Australian Research Council Act 2001 - Linkage Infrastructure Equipment and Facilities - Funding Rules for funding commencing in 2008

Administered by Department of Education

Legislation au F2007L00258 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

 

Linkage Infrastructure Equipment and Facilities Funding Rules for funding commencing in 2008

 

 

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

 

Subject: Australian Research Council Act 2001

  Linkage Infrastructure Equipment and Facilities 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

Linkage Infrastructure Equipment and Facilities is a scheme funded under the Australian Research Council’s National Competitive Grants Program.  The Linkage Infrastructure Equipment and Facilities for funding commencing in 2008 sets out the eligibility and accountability requirements and other relevant matters for research programs which may be funded under this scheme.  The scheme provides funding to eligible organisations for research infrastructure, equipment and facilities that will be used to support high-quality research projects.  Funding under this scheme is approved by the Minister for Education, Science and Training.

 

In accordance with subsection 59 (2) of the Act, the Linkage Infrastructure Equipment and Facilities 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 thinks desirable.

 

In accordance with subsection 59 (2) of the Act, the Linkage Infrastructure Equipment and Facilities 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 Linkage Infrastructure Equipment and Facilities Funding Rules for funding commencing in 2008 were approved by the Minister for Education, Science and Training, the Hon Julie Bishop MP, on 23 January 2007.  No amendments have been made.

 

Documents incorporated by reference

The following documents are incorporated into the Funding Rules by reference:

 

  • The draft Funding Agreement (see subsections 1.1.2 and 10.1.3), available from (http://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 (http://www.nhmrc.gov.au);
  • Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment and Facilities Instructions to Applicants for funding commencing in 2008 (see subsection 7.4.3.2 of the rules), available from (http://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 (http://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 Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment and Facilities 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 Linkage Infrastructure Equipment and Facilities scheme for research projects where funding will commence in 2008.

 

Explanation of provisions: provision by provision description

Section 1 covers the objectives of the National Competitive Grants Program and the Linkage Infrastructure Equipment and Facilities scheme, and 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 covers funding details, including the level and period of funding, the types of research infrastructure, equipment and facilities supported, areas of investigation/work not supported, restrictions on budget items, number of proposals allowed, and ownership and location of infrastructure, equipment and facilities.

 

Section 4 covers organisational types, roles and eligibility, including eligible organisations, collaborating organisations and partner organisations.

 

Section 5 covers, roles and eligibility for researchers including researcher roles and general eligibility, eligibility criteria for chief investigators and eligibility criteria for partner investigators.

 

Section 6 outlines cross-scheme issues, including cross-scheme funding, cross-scheme eligibility 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 outlines the selection and approval process, including selection criteria, assessment and selection procedure, and the offer of funding.

 

Section 9 outlines the appeals process.

 

Section 10 deals with the administration of grants, including the funding agreement, varying the funding agreement or funding approval, and reporting requirements.

 

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

 


There are four appendices:

 

Appendix 1: Eligible Organisations

Appendix 2: Contributions by organisations

Appendix 3: Library and research information infrastructure

Appendix 4: National Research Priorities and associated Priority Goals.

 

Overview

The Linkage Infrastructure Equipment and Facilities Funding Rules for funding commencing in 2008, made under section 60 of the Australian Research Council Act 2001, were introduced to provide clear guidelines and criteria for the eligibility, application, assessment, and administration of funding under the Linkage Infrastructure Equipment and Facilities scheme. This scheme is part of the Australian Research Council's National Competitive Grants Program, which aims to support high-quality research projects by providing funding for research infrastructure, equipment, and facilities. The rules were approved by the Minister for Education, Science and Training on 23 January 2007, and they take into account the funding cap and funding split determination for the applicable years. The rules outline eligibility criteria, application processes, assessment procedures, and accountability requirements, ensuring that the funding is used effectively and responsibly to support research initiatives. These rules provide a structured framework to manage and facilitate the funding of research infrastructure and equipment for eligible organisations. The enacting body for these rules is the Minister for Education, Science and Training, as authorised by section 60 of the Australian Research Council Act 2001. The policy objective is to ensure that the Linkage Infrastructure Equipment and Facilities scheme operates efficiently and transparently, supporting high-quality research projects by providing necessary funding for infrastructure, equipment, and facilities. The rules incorporate feedback from eligible organisations, ensuring they are practical and responsive to the needs of the research community. The rules also reference various documents, including the Joint NHMRC/AVCC Statement and Guidelines on Research Practice, the NHMRC’s National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Research Involving Humans, and the National Principles of Intellectual Property Management for Publicly Funded Research, to uphold ethical standards and intellectual property rights.

Scope and Application

The Linkage Infrastructure Equipment and Facilities Funding Rules for funding commencing in 2008 are established under the Australian Research Council Act 2001 and govern the eligibility and accountability requirements for research programs that may be funded under the Linkage Infrastructure Equipment and Facilities scheme. This scheme is part of the Australian Research Council's National Competitive Grants Program and provides funding for research infrastructure, equipment, and facilities to eligible organisations to support high-quality research projects. The Minister for Education, Science and Training approves these funding rules, which outline criteria for eligibility, application processes, assessment procedures, funding variations, and accountability requirements. The rules apply to organisations and researchers involved in high-quality research projects, with specific eligibility criteria for chief and partner investigators. The rules also incorporate other relevant documents and guidelines, and they commenced on the day after their registration on the Federal Register of Legislative Instruments.

Key Provisions

The main operative sections of the Linkage Infrastructure Equipment and Facilities Funding Rules (2008) (F2007L00258) include the eligibility criteria for financial assistance (section 4), the application process (section 7), the assessment and selection procedure (section 8), and the administration of grants (section 10). Section 4 details the eligibility criteria for organisations and researchers, specifying the types of entities that may receive funding and the roles that researchers must play. Section 7 outlines the process for submitting proposals, including the necessary certification and submission protocols. Section 8 sets forth the criteria and procedures for assessing and selecting proposals for funding. Finally, Section 10 explains the terms of the funding agreement, the process for varying funding approvals, and the reporting requirements for funded projects. The Act imposes several obligations and requirements on the parties it governs. Firstly, eligible organisations must ensure they meet the specified eligibility criteria, including demonstrating the potential of the proposed research infrastructure, equipment, and facilities to support high-quality research. Researchers, particularly chief investigators and partner investigators, must meet specific eligibility criteria, including having the necessary qualifications and experience. Organisations and researchers must also comply with ethical research practices, as outlined in the Joint NHMRC/AVCC Statement and Guidelines on Research Practice (1997) and other relevant ethical guidelines. Additionally, funded projects must adhere to the National Principles of Intellectual Property Management for Publicly Funded Research. All funded entities must also provide regular reports on the progress and outcomes of their research projects. Violations of the Linkage Infrastructure Equipment and Facilities Funding Rules can lead to various civil and criminal consequences. For instance, providing incomplete or misleading information in funding applications may result in the rejection of the proposal or the revocation of existing funding. Additionally, failure to adhere to ethical research practices or intellectual property guidelines may result in legal action or the loss of funding. While the document does not specify maximum penalties for breaches, the consequences can be significant, impacting the ability of the organisation or researcher to secure future funding and damaging their professional reputation. It is important for all parties to carefully review and comply with the rules to avoid these potential repercussions.

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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.