Australian Research Council Act 2001 - Discovery Projects - Funding Rules for funding commencing in 2008

Administered by Department of Education

Legislation au F2006L03744 Rules Not in force Legislative Instrument

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EXPLANATORY STATEMENT

 

Funding Rules made under section 60 of the Australian Research Council Act 2001

Issued by the authority of the Minister for Education, Science and Training

 

 

Subject:  Australian Research Council Act 2001

   Discovery Projects Funding Rules for funding commencing in 2008

 

Authority

Section 60 of the Australian Research Council Act 2001 (the Act) provides that the Minister for Education, Science and Training must approve ARC funding rules. 

 

Purpose and effect

Discovery Projects is a scheme funded under the Australian Research Council’s National Competitive Grants Program.

 

Discovery Projects, which recognises the importance of fundamental research to the national innovation system, supports research undertaken by individual researchers or research teams.

 

The objectives of Discovery Projects are to:

a. support excellent fundamental research by individuals and teams;

b. enhance the scale and focus of research in the National Research Priorities;

c. assist researchers to undertake their research in conditions most conducive to achieving best results;

d. expand Australia’s knowledge base and research capability;

e. foster the international competitiveness of Australian research; and

f. encourage research training in high-quality research environments.

 

Discovery Projects provides opportunities for a continuum of activities in order to meet the varied needs of researchers in different disciplines and at different stages of their careers.

 

In accordance with subsection 59 (2) of the Act, the Discovery Projects Funding Rules for funding commencing in 2008 contain:

 

(a) the eligibility criteria to be met in order for a proposal to be approved for financial assistance (including criteria relating to the kinds of organisation that may receive assistance and the kinds of research program in respect of which assistance may be provided);

(b) how to apply for financial assistance;

(c) the assessment process for deciding which proposals will be recommended for approval;

(d) the ways in which, and circumstances in which, a funding approval may be varied; and

(e) any additional accountability requirements that the ARC CEO thinks desirable.

 

In accordance with subsection 59 (2) of the Act, the Discovery Projects Funding Rules for funding commencing in 2008 rules take account of, and are consistent with:

(a) the funding cap for the year, or each of the years, to which the rules apply; and

(b) the funding split determination for the year, or each of the years, to which the rules apply.

 

The Discovery Projects Funding Rules for funding commencing in 2008 were approved by the Minister for Education, Science and Training, the Hon Julie Bishop MP on 14 November 2006.  No amendments have been made.

 


Documents incorporated by reference

The following documents are incorporated by reference:

  • The draft Funding Agreement (see subsection 1.1.2 of the rules), available from (www.arc.gov.au);
  • The Joint NHMRC/AVCC Statement and Guidelines on Research Practice (1997)/the NHMRC’s National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Research Involving Humans; and/as applicable, the NHMRC’s other codes on animal research (see subsection 1.4.1.1 of the rules), available from (www.nhmrc.gov.au);
  • Discovery Projects 2008 Funding Round Fellowships Summary (see subsection 2.1.1 (t) of the rules), available from (www.arc.gov.au);
  • Discovery Projects Instructions to Applicants for Funding Commencing in 2008 (see subsection 7.4.3.2), available from (www.arc.gov.au); and
  • National Principles of Intellectual Property Management for Publicly Funded Research (see subsection 11.4.4 of the rules), available from (www.arc.gov.au).

 

Consultation

On 28 April 2006, the ARC invited comments and feedback from all organisations eligible for ARC funding on funding rules for ARC schemes.  Submissions were received by the ARC in late May/early June 2006 from a number of organisations.  The ARC considered these submissions and, where appropriate, the funding rules approved by the Minister reflected this feedback.

 

Commencement

The Discovery Projects Funding Rules for funding commencing in 2008 commence the day after they are registered on the Federal Register of Legislative Instruments.  

 

Likely impact and effect

These Funding Rules provide the key criteria and requirements for proposals for, and the allocation and administration of, funding under the Discovery Projects scheme for research projects where funding will commence in 2008.

 

Explanation of provisions: provision by provision description

Section 1 outlines the objectives of the National Competitive Grants Program and the Discovery Projects scheme, and the fundamental principles and requirements, including ethics and research practices, non-duplication, conflict of interest, acknowledging ARC support and dissemination of research outputs.

 

Section 2 outlines changes from last year.

 

Section 3 deals with the level and period of funding, types of research supported, areas of investigation/work not supported, restrictions on budget items, and the number of proposals and funded projects allowed, and duplication.  

 

Section 4 deals with organisational types, roles and eligibility, including eligible organisations and partner organisations.

 

Section 5 deals with roles and eligibility for researchers, including Early Career Researchers, Chief Investigators, Partner Investigators and Fellowships.

 

Section 6 deals with cross-scheme issues relating to funding, eligibility, researchers from Commonwealth-funded Research Centres, and funding of medical and dental research.

 

Section 7 deals with the application process including eligibility exemption and eligibility ruling process, proposals, certification and submission of proposals.

 

Section 8 deals with the selection and approval process, including selection criteria, assessment and selection procedure and offer of funding. 

 

Section 9 deals with the appeals process.

 

Section 10 deals with the administration of funding, including the Funding Agreement, varying the Funding Agreement or Funding Approval, and reporting.

 

Section 11 deals with other relevant matters, including applicable law, confidentiality, project description, intellectual property, incomplete or misleading information, and insurance and liabilities.

 

Appendix 1 is the National Research Priorities and associated Priority Goals.

 

Appendix 2 deals with Eligible Organisations.

 

Appendix 3 is the Notional Fellowship salaries, relocation allowances and teaching relief.

 

 

Overview

The Australian Research Council Act 2001, enacted by the Australian Parliament, establishes the framework for funding research projects through the Australian Research Council (ARC). The Act aims to support fundamental research and enhance Australia's research capabilities and international competitiveness. To operationalise this, the Minister for Education, Science and Training, under section 60 of the Act, approves funding rules for specific research schemes, such as the Discovery Projects. The Discovery Projects scheme, which provides funding for individual researchers or teams, supports excellent fundamental research, aligns with national research priorities, and encourages research training in high-quality environments. The Discovery Projects Funding Rules for funding commencing in 2008, approved by the Minister on 14 November 2006, detail eligibility criteria, application processes, assessment procedures, funding variations, and accountability requirements, ensuring consistency with funding caps and splits. These rules facilitate the administration and allocation of funding for research projects starting in 2008, reflecting feedback from eligible organisations and incorporating relevant ethical and intellectual property guidelines.

Scope and Application

The Funding Rules made under section 60 of the Australian Research Council Act 2001 apply to the Discovery Projects scheme, which is part of the Australian Research Council’s National Competitive Grants Program. These rules govern the eligibility criteria, application process, assessment, funding variation, and additional accountability requirements for proposals seeking financial assistance for research projects commencing in 2008. The scheme supports individual researchers or research teams undertaking fundamental research across various disciplines and career stages. The rules apply to eligible organisations, including universities, research institutions, and other approved entities, and researchers such as Early Career Researchers, Chief Investigators, and Partner Investigators. The rules also take into account funding caps and splits for the applicable years. The Minister for Education, Science and Training approved these rules on 14 November 2006, and they incorporate several referenced documents, including the draft Funding Agreement, ethical conduct guidelines, and intellectual property management principles. The rules provide detailed provisions for the application process, selection criteria, funding administration, and other relevant matters to ensure the effective allocation and management of funding for research projects.

Key Provisions

The Australian Research Council Act 2001, under which the Discovery Projects Funding Rules for funding commencing in 2008 were issued, outlines the eligibility criteria, application process, assessment, funding approval variations, and additional accountability requirements. These rules, approved by the Minister for Education, Science and Training on 14 November 2006, are designed to support excellent fundamental research by individuals and research teams, enhancing the scale and focus of research in the National Research Priorities, and expanding Australia's knowledge base and research capability (sections 1(a)-(f)). The rules impose obligations on the parties or entities they govern, such as adherence to the eligibility criteria (section 4), accurate and complete application submissions (section 7), and compliance with assessment processes and selection criteria (sections 7 and 8). Researchers must meet specific criteria to be eligible for funding, such as being Early Career Researchers, Chief Investigators, or holding Fellowships (section 5). Organisations, both eligible and partner, must meet specified eligibility requirements and roles (section 4). Violations of these rules may result in civil or criminal consequences. For example, providing incomplete or misleading information in an application could result in penalties under the applicable law, and failure to comply with the Funding Agreement may lead to termination of funding (section 11). The maximum penalties for breaches are not explicitly stated in the text but would be determined by relevant legislation and contractual agreements.

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Sourced from the Federal Register of Legislation at 26 August 2026. For the latest information on Australian Government law please go to https://www.legislation.gov.au.