EXPLANATORY STATEMENT
Variation to Funding Rules made under section 61 of the Australian Research Council Act 2001
Linkage Projects
Issued by the authority of the Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research
Subject: Australian Research Council Act 2001
Variation to Linkage Projects Funding Rules for funding commencing in 2009
Authority
Section 61 of the Australian Research Council Act 2001 (the Act) allows for variation of a set of rules by the Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research.
Purpose and effect
The Linkage Projects Funding Rules for funding commencing in 2009 were approved under section 60 of the Act by the Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research, Senator the Hon Kim Carr, on 2 March 2008.
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 Innovation, Industry, Science and Research.
A variation to these rules was approved under section 61 of the Act by the Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research, Senator the Hon Kim Carr, on 2 April 2008. Details of the approved variation to the Linkage Projects Funding Rules for funding commencing in 2009 are:
1. In subsection 4.1.3 delete the word ‘January’ and replace with ’March’.
2. Delete subsection 5.1.1.d and replace with:
‘d. Clarification is provided that funding is permitted for CIs, PIs, APDIs and research support personnel to cover domestic and international travel associated with a project, including to foster and strengthen collaborations between researchers in Australia and overseas (subsection 6.4.2.e);’
3. In subsection 5.1.1 insert new subsections:
‘n. The citizenship and residency requirements for APAI students have been relaxed (Appendix 3, A3.1.2); and’
‘o. Preference may be given to award APDIs to candidates who have the potential to enhance international collaboration (subsection 11.1.2.1).’
4. Delete subsection 6.4.2.e and replace with:
‘e. domestic and international travel costs for CIs, PIs, APDIs and research support personnel. Funding is permitted for domestic and international travel associated with the project, including to foster and strengthen collaborations between researchers in Australia and overseas.’
5. Delete subsection 6.5.2.e and replace with:
‘Research support for Partner Investigators
Funds are not provided for PIs, apart from:
i. short-term project support for investigators visiting from overseas;
ii. domestic and international travel associated with a project;
iii. salary funding for approved LIF Fellows.’
6. Delete the section numbering against the note at subsection 8.1.4 and re-number subsections 8.1.5 to 8.1.13 inclusive as subsections 8.1.4 to 8.1.12 respectively.
7. In subsection 11.1.2.1 insert the text ‘Preference may be given to award APDIs to candidates who have the potential to enhance international collaboration.’ at the end of the subsection.
8. In A2.3.7 of Appendix 2 delete the words ‘in any year’ and replace with ‘per year’.
9. In A3.1.2 of Appendix 3 delete subsection A.3.1.2.a and re-number subsections A3.1.2.b to A3.1.2.f inclusive as subsections A.3.1.2.a to A3.1.2.e respectively.
10. Throughout entire document replace ‘9 May 2008’ with ‘23 May 2008’ (page 6 and subsections 6.1.1, 10.4.5.1.a. 10.4.5.3 and 11.2.3.6).
Consultation
The ARC met with a number of key higher education institutions at the Universities Australia meeting of Deputy and Pro Vice-Chancellors (Research), which took place on 27 March 2008.
Commencement
The variation to the Linkage Projects Funding Rules for funding commencing in 2009 will take effect the day after registration on the Federal Register of Legislative Instruments.