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

Administered by Department of Education

Legislation au F2007L00222 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 Projects 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 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

Linkage Projects is a scheme funded under the Australian Research Council’s National Competitive Grants Program.  The scheme supports research and development projects which are collaborative between higher education researchers and other parts of the national innovation system which are approved by the Minister for Education, Science and Training.

 

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

 

In accordance with subsection 59 (2) of the Act, the Linkage Projects Funding Rules for funding commencing in 2008, the 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 Projects Funding Rules for funding commencing in 2008 were approved by the Minister for Education, Science and Training, the Hon Julie Bishop MP, on 23 December 2006.  No amendments have been made.

 

Documents incorporated by reference

The following documents are incorporated by reference:

  • 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);
  • Linkage Projects Instructions to Applicants for funding commencing in 2008 (see subsection 7.4.3.2), available from (www.arc.gov.au)
  • National Principles of Intellectual Property Management for Publicly Funded Research (see subsection 11.4.4 of the rules), available from (www.arc.gov.au);and
  • The draft Funding Agreement (see subsections 10.1, 11.6.1), 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 Linkage Projects Funding Rules for funding commencing in 2008 commence the day after they are registered on the Federal Register of Legislative Instruments.  

 

Explanation of provisions: provision by provision description

 

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

 

Section 2 outlines changes from last year.

 

Section 3 outlines the funding rounds, the level and period of funding, types of research supported, areas of investigation/work not supported, restrictions on budget items, Linkage Industry Fellowships and the number of proposals and limit on projects.  

 

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

 

Section 5 outlines roles and general eligibility for researchers, including early career researchers, and eligibility criteria for Chief Investigators, Partner Investigators and Australian Postdoctoral Fellowship (Industry).

 

Section 6 outlines cross-scheme issues relating to funding, eligibility, researchers from Commonwealth-funded Research Centres, and funding of clinical 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 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 refers to other relevant matters, including applicable law, confidentiality, project description, intellectual property, incomplete or misleading information, and insurance and liabilities.

 

There are six appendices:

Appendix 1. Eligible Organisations

Appendix 2. Partner Organisations

Appendix 3. Australian Postgraduate Awards (Industry)

Appendix 4. Australian Postdoctoral Fellowship (Industry)

Appendix 5. Guidelines for the evaluation of the adequacy of Partner Organisation in-kind contributions

Appendix 6. National Research Priorities and associated Priority Goals

Overview

The Australian Research Council Act 2001 established the framework for the Australian Research Council (ARC) and its various funding schemes, including the Linkage Projects scheme. The Linkage Projects Funding Rules for funding commencing in 2008 were introduced to provide a structured approach for funding collaborative research projects between higher education researchers and other sectors of the national innovation system. These rules were approved by the Minister for Education, Science and Training, Julie Bishop, on 23 December 2006, and they outline the eligibility criteria, application process, assessment procedures, funding variations, and additional accountability requirements for the scheme. The rules aim to ensure that funding is allocated to high-quality, collaborative research projects that align with national research priorities and ethical standards, fostering innovation and knowledge creation in Australia. The rules also consider funding caps and splits to manage the distribution of resources effectively within the National Competitive Grants Program.

Scope and Application

The Linkage Projects Funding Rules for funding commencing in 2008 apply to the National Competitive Grants Program under the Australian Research Council Act 2001, specifically targeting research and development projects that are collaborative between higher education researchers and other sectors of the national innovation system. These rules outline the eligibility criteria for organisations and researchers, the application process, assessment procedures, and the administration of funding. Eligible applicants include higher education institutions, research institutions, and industry partners, with specific criteria for Chief Investigators and Partner Investigators. The rules cover the assessment process, which includes selection criteria and the offer of funding, as well as provisions for varying funding approvals and handling appeals. The rules also address intellectual property, confidentiality, and other relevant matters such as insurance and liabilities. These rules apply nationally across Australia and are consistent with the funding cap and split determination for the relevant years. The explanatory statement notes that no amendments have been made to the rules since their approval by the Minister for Education, Science and Training on 23 December 2006.

Key Provisions

The main operative sections of the Linkage Projects Funding Rules for funding commencing in 2008 (F2007L00222) provide comprehensive guidelines for the Australian Research Council's (ARC) National Competitive Grants Program, specifically focusing on the Linkage Projects scheme (Sections 1-11). These rules outline the eligibility criteria for proposals (Section 4), the roles and eligibility of researchers (Section 5), and the application and selection processes (Sections 7 and 8). Additionally, they detail the administration of funding, including the Funding Agreement and reporting requirements (Section 10). The rules also incorporate various documents by reference, such as 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 (Section 11). The obligations imposed by the Act on parties or entities governed by these rules are extensive. Eligible organisations must meet specific criteria to participate in the Linkage Projects scheme, including collaboration with other parts of the national innovation system (Section 4). Researchers, particularly Chief Investigators and Partner Investigators, must meet certain eligibility criteria to be considered for funding (Section 5). The application process requires detailed proposals that meet the specified eligibility criteria, including ethical considerations and research practice standards (Sections 6 and 7). Furthermore, successful applicants must adhere to the terms of the Funding Agreement, including reporting requirements and intellectual property management (Section 10). The rules also detail the consequences of non-compliance with the provisions. While the explanatory statement does not explicitly list penalties, breaches of the ethical conduct in research involving humans or animals could result in the withdrawal of funding and potential legal repercussions under the National Health and Medical Research Council Act 1992. Additionally, failure to adhere to the Funding Agreement or provide accurate information could lead to the termination of funding and possibly legal action for breach of contract. The rules underscore the importance of compliance with ethical standards, accurate reporting, and adherence to the terms of the Funding Agreement to avoid any adverse consequences.

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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.