to do more research), except for the ARC International Fellowships where the salary of the Fellow may be funded; consideration will be given to requests for contributions to Overseas Investigator salaries, on a case-by-case basis and in relation to the objectives of the program;

b. salaries of staff supporting research at the institutional level (for example, Deputy

Vice-Chancellor Research, Research Grants Manager);

c. costs of the primary research activity, including field trips, equipment and support staff salaries, except where an Award is funded under an internationally coordinated initiative of the ARC and overseas funding agency or agencies, and primary research activity is specified in the ARC call for proposals;

d. infrastructure support costs, which are the responsibility of an administering institution;

e. costs of ongoing collaboration with overseas researchers and/or their home institutions incurred after completion of the Linkage International project. These are the responsibility of an administering institution; and

f. conference organisation or attendance where the purpose is the reporting of research findings.

3.5. Number of grants and applications

The following limits apply to grants made under Linkage International:

a. An application may not request more than one ARC International Fellowship;

b. An Australia-based Chief Investigator may make a maximum of one ARC International Fellowship application for a calendar year and one application for a Linkage International Award in a 12 month period;

c. An Australian researcher may hold a maximum of two Linkage International Awards and host only one ARC International Fellowship at any one time;

d. Australia-Israel Fellowships cannot be extended or granted a second time; and

e. For the purposes of this eligibility criterion, a Linkage International grant carried over, or deferred, into the next calendar year is classified as a Linkage International grant for the calendar year in which it was first awarded.

Organisational types, roles and eligibility

A list of eligible organisations is set out in Appendix 1. In addition, the CSIRO is eligible to submit applications to host Fellows from Germany and the Republic of Korea.

To be eligible for a Linkage International grant, an Australian administering institution or overseas host institution must undertake to provide appropriate facilities and equipment for the researcher(s), to meet the associated infrastructure support costs, and to continue collaboration with the overseas researcher(s) for the duration of the grant.

Investigator types, roles and eligibility

5.1. Applicant Roles

There are four applicant roles available under Linkage International. These are:

a. Chief Investigator (CI);

b. Overseas Investigator;

c. ARC International Fellow;

a. Australia-Israel Fellow (AIF); and

d. Partner Investigator (PI).

The roles and eligibility requirements for each of these are described below.

5.2. Eligibility of applicant

The Australia-based CIs and Overseas Investigator(s) must be outstanding researchers of international standing in the relevant discipline or multi-disciplinary field. A team of Australia-based researchers can consist of researchers from different organisations, provided the Chief Investigator is a researcher employed by the administering institution.

5.2.1.Chief Investigators

5.2.1.1.Eligibility of Chief Investigators

Subject to 5.2.1.1(b), to be eligible to apply as a Chief Investigator, the applicant must meet the following criteria:

a. She/he must be an active researcher who takes intellectual responsibility for the project, its conception, any strategic decisions called for in its pursuit and the communication of results. The applicant must have the capacity to make a serious commitment to the project and cannot assume the role of a supplier of resources for work that will largely be placed in the hands of others. The ARC reserves the right to rule on the question of capacity;

b. She/he must reside predominantly in Australia for the full term of the grant. If the applicant does not have permanent resident status she/he must obtain temporary resident status from the Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs before taking up the grant;

c. She/he must meet at least one of the following criteria:

be associated with, or employed by, an Australian higher education institution (refer to Appendix 1 for the list of eligible higher education institutions). The applicant must hold a substantive position at, and/or derive at least 50 per cent of her/his salary from, that institution;

be a continuing or non-continuing adjunct professor or visiting fellow, or equivalent, at an Australian higher education institution who does not have a substantive position or paid appointment elsewhere; or

be associated with, or employed by, an Australian publicly funded organisation not directly funded to carry out research but with research-related purposes and objectives (such as a museum or herbarium). The applicant must hold a substantive position at, and/or derive at least 50 per cent of her/his salary from, that organisation.

Notwithstanding her/his eligibility under the criteria above, researchers in the following categories are not eligible to apply as a Chief Investigator:

a. undergraduate students

b. postgraduate students (unless eligible to be a Chief Investigator because of employment and then only for research which lies outside the scope of the postgraduate studies)

c. researchers who derive more than 50 per cent of their salary from organisations outside the higher education sector that are funded primarily for research from State, Territory or Commonwealth Government sources. These include, but are not limited to:

Defence Science and Technology Organisation (DSTO);

Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO)*;

Geoscience Australia (GA);

Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO);

Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS);

State/Territory Research and Development organisations.

*In the case of Fellows from Germany and the Republic of Korea, funded under reciprocal agreements, CIs must be employed by eligible organisations, listed in Appendix 1, or CSIRO.

CIs must have fulfilled all obligations from previous ARC grants (including final and progress reports). CIs who have not fulfilled all obligations from previous ARC grants are ineligible.

A researcher who is eligible to be a CI is not eligible to be a PI.

5.2.1.2.First-named Chief Investigator

At the time of application, the first-named CI or Australian applicant for an ARC International Fellowship, must be a CI or Fellow on at least one current ARC grant under Federation Fellowships, Discovery Projects (or the earlier Large Research Grants or Research Fellowships programs), Linkage Projects (or the earlier SPIRT program), or ARC Centres of Excellence, Special Research Centres or Key Centres of Teaching and Research programs.

This eligibility requirement does not apply to Australia-Israel Fellowships or ARC International Fellowships funded under reciprocal agreements with Germany, France and the Republic of Korea.

5.2.2.Overseas Investigators

Researchers who are employed in overseas institutions and who are providing significant commitment, intellectual input and relevant expertise to the project can apply as Overseas Investigators. To be eligible to apply as an Overseas Investigator, a researcher must demonstrate a significant contribution to the research collaboration.

5.2.3.Partner Investigators

Researchers who are not eligible to be Chief Investigators but who are providing significant commitment, intellectual input, relevant expertise and significant financial contribution to the project can apply as Partner Investigators. To be eligible to apply as a Partner Investigator, a researcher must:

a. be ineligible to be a Chief Investigator; and

b. demonstrate a significant contribution of funds (other than salary) or other material resources from the researcher’s institution for the proposed project (having regard to the total cost of the project and the relative contribution of each Chief Investigator).

5.2.4.Linkage International Awards

To be eligible for consideration, each Linkage International Award application must have at least one Australia-based Chief Investigator and one Overseas Investigator. Applications may include Partner Investigators. The first-named Chief Investigator must also meet the eligibility requirement set out in Item 5.2.1.2.

5.2.5.ARC International Fellowships

To be eligible for consideration, the first-named participant on an ARC International Fellowship application must be an Australia-based Fellow and/or Chief Investigator (refer to Item 5.2.1.1).

The eligibility requirement for first-named Chief Investigators set out in Item 5.2.1.2 applies to applications for ARC International Fellowships other than

a. Australia-Israel Fellowships; and

b. ARC International Fellowships funded under reciprocal agreements with Germany, France and the Republic of Korea.

5.2.5.1.Applications for overseas Fellows to work in Australia

Applications for overseas Fellows to work in Australia are made by an Australia-based host Chief Investigator(s) together with the applicant Fellow. The applicant Fellow must be able to demonstrate that she/he has ongoing research connections with a university or research institute in her/his country.

In the case of Fellows from Germany and the Republic of Korea, funded under reciprocal agreements, Chief Investigators must be employed by eligible higher education institutions, listed in Appendix 1, or CSIRO. For Fellowships funded under reciprocal agreements with Germany, France and the Republic of Korea, refer to Appendices 4-6.

5.2.5.2.Applications for Australian Fellows to work in overseas institutions

Australian applicants for Fellowships to work in overseas institutions must satisfy the eligibility criteria for first-named Chief Investigators (refer to Items 5.2.1.1 and 5.2.1.2).

At least one Overseas Investigator must be included as a named participant on the application. The application must demonstrate the support of the proposed host institution and researcher collaborator/s in the host institution. The strength of commitment by the overseas host institution will be considered in the assessment of the application.

5.2.5.3.Australia-Israel Fellowships

The Australia-Israel Fellowship (AIF) is available to fund Israeli researchers to work in Australian eligible higher education institutions and to fund Australian researchers to work in Israeli higher education and research institutions.

Eligible Israeli Fellows are researchers who are associated with, or employed by, a higher education or research institution in Israel.

Eligible Australian researchers are researchers who are associated with, or employed by, an eligible Australian higher education institution.

5.3. Eligibility of project

A Linkage International application must propose a collaborative research project of international standard in a relevant discipline or multi-disciplinary field. In some Fellowships, the disciplines or fields are specified or restricted under the Memoranda of Agreement between the ARC and partner research agencies (refer to Appendices 4-6). The project can involve basic or applied research or a combination of both.

Cross-program funding

The ARC will not duplicate financial assistance for research already funded by the Commonwealth. The ARC reserves the right to determine if a proposed research project duplicates research already being funded. It may declare ineligible, or reduce funding to, any such proposal.

The ARC may liaise with other funding agencies to discuss any overlap between applications in order to avoid duplication of funding.

Application process

7.1. Eligibility exemptions

If an applicant requires a Fellowship eligibility exemption, a request must be lodged with the ARC by Friday 4 February 2005. See Section 5.2.5 for more information.

7.2. Applications

Applicants should note that applications are considered by a Selection Advisory Committee whose membership includes people who are not specialists in the field of the application. Consequently, the collaboration and its expected outcomes should be described in a way that can be understood by all Committee members, both specialist and non-specialist. Linkage International Awards and Fellowships have different text requirements. Please read the Funding Rules and Instructions to Applicants carefully.

As the application is the prime source of information available to the Selection Advisory Committee, applicants must submit their projects as mature plans ready for implementation. The application must contain all the information necessary for assessment of the project without the need for further written or oral explanation, or reference to additional documentation, including the World Wide Web, unless requested by the Selection Advisory Committee. All details in the application, particularly concerning any successful grants, must be current.

7.3. Certification

It is the responsibility of the administering institution to obtain signatures of all participants, including Overseas Investigators, named on the application form. These signatures are to be retained by the administering institution which must provide these certifications if requested. A pro forma is available for this purpose on the ARC web site ( Submission of applications

Applications under Linkage International consist of two parts:

a. Application form: to be completed in Grant Application Management System (GAMS). Draft application forms are available from Research Offices in institutions or may be downloaded from the Internet at and

b. Additional text including supporting documentation and curricula vitae.

7.4.1. Application format

All documents must be written in English and must comply strictly with the format and submission requirements.

All pages of additional text should be in black type, use a single column and 12-point font size on white A4 paper, be printed on one side only and unbound, with at least 2 cm margins on each side. As applications are scanned electronically, applicants must use a highly legible font type, such as Arial, Courier, Palatino, Times New Roman and Helvetica. Variants such as mathematical typesetting languages may also be used. References may be reproduced in 10-point font size. Colour graphs or colour photographs may be included but they will be reproduced in black and white and the reproduction quality may be degraded. Note: fine graphics and grey scale may also not be precisely reproduced.

Pages in excess of stipulated limits may be removed before assessment.

7.4.2. Application content for ARC International Fellowships

7.4.2.1. Additional text

In no more than six pages, applicants for Fellowships are required to address the selection criteria and provide the following information:

a. a brief outline of the research program, including aims, research plan and methodology;

b. a brief description of the nature of the applicant Fellow’s ongoing research connections with a university or research institute in his/her country;

c. information on the research environment of the host institution including physical and intellectual resources available to the Fellow;

d. justification of all budget items; and

e. the track record of the proposed Fellow.

In the case of a proposal for a Fellow from Germany or the Republic of Korea, applicants should explain the benefit expected to flow to the programs of research administered by the higher education institution included at Appendix 1.

7.4.2.2. Curriculum vitae and supporting documentation

A curriculum vitae for each Chief Investigator, applicant Fellow and Partner Investigator must be provided. Each curriculum vitae should not exceed one page in length and must include the following details:

a.name;

b.qualifications and current appointment;

c.relevant employment history;

d.a list of the ten most significant relevant publications for the last five years and the total number of peer-reviewed research publications over the last five years; and

e.brief details of all competitive grant funding for the last five years.

A report should be provided on the outcome of any earlier ARC-funded international collaborative grant (such as IREX) for each Chief Investigator, including a list of joint publications, grants or similar evidence of successful ongoing collaboration. This report should consist of one page per grant.

Applicants for ARC International Fellowships may attach a letter of support from the overseas collaborating institution if that letter indicates financial commitment to the proposed collaboration.

These documents are not included in the quota of pages for the additional text.

7.4.3. Application content for Linkage International Awards

7.4.3.1. Additional text

In no more than three pages, applicants for Awards are required to address the selection criteria and provide the following information:

a.a brief description of the nature of the collaboration including the role of, and benefit to, the Australian and overseas partners;

b.a management plan for the collaboration, including a proposed schedule of research activities. If the collaboration includes visits, a schedule of visits is to be presented as a table with the following information for each visit:

dates;

name and status of researcher(s) travelling;

destination;

activity to be performed; and

funding source.

c.a brief outline of the proposed collaborative research program, including aims, significance, research plan and methodology; and

d.justification of all budget items.

7.4.3.2. Curricula vitae and supporting documentation

Curricula vitae must be provided for CIs, Overseas Investigator(s) and, where appropriate, PIs. Each curriculum vitae should not exceed one page in length and must include the following details:

a.name;

b.qualifications and current appointment;

c.relevant employment history;

d.a list of the ten most significant relevant publications for the last five years and the total number of peer-reviewed research publications over the last five years; and

e.brief details of all competitive grant funding for the last five years.

A report should be provided on the outcome of any earlier ARC-funded international collaborative grant for each Australian CI and, where appropriate, each Australian PI, including a list of joint publications, grants or similar evidence of successful ongoing collaboration. This report should consist of not more than one page per grant.

Applicants for Linkage International Awards may attach a letter of support from the overseas collaborating institution if that letter indicates financial commitment to the proposed collaboration.

These documents are not included in the quota of pages for the additional text.

7.4.3.3. Awards funded under an internationally-coordinated initiative of the ARC and overseas funding agency or agencies

Applications submitted in response to an ARC call for proposals for Awards funded under an internationally coordinated initiative of the ARC and overseas funding agency or agencies must include information on the counterpart applications submitted by Overseas Investigators for funding by collaborating agencies. The information must include the following details:

a.summary information: name of the counterpart agency or agencies, names and affiliation of principal participants, the counterpart project title and identification code (if any), and date of proposal submission; and

b.a specific summary of the proposed interaction, including visits between Australian CIs and Overseas Investigators, stating the anticipated scientific benefits of the interaction.

7.4.4. Number of copies

An original and one identical paper copy are required. It is the copy that is reproduced and dispatched for assessment. The application must be clipped with NAL clips, not stapled, in the following order:

a.application form;

b.additional text, curricula vitae;

c.report on previous grant, if relevant; and

d.letter of support, as appropriate.

All applications must:

a.be signed by the appropriate persons on the certification page of the application form; and

b.be submitted through the Research Office of the administering institution.

7.4.5. Closing date for applications

ARC International Fellowships. Applications must be submitted by 5.00 pm (AEDT)

18 March 2005.

Awards. Applications may be submitted to the ARC at any time. They will be batched for assessment several times during the year. Closing dates will be specified in the ARC ‘call for proposals’ for applications for Awards funded under internationally coordinated initiatives of the ARC and overseas funding agency or agencies.

Applications received after the closing date will not be accepted. The ARC may, in its absolute discretion, extend closing dates for applications. In such cases, the ARC will advise potential and registered applicants via its website [ to complete and submit applications

Applicants should submit their applications through the Research Office of the administering institution by the institution’s closing date. Applications should be completed and submitted electronically, by the Research Office, via the Grants Application Management System (GAMS), to the ARC.

Applications should be sent:

by mail, to:

Linkage International Program Coordinator

Australian Research Council

GPO Box 2702

CANBERRA ACT 2601

by courier, to:

Linkage International Program Coordinator

Australian Research Council

Geoscience Australia Building

Cnr Hindmarsh Drive and

Jerrabomberra Avenue

SYMONSTON ACT 2609

Selection and approval process

8.1. Selection criteria

8.1.1. ARC International Fellowships

Selection will be based upon the following criteria and weightings:

a. quality of the applicant Fellow including track record and potential	30%
b. proposed research program, including aims, significance, research plan and methodology	30%
c. quality of the host group, including intellectual and physical resources for support of the applicant Fellow	20%
d. prospects for ongoing international collaboration between the host group and other Australian groups and groups in the relevant country	20%

8.1.2. Linkage International Awards

Selection will be based upon the following criteria and weightings:

a. strength and benefits of the collaboration	40%
b. Chief Investigator, including track record, research management skills	20%
c. Overseas Investigator, including track record, research management skills	20%
d. proposed program of collaborative research, including aims, significance, research plan and methodology	20%

8.1.3. Additional considerations

All assessments under Linkage International will include the following additional considerations where appropriate:

a.In the case of applicants who have previously received grants under Linkage International or the former IREX program, the demonstrated outcomes of those collaborations, including joint publications, joint grants, contracts or similar awards, or other relevant evidence; and

b.Any other requirements mentioned in specific agreements or indicated in the attached appendices.

8.2. Assessment and selection procedure

Assessment of applications is undertaken by a selection advisory committee drawn from members of the ARC College of Experts. The Selection Advisory Committee, which has the right to make decisions solely on the basis of its expertise, will:

a.exclude ineligible applications;

b.rank each application relative to the others on the basis of the applications;

c.assess and recommend budgets; and

d.prepare funding recommendations that are submitted to the ARC Board and, subject to its views, to the Minister for approval.

The ARC has procedures for declaring conflicts of interest and for members to withdraw from considering particular applications.

8.2.1. Applications for Awards funded under internationally coordinated initiatives of the ARC and overseas funding agency or agencies

These Award applications will be included, and assessed competitively, with other Awards applications that are batched around the time of the closing date. The ARC will refer applications which the Committee recommends for funding to the overseas agencies for further coordinated discussion. ARC funding of internationally-coordinated Awards may be subject to the decision of the collaborating overseas agency to fund the counterpart application(s) submitted by overseas investigators. The ARC has absolute discretion to assess an application for an Award funded under internationally coordinated activities with a later batch of Awards applications.

8.2.2. Exclusion

Exclusion of applications by the ARC may take place at any time during the selection process. Applications which contravene the Funding Rules in any way may be excluded. The ARC will determine if the breach of the Funding Rules has a potential material impact on the assessment of the application. If it is so determined the application will be excluded.

Grounds for exclusion include, but are not limited to:

a.failing to submit the application through the appropriate Research Office/Chief Executive Officer for certification;

b.submitting similar or duplicate applications;

c.exceeding the limits on the number of applications permissible;

d.not meeting the eligibility criteria;

e.submitting applications in clinical medicine and dental research (refer to Section 3.3 a);

f.providing incomplete, inaccurate or misleading information (refer to Section 11.5); and

g.designating all or any part of the application as ‘commercial-in-confidence’;

h.not meeting the funding threshold when inappropriate budget items are removed.

8.3. Offer of grant

Successful administering institutions will be notified in a letter of offer that will indicate the funding to be provided and include the Funding Agreement.

A project may not begin, nor may financial assistance be expended, before the Funding Agreement is signed by the parties and returned to the ARC.

Appeals process

Appeals will be considered only against process issues and not against Committee recommendations or assessor ratings and comments. Appeals must be made on the appeals form available from the ARC website ( form must be lodged through the administering institution’s Research Office, and be received within 28 days of the date on the letter notifying the outcome of applications. Appeals should be addressed to:

The Appeals Officer

Australian Research Council

GPO Box 2702

CANBERRA ACT 2601

Administration of grants

10.1. Funding Agreement

Successful applicants should familiarise themselves with the Funding Agreement. They must accept the terms of the Funding Agreement and the administering institution must sign the Funding Agreement before funds can be paid. Projects must commence as required by the Funding Agreement. Failure to do so will result in termination of funding.

Administering organisations should note that the Funding Agreement covers the post-award management, including reporting requirements and financial management. The draft Funding Agreement can be viewed on the ARC website ( Varying the Funding Agreement

Requests to vary the Funding Agreement must be forwarded in writing by the institution’s Research Office, or equivalent, to the ARC. Forms are available for variation requests on the ARC website ( Varying the Funding Approval

Requests to vary the Funding Approval must be forwarded in writing by the administering organisation’s Research Office, to the ARC.

The Funding Approval may be varied by varying the amount of financial assistance, the duration of financial assistance, the name of the person leading the research program and the name of the organisation receiving financial assistance.

The Funding Approval may be varied where:

a.the organisation’s involvement with the research program ends or substantially changes;

b.the research program changes so that it is no longer consistent with the description in the Funding Approval;

c.the person named in the Funding Approval as the person leading the research program ceases to lead the program;

d.association with any of the collaborating partner organisations involved in the research program ends, or the collaborating partner organisation(s) substantially changes its involvement with the program

10.1.3. Reports

Administering organisations are required to submit both technical and financial reports concerning funded projects to the ARC on a regular basis, as detailed in the Funding Agreement.

Other matters

11.1. Applicable law

The ARC is required to comply with the requirements of the Privacy Act 1988 and the Freedom of Information Act 1982.

11.1.1. Applications for Awards funded under internationally coordinated initiatives of the ARC and overseas funding agency or agencies

The ARC will refer applications recommended for funding by the Selection Advisory Committee to the collaborating overseas agency or agencies for further coordinated discussion. At this point, the applications will be subject to the privacy requirements that apply to the overseas agency or agencies.

11.2. Confidentiality

Information contained in applications is regarded as confidential unless otherwise stated and, subject to the need to provide applications to assessors, and statutory requirements for the ARC to provide information to Parliament and other organisations, applications will be received and treated as confidential.

Notwithstanding the above, the ARC may publicise and report offers or awards of funding, including information about the proposed research, the name and organisation of any applicant, the identity of the administering organisation and any other organisation involved in the project, the title and summary descriptions of the project and its intended outcomes, and the level and nature of financial assistance from the ARC.

11.3. Project titles

If the ARC judges that a project title and description do not adequately reflect the objectives and outcomes sought, the ARC reserves the right to change the project title and description.

11.4. Intellectual property

Applicants must agree to comply with the National Principles of Intellectual Property Management for Publicly Funded Research (available at and act in accordance with any intellectual property policies of the applicant’s institution.

11.5. Incomplete or misleading information

It is a serious offence to provide false or misleading information to the Commonwealth.

If an application is incomplete, inaccurate or contains misleading information, it may be excluded from any further consideration for funding.

If the ARC believes that omissions or inclusion of misleading information are intentional, or if there is evidence of malpractice, the ARC will refer the matter for investigation with a view to prosecution under Commonwealth criminal law. The Commonwealth is committed to protecting its revenue, expenditure and property from any attempt, by members of the public, contractors, sub-contractors, agents, intermediaries or its own employees, to gain financial or other benefits by deceit.

Examples of malpractice include, but are not restricted to:

a.providing fictitious track records; or

b.falsifying claims in publications records (such as describing a paper as accepted for publication when it has only been submitted).

11.6. Insurance and liabilities

Organisations are subject to the liability, indemnity and insurance provisions of the Funding Agreement. The draft Funding Agreement can be viewed on the ARC website ( 1. Eligible Organisations

A: Higher Education Organisations

New South Wales

Charles Sturt University

Macquarie University

Southern Cross University

The University of New England

The University of New South Wales

The University of Newcastle

The University of Sydney

University of Technology, Sydney

University of Western Sydney

University of Wollongong

Victoria

Deakin University

La Trobe University

Melbourne College of Divinity

Monash University

RMIT University

Swinburne University of Technology

The University of Melbourne

University of Ballarat

Victoria University of Technology

Queensland

Bond University

Central Queensland University

Griffith University

James Cook University

Queensland University of Technology

The University of Queensland

The University of the Sunshine Coast

University of Southern Queensland

Western Australia

Curtin University of Technology

Edith Cowan University

Murdoch University

The University of Notre Dame Australia

The University of Western Australia

South Australia

The Flinders University of South Australia

The University of Adelaide

University of South Australia

Tasmania

Australian Maritime College

University of Tasmania

Northern Territory

Charles Darwin University

Batchelor Institute of Indigenous Tertiary Education

Australian Capital Territory

The Australian National University

University of Canberra

Multi-State

Australian Catholic University

B: Other eligible organisations

Museums and herbaria which are Australian publicly funded organisations not directly funded to carry out research, but with research-related purposes and objectives.

Appendix 2. Notional ARC Fellowship Salaries for Funding Commencing in 2006 (2006$)

Salaries are indexed annually.

Fellowship	Step/Option	Salary	26% on-costs	TOTAL
Australian Postdoctoral Fellowship (APD); Australian Postdoctoral Fellowship Industry (APDI); Linkage Australian Postdoctoral Fellowship CSIRO; Research Cadetship-Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (RC-ATSI)	3 year, 100% option 4 year, 75/25% option	$59,000 $44,250	$15,340 $11,505	$74,340 $55,755
Australian Research Fellowship (ARF)	100% option 50% option	$74,000 $37,000	$19,240 $9,620	$93,240 $46,620
Queen Elizabeth II Fellowship (QEII)	100% option 50% option	$88,000 $44,000	$22,880 $11,440	$110,880 $55,440
Australian Professorial Fellowship (APF)	Step 1 – 100% option 50% option	$102,000 $51,000	$26,520 $13,260	$128,520 $64,260
Australian Professorial Fellowship (APF)	Step 2 – 100% option 50% option	$118,000 $59,000	$30,680 $15,340	$148,680 $74,340
Federation Fellowship	$241,224	$62,718	$303,942

ARC Fellows Relocation (maximum) Allowances

USA $17,000

UK/Europe/Asia (Nth Hem) $14,000

Asia (Sth Hem)/NZ $ 11,000

Australia $ 8,000

Appendix 3. Anglo-Australian Observatory Fellowships

Funded under an International Research Fellowship Agreement between the United Kingdom Particle Physics and Astronomy Research Council and the ARC, this Fellowship is managed by the Anglo-Australian Telescope Board.

Number and eligibility

One Fellowship will be awarded alternately to early-career British and Australian researchers to undertake postdoctoral work at the Anglo-Australian Observatory.

The Fellowship is funded on a 50/50 share basis between the parties to the Agreement.

Duration

Two years with an extension of up to twelve months in exceptional circumstances.

Application

Any Australian or British postdoctoral researcher is eligible to apply for the Fellowship when applications are called for by advertisement. Selection is managed by the Anglo-Australian Observatory.

Entitlements

Salaries will be recommended by the administering institution from the appropriate point (dependent upon experience) on the ARC notional salary scale set out in Appendix 2. Salaries are subject to approval by the Minister and will be paid through the administering institution.

Reimbursement of reasonable economy-class travel costs for an overseas resident and her/his dependants is provided, with similar return airfare provisions, provided that the Fellow has not obtained subsequent employment in Australia for a period exceeding twelve months.

Transfer expenses for an Australian resident Fellow and her/his dependants are reimbursed on a basis comparable with those provided for overseas Fellows, including a private vehicle allowance up to the maximum equivalent of the cheapest direct airfare.

Removal expenses of up to $A14 000 are payable for a Fellow relocating from the United Kingdom and comparable expenses are payable for an Australian resident Fellow, subject to full refund of the amount if the Fellowship is relinquished within twelve months.

Leave (recreation, sick and maternity) may be granted during the period of the Fellowship.

An additional Research Support Grant of $6000 a year is available.

Appendix 4. French Fellowships

An International Research Fellowship Agreement between the French Ministry of National Education, Research and Technology and the ARC. The applicant Fellow must be able to demonstrate that she/he is covered by the relevant agreement as either a resident or a citizen of the country and that she/he has ongoing research connections with a university or research institute in that country.

Number and eligibility

Up to five research Fellowships may be awarded by the ARC in 2005 to postdoctoral or senior researchers from France to work in Australia in the fields of humanities, social sciences, the natural sciences and engineering. Australian researchers may seek Fellowships through their French host researcher.

Applicant Fellows must be of at least postdoctoral status at the time of application. This means that the applicant Fellow’s PhD must have been conferred before submitting the application to the ARC. Early career researchers from France are strongly encouraged to apply.

Applicant Fellows must be French citizens and must demonstrate ongoing research connections with a university or research institute in France. Fellowships cannot be extended or granted a second time.

Duration

Six to twelve months. Successful applicants must commence Fellowships before 30 June 2006.

Application

Any Australian academic institution may nominate French candidates to the ARC. Any French academic institution may nominate Australian candidates to the Ministry. Nominating institutions must guarantee to provide appropriate facilities and equipment and to meet associated research costs.

Entitlements

Salaries will be recommended by the administering institution from the appropriate point on the ARC notional salary scale at Appendix 2. Salaries are subject to agreement by the ARC and approval by the Minister, and will be paid through the administering institution.

An amount of 26 per cent of salary is payable to administering institutions for on-costs, together with a contribution to consumable items for the research project.

One return economy class airfare and associated travel expenses for the Fellow is provided.

The cost of attendance at a major conference in Australia, during the Fellowship, including registration and travel, is covered. Medical and accident insurance is to be provided by the administering institution. No responsibility will be taken for any costs associated with visits by family members.

Appendix 5. German Fellowships

An International Research Fellowship Agreement has been signed between the Alexander von Humboldt-Stiftung (AvH) and the ARC. The Fellowships are named ‘ARC Ferdinand von Mueller Fellowships’.

The applicant Fellow must be able to demonstrate that she/he is covered by the relevant agreement as either a resident or a citizen of the country and that she/he has ongoing research connections with a university or research institute in that country.

Number and eligibility

Up to five Fellowships annually to German citizens or residents, three to outstanding researchers of international standing, and two to young (or early career) researchers, in humanities, social sciences, natural sciences or engineering.

Applicant Fellows must be able to demonstrate ongoing research connections with a university or research institute in Germany.

Fellowships cannot be extended or granted a second time.

Duration

Four to twelve months. Successful applicants must commence Fellowships before 30 June 2006.

Application

Any Australian higher education institution and the CSIRO can nominate German candidates to the ARC. Any German researcher, university or research institution can nominate Australian candidates to the AvH. Nominating institutions must guarantee to provide appropriate facilities and equipment and to meet associated research costs.

Entitlements

An amount of 26 per cent of salary is payable to administering institutions for on-costs together with a contribution to consumable items for the research project.

One return business class airfare and associated travel expenses for an unaccompanied Fellow is provided. Air fares and associated travel expenses, at the economy rate, for a partner and dependent children can be provided if they accompany the Fellow and stay in the host country for at least six months. If the Fellow is accompanied by her/his family, she/he will be entitled to economy class travel.

The cost of attendance at a major conference in Australia, during the Fellowship, including registration and travel can be claimed.

The administering institution is to provide health and accident insurance cover during the stay in the host country for the researcher (and partner and dependent children provided they are in continuous residence in the host country for the stay of the researcher).

Appendix 6. The Republic of Korea (South Korea) Fellowships

An International Research Fellowship Agreement has been signed among the Korea Science and Engineering Foundation (KOSEF), the ARC, the Australian Academy of Science (AAS), and the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering (ATS).

Number and eligibility

At least three Fellowships to researchers from South Korea. Up to ten each year may be available, depending on funds.

No restriction is placed on nationality or age.

Applicant Fellows must demonstrate ongoing research connections with a university or research institute in South Korea.

Fellowships cannot be extended or granted a second time.

Duration

Four to twelve months.

Successful applicants must commence Fellowships before 30 June 2006.

Application

Any Australian higher education institution and the CSIRO can nominate candidates from South Korea to the ARC.

Any researcher, university or research institution in South Korea can nominate Australian candidates to KOSEF.

Nominating institutions must guarantee to provide appropriate facilities and equipment and to meet associated research costs.

Entitlements

An amount of 26 per cent of salary is payable to administering institutions for on-costs together with a contribution to consumable items for the research project.

One return economy class airfare and associated travel expenses for the Fellow is provided. Air fares and associated travel expenses, at the economy rate, for a partner and dependent children can be provided if they accompany the Fellow and stay in the host country for at least six months.

The cost of attendance at a major conference in Australia, during the Fellowship, including registration and travel can be claimed.

Appendix 7. Australia-Israel Fellowships

Australia-Israel Fellowships are co-funded by the Australia-Israel Scientific Exchange Foundation and the ARC.

Description

Fellowships may be awarded annually by the ARC to fund postdoctoral, research or senior research fellow level researchers from Israel to work in Australia, or from Australia to work in Israel.

The number of Fellowships awarded is subject to the funding available, normally the equivalent of up to two 12-month Fellowships per year. Applicants may apply for Fellowships for up to 12 months.

Fellowships cannot be extended or granted a second time.

Successful applicants must commence Fellowships before 30 June 2006.

Nominating institutions must guarantee to provide appropriate facilities and equipment and to meet associated research costs.

Australian applicants are encouraged to apply for complementary funding if the Israeli host institution offers fellowships and other forms of support for visiting researchers.

Entitlements

For Israeli Australia-Israel Fellows working in Australian host institutions, salaries should be requested at the appropriate point on the ARC notional salary scale, normally based on the Fellow’s position in her/his home institution. The ARC notional salary scale is available in Appendix 2. An amount of 26% per cent of salary is payable to administering institutions for on-costs together with a contribution to consumable items for the research project.

For an Australian Australia-Israel Fellow working in Israeli host institutions and continuing to receive her/his salary from the Australian institution, a living allowance of up to $A4000 per month is available.

For an Australian Australia-Israel Fellow working in Israeli host institutions and not receiving a salary from the Australian institution, a stipend may be paid in addition to a living allowance of up to $A4000 per month.

One return economy class airfare and associated travel expenses for the Fellow is provided.

The cost of attendance at a major conference in Australia during the Fellowship is provided, including registration and travel.

Fellows are responsible for their own medical and dental treatment.

No responsibility will be taken for any costs associated with visits by family members.

Appendix 8. Linkage International Awards

Countries with which the ARC has a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU):

Austria	Austrian Science Foundation (FWF)
China	National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC)
Czech Republic	Grant Agency of the Czech Republic
France	Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)
Germany	Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG)
Indonesia	Indonesian University Research Council (IURC)
Italy	National Research Council of Italy (CNR)
Japan	Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS)
The Republic of Korea	Korea Science and Engineering Foundation (KOSEF) and Korea Research Foundation (KRF)
Switzerland	Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF)
The Netherlands	Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (NWO)

Traditional research partners:

Canada

India

New Zealand

The United Kingdom

The United States of America

Australian participation in projects supported under the European Union’s Sixth Framework may be assisted under Linkage International Awards.

Reciprocal exchange visits: guidelines to funding requests:

Applications may seek funding for reciprocal visits by leading researchers and exchanges for postgraduate and/or postdoctoral researchers working in their research teams. Usually, the ARC will fund international travel costs for Australian-based researchers and subsistence in Australia for visiting researchers from overseas.

The ARC expects that Australian Government funding normally will be augmented by matching cash and in-kind contributions from the overseas collaborating partners to meet the direct costs of their participation. Contributions from the overseas source in the form of research project costs and salary should not be included as matching contributions and it is against the spirit of Linkage International for this funding to be obtained from any Australian source. Funds from the ARC may not be used for this purpose. ARC International Fellowships may not be used to provide salary and travel support as the overseas matching component of an Award. In cases where the source of matching funds for the overseas collaborator(s) provides international travel and subsistence for them, the ARC will consider supporting Australian researchers on the same basis.

Normally, the ARC will consider providing the following support:

a.for researchers travelling from Australia, international return economy class airfare(s) and, in some cases, a contribution to living expenses at reasonable local rates; or

b.for researchers coming to Australia, a contribution to living expenses (up to $700 per week), internal travel and, in exceptional circumstances (that is, where the overseas collaborator is from an economically disadvantaged country), a contribution to the international economy class airfare.

In both cases, a limited contribution to consumables directly related to the collaborative work may be paid, up to a maximum of $A5000 a year.

The ARC will consider applications which do not include matching reciprocal funding in relation to the objectives of the program, noting that strength of commitment from overseas collaborators’ institutions is a selection criterion.

Appendix 9. Descriptions of Designated National Research Priorities and associated Priority Goals

Research Priority 1: An Environmentally Sustainable Australia

Transforming the way we utilise our land, water, mineral and energy resources through a better understanding of human and environmental systems and the use of new technologies.

Natural resources have traditionally fuelled our national and regional economies. They have the potential to generate further wealth and employment opportunities in the future. But our natural resources and biodiversity must be used on a sustainable basis so that the benefits continue to be enjoyed by future generations.

Australia faces significant environmental challenges:

a.Efficient and sustainable water use is a critically important issue for our economic and social development;

b.Significant land degradation issues, such as salinity, need to be arrested to underpin our agricultural production systems;

c.Climate change can be expected to have complex, long-term consequences for the environment, for our agricultural and marine production systems and for communities; and

d.The cleanliness and efficiency of our energy production systems should be enhanced.

There is substantial effort underway to develop more efficient water utilisation practices, to protect our rivers and groundwater resources, and to protect and remediate our fragile soils.

Our agricultural and mining industries are being transformed through the adoption of new technologies, and the development of new types of foods.

This will help to revitalise our regional communities and generate substantial export earnings for the nation over the coming decades.

The Government is committed to meeting the greenhouse gas emissions target set for Australia at Kyoto.

Australia is well placed to take an international lead in developing new and improved energy technologies and in capturing and ‘sequestering’ carbon dioxide.

Other opportunities lie in managing and using our unique, rich land- and marine-based biodiversity, and in developing our deep earth resources.

Australia has a strong record of achievement in research in fields in the natural sciences, such as agriculture, natural resource management, climate change, horticulture, forestry, mining, energy, and marine sciences, as well as in the social sciences and humanities.

We must build on these strengths to improve our competitive advantages while enhancing our understanding of natural systems and the interplay of human activities.

In particular, there needs to be an increased understanding of the contributions of human behaviour to environmental and climate change, and on appropriate adaptive responses and strategies.

To understand and manage these complex interactions better will require significant collaboration within the research community and with other stakeholders.

Priority goals for research fall in the seven areas of water utilisation, transforming resource-based industries, overcoming land degradation, developing cleaner, more efficient fuels and energy sources, managing biodiversity, deep earth resources and responding to climate change and variability.

Priority Goals

Water – a critical resource

Sustainable ways of improving water productivity, using less water in agriculture and other industries, providing increased protection of rivers and groundwater and the re-use of urban and industrial waste waters.

Australia is one of the driest continents and is dependent upon access to freshwater supplies for economic and social development. It has a complex geological structure, a highly variable climate, unique ecosystems, flora and fauna and a distinctive indigenous and settler history. Enhancing our understanding of the links between these factors and water availability will result in a better understanding of sustainable water management practices.

Transforming existing industries

New technologies for resource-based industries to deliver substantial increases in national wealth while minimising environmental impacts on land and sea.

Resource-based industries underpin much of Australia’s prosperity and have the potential to do so in the future. For example, Australia remains highly prospective for minerals discoveries and highly attractive for the development of new era foods from agricultural and marine sources. Our competitive advantage and national well being will depend on research and on the development and adoption of new technologies.

Overcoming soil loss, salinity and acidity

Identifying causes and solutions to land degradation using a multidisciplinary approach to restore land surfaces.

The Australian landscape is fragile: soil salinity, acidity, and nutrient levels pose significant, long term challenges for agriculture and the environment. Research is helping to find solutions to these problems. For example, the National Land and Water Resources Audit shows the extent of salinity, soil erosion and soil acidification in the Australian environment and illustrates Australia’s leading edge in national mapping of critical resource data. Further multidisciplinary effort is required to develop sustainable land management practices that are appropriate for Australian conditions and mitigate major land degradation processes and increase biodiversity.

Reducing and capturing emissions in transport and energy generation

Alternative transport technologies and clean combustion and efficient new power generation systems and capture and sequestration of carbon dioxide.

Australia is well positioned to produce world class solutions to reduce and capture greenhouse gas emissions and the Government is committed to meeting the emissions target set for Australia at Kyoto. We are also well placed to develop alternative energy technologies and ecologically sustainable transport and power generation systems.

Sustainable use of Australia’s biodiversity

Managing and protecting Australia’s terrestrial and marine biodiversity both for its own value and to develop long term use of ecosystem goods and services ranging from fisheries to ecotourism.

Australia has a unique and rich flora and fauna. Many of our complex ecosystems – on which our agricultural, fisheries and tourism industries depend - have adapted to events such as drought and fire, and have been shaped by indigenous and settler management practices. There is a need for a more comprehensive understanding of these natural systems and the interplay with human activities, and the effects of management and protection measures.

Developing deep earth resources

Smart high-technology exploration methodologies, including imaging and mapping the deep earth and ocean floors, and novel efficient ways of commodity extraction and processing (examples include minerals, oil and gas) while minimising negative ecological and social impacts.

Many of Australia’s known mineral assets may be nearly exhausted within the next decade. New land-based deposits are believed to be buried deeper in the crust and the deep marine areas surrounding Australia are also largely unexplored. New technologies, such as remote sensing, indicate scientists are on the brink of being able to ‘see’ inside the earth and identify deeply buried deposits.

Responding to climate change and variability

Increasing our understanding of the impact of climate change and variability at the regional level across Australia, and addressing the consequences of these factors on the environment and on communities.

Australia already has a highly variable climate, and climate change can be expected to have further significant impacts. It is important to enhance our understanding of the consequences of climate change and variability at the regional level across Australia, and the implications for the environment and for communities. It is also important to explore beneficial adaptation strategies to climate change and variability to ensure ongoing social, economic and environmental well being.

Research Priority 2: Promoting and Maintaining Good Health

Promoting good health and well being for all Australians

Average life expectancies have increased markedly in recent decades. Australians also expect to lead longer and healthier lives in the future, and to remain productive and independent over an extended period.

Enabling individuals and families to make choices that lead to healthy, productive and fulfilling lives will yield economic and social benefits and add materially to national well being.

Australians expect that their children and grandchildren should have a healthy start to life.

Developing strategies to promote the healthy development of young Australians, and addressing the causes and reducing the impact of the genetic, social and environmental factors which diminish their life potential will be critical.

A revolution is also underway at the other end of the life cycle. Australia, like many other developed nations, is undergoing a major demographic shift involving significant growth in the aged population.

To meet this challenge, it will be important to promote healthy ageing by developing better social and medical strategies to ensure that older Australians enjoy healthy and productive lives.

Informed insights into the causes of disease and of mental and physical degeneration will contribute to the achievement of this goal.

All Australians stand to benefit from preventive healthcare through the adoption of healthier attitudes, habits and lifestyles.

Evidence-based preventive interventions may help reduce the incidence and severity of many diseases, including major health problems such as cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases, mental ill-health, obesity, diabetes, asthma and chronic inflammatory conditions. These could include interventions that reduce exposure to contamination of the physical environment (eg air pollution).

Improvements in the health and well being of the young, of older Australians and in preventive healthcare will be underpinned by research.

However, while Australia has an enviable record in health and medical research, the research effort is spread across the many universities, hospitals and health and medical research institutes, resulting in critical mass only in limited areas of research.

There is also a need to draw on multidisciplinary approaches that include research contributions from the social sciences and humanities.

This priority is designed to promote health and prevent disease through a more focused and collaborative effort.

Priority goals for research fall in the four areas of a healthy start to life, ageing well, ageing productively, preventive healthcare and strengthening Australia’s social and economic fabric.

Priority Goals

A healthy start to life

Counteracting the impact of genetic, social and environmental factors which predispose infants and children to ill health and reduce their well being and life potential.

Human health in the developing foetus and in early childhood is critical to the future well being of the adult. Research shows that health and well being in early childhood is predictive of later positive outcomes, and that health in middle and late childhood is also crucial. This goal supports the Government’s National Agenda for Early Childhood initiative.

Ageing well, ageing productively

Developing better social, medical and population health strategies to improve the mental and physical capacities of ageing people.

Australia’s population is ageing, with a significant projected increase in the number of people aged over 65 and over 85. While Australia is relatively well placed compared with many OECD nations, major shifts in cultural expectations and attitudes about ageing are necessary to respond constructively, at both an individual and population level. A healthy aged population will contribute actively to the life of the nation through participation in the labour market or through voluntary work. This goal supports the Government’s National Strategy for an Ageing Australia.

Preventive healthcare

New ethical, evidence-based strategies to promote health and prevent disease through the adoption of healthier lifestyles and diet, and the development of health-promoting products.

Preventive healthcare research will improve the prediction and prevention of disease and injury for all Australians through the adoption of healthier behaviours, lifestyles and environments. Research will generate an improvement in the design, delivery and uptake of programmes such as exercise-based rehabilitation. There are several major disease targets amenable to immediate study, such as cardiovascular health, neurodegenerative diseases, mental ill-health, obesity, diabetes, asthma and chronic inflammatory conditions. Research on prevention will emphasise interdisciplinary approaches, including research on ethics, drawing on contributions from the social sciences and humanities, as well as from the health and medical sciences. It will also focus on developing new health promoting foods and nutraceuticals. This goal supports the Government’s Focus on Prevention initiative.

Strengthening Australia's social and economic fabric

Understanding and strengthening key elements of Australia's social and economic fabric to help families and individuals live healthy, productive, and fulfilling lives.

Living in today's society involves a complex web of choices, yet many of the traditional support structures are weaker than they have been in the past. Enabling people to make choices that lead to positive pathways to self reliance and supportive family structures is more important than ever. The interactions between the social safety net, social and economic participation, financial incentives and community and private sources of support are critical in helping people maximise their potential and achieve good, healthy, lifetime outcomes. In the decade ahead, it will be vital to understand and support the drivers for workforce participation and the broader social and economic trends influencing Australian families and communities. This goal supports the Government's welfare reform and participation agendas. Research in this area will emphasise interdisciplinary approaches, drawing on contributions from the economic, behavioural and social sciences

Research Priority 3: Frontier Technologies for Building and Transforming Australian Industries

Stimulating the growth of world-class Australian industries using innovative
technologies developed from cutting-edge research.

Progress and wealth often derive from the unforeseen application of new discoveries. Australia must be at the leading edge if it is to stay abreast of international developments and take advantage of opportunities.

Our national capabilities in emerging sciences and their underpinning disciplines determine our capacity to develop and implement new technologies. Australia has a strong base of expertise, skills and technological capacities in the fundamental sciences and key technologies.

Our strengths are in a wide range of areas such as biotechnology, material sciences, information and communications technology (ICT), photonics, nanotechnology and sensor technology.

ICT is currently the critical enabling technology and is a major contributor to national productivity and growth.

But breakthrough science underpins technological advancements in many areas and Australia needs to foster an environment that stimulates creativity and innovation.

Applications for frontier technologies are potentially very large. Australia has the capacity to exploit niche markets for new products and services.

Australia also has an enviable track record as an innovator and developer of advanced materials and must grasp the opportunity to stay ahead.

Smart information use involving improved data management, intelligent transport systems and digital media to develop creative applications for digital technologies provides huge opportunities to improve the performance of key Australian industries.

Australia needs to invest in this research area as it is fundamental to our future competitiveness and well being.

This priority will help to strengthen the capacity of Australian researchers to participate in new areas of research, enhance Australia’s international scientific reputation, stimulate local expertise, and help create vibrant new industries.

A better understanding of the conditions that are conducive to innovation will ensure that Australia’s investment in research will maximise the benefits for Australia.

Enhanced research effort will also be achieved through initiatives that develop a critical mass of researchers in key areas.

Priority goals for research fall in the five areas of breakthrough science, frontier technologies, advanced materials, smart information use, and promoting an innovation culture and economy.

Priority Goals

Breakthrough science

Better understanding of the fundamental processes that will advance knowledge and facilitate the development of technological innovations.

Breakthrough science underpins technological innovation across a range of industries critical to maintaining Australia’s position as a developed country. Some examples include bio-, cultural- and geo-informatics, nano-assembly and quantum computing. Technological advances are often unexpected and a strong foundation in mathematics and the fundamental sciences will provide an environment that fosters creativity and innovation. Early participation in leading edge areas of research will enable Australian researchers to benefit more fully from international developments.

Frontier technologies

Enhanced capacity in frontier technologies to power world-class industries of the future and build on Australia’s strengths in research and innovation (examples include nanotechnology, biotechnology, ICT, photonics, genomics/phenomics, and complex systems).

The potential applications of frontier technologies across a range of industries in Australia are vast. Australia has significant capacity to exploit niche markets for new products and services emerging from frontier technologies. Australia has world-class research expertise in many such areas. Some examples include nanotechnology, biotechnology, ICT, photonics, genomics and phenomics. Also important are advanced frameworks such as complex systems in which these technologies are applied. Future directions in this priority area need to target the cutting-edge science critical for each emerging technology.

Advanced materials

Advanced materials for applications in construction, communications, transport, agriculture and medicine (examples include ceramics, organics, biomaterials, smart material and fabrics, composites, polymers and light metals).

The development of advanced materials will underpin growth in many areas of industrial and economic activity in Australia. Australia has substantial infrastructure in this area and an enviable track record as an innovator and developer of advanced materials. The era of advanced materials is just beginning, in spite of the tremendous progress in recent years. Substantial scientific and technological challenges remain ahead, including the development of more sophisticated and specialised materials. Some examples include ceramics, organics, biomaterials, smart materials and fabrics, composites, polymers, and light metals.

Smart information use

Improved data management for existing and new business applications and creative applications for digital technologies (examples include e-finance, interactive systems, multi-platform media, creative industries, digital media creative design, content generation and imaging).

ICT applications are providing huge opportunities to deliver new systems, products, business solutions, and to make more efficient use of infrastructure. Examples include e-finance, multi-media, content generation and imaging. Improved data management is central to the future competitiveness of key industries such as agriculture, biotechnology, finance, banking, education, transport, government, and health and ‘info-tainment’. The ability of organisations to operate virtually and collaborate across huge distances in Australia and internationally hinges on our capabilities in this area. The media and creative industries are among the fastest growing sectors of the new economy. Research is needed to exploit the huge potential in the digital media industry.

Promoting an innovation culture and economy

Maximising Australia’s creative and technological capability by understanding the factors conducive to innovation and its acceptance.

Understanding the factors that lead to highly creative and innovative ideas and concepts, and the conditions that lead to their introduction, transfer and uptake is critical for any nation that aspires to lead the world in breakthrough science, frontier technologies, and in other forms of innovation. Promoting an innovation culture and economy requires research with a focus on developing and fostering human talent, societal and cultural values favourable to creativity and innovation, and structures and processes for encouraging and managing innovation.

Research Priority 4: Safeguarding Australia

Safeguarding Australia from terrorism, crime, invasive diseases and pests, strengthening our understanding of Australia’s place in the region and the world, and securing our infrastructure, particularly with respect to our digital systems.

The importance of security and safety to Australia has been underscored by recent events.

Australia has to be capable of anticipating and tackling critical threats to society, strategic areas of the national economy and the environment.

The threats can potentially come from within and outside Australia.

The world is now characterised by the widespread and rapid movements of people, digitally coded data, goods and services, and exotic biological agents.

Critical infrastructure in Australia is increasingly dependent on digital technology for its management and integration.

Information protection and the integrity of security systems are now more important than ever before.

It is also necessary to protect the status of Australia as a nation free of many of the diseases affecting primary production around the world.

Terrorism has emerged as a very real global threat and crime is taking a significant toll on Australian society and economy.

Maintaining the operational advantage of Australia’s defence forces through superior capabilities is also fundamental to our national security.

Enhancing our nation’s understanding of social, political and cultural issues will help Australia to engage with our neighbours and the wider global community and to respond to emerging issues.

Leading edge research in Australia is already yielding high dividends and as a national research priority will improve the effectiveness of that contribution.

Stronger research capabilities will ensure that solutions are tailored to Australia’s unique circumstances, reflecting its geographic features and small population.

Greater collaboration within the research community and with other stakeholders will allow us to better understand and manage potential threats to Australia.

Harnessing the knowledge and capabilities across Australia offers us the best chance of developing innovative and rapid solutions to serious threats.

Australia’s international relations and its regional influence will be strengthened through new collaborative approaches and new science and technologies that enhance security and safety.

The heightened interest in personal and electronic security across the world also provides opportunities for Australian solutions.

Priority goals for research fall in the five areas of critical infrastructure, understanding our region and the world, protecting Australia from invasive diseases and pests, protecting Australia from terrorism and crime, and transformational defence technologies.

Priority goals

Critical infrastructure

Protecting Australia’s critical infrastructure including our financial, energy, communications, and transport systems.

Protecting our critical infrastructure is important to national security and to the social and economic well being of Australia. An important aspect of this priority goal is e-security which is an enabler of e-commerce. Maintaining a critical mass of research in e-security will be essential in providing Australia with the tools to protect our way of life.

Understanding our region and the world

Enhancing Australia’s capacity to interpret and engage with its regional and global environment through a greater understanding of languages, societies, politics and cultures.

Social, cultural and religious issues are of growing significance due to the insecurities of globalisation and the increasing role of non-state players in the security environment. Australia’s capacity to interpret and engage with its regional and global environment will be substantially improved by enhancing its research base in apposite languages, societies and cultures. An approach that enhances Australia’s capacity to interpret itself to the rest of the world is also needed.

Protecting Australia from invasive diseases and pests

Counteract the impact of invasive species through the application of new technologies and by integrating approaches across agencies and jurisdictions.

Australia is free of many of the pests and diseases affecting primary production around the world. This status needs to be protected as the introduction of exotic species has the potential to adversely affect our exports and the environment. Australia already has strong skills and expertise in this area of research and further work will offer immediate benefits to the community. A greater level of coordination of our research effort will mean that Australia can more effectively develop innovative and rapid solutions to serious threats.

Protecting Australia from terrorism and crime

By promoting a healthy and diverse research and development system that anticipates threats and supports core competencies in modern and rapid identification techniques.

Protecting Australia from terrorism is now more important than ever before in light of recent events and our involvement in the ‘war on terror’. The new threat requires a more sophisticated response which should harness Australia’s research capabilities, and which will focus on all phases of counter-terrorism; prevention, preparedness, detection, response and recovery. Crime takes a significant toll on Australian society and economy. The June 2000 report from the Prime Minister’s Science, Engineering and Innovation Council estimated that crime costs Australia at least $18 billion per annum. Personal identification, information protection and the integrity of security systems are fundamental towards ensuring the national security of Australia. An effective solution will include building on Australia’s existing strengths in rapid detection using new analytical technologies and managing significant data collections.

Transformational defence technologies

Transform military operations for the defence of Australia by providing superior technologies, better information and improved ways of operation.

Australia has a small defence force to protect a large continent and a substantial maritime region of responsibility. Its operational advantage has been maintained through a superior capability which is dependent on leveraging innovative technologies. Although some benefits can be gained from overseas research, Australia has to conduct its own research to address uniquely Australian demands. A systems approach which harnesses the research capabilities of all stakeholders is essential to the successful development and introduction of innovative technologies.