EXPLANATORY STATEMENT
Funding Rules made under section 60 of the Australian Research Council Act 2001
Linkage Projects Funding Rules for funding commencing in 2012
Issued by the authority of the Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research
Subject: Australian Research Council Act 2001
Linkage Projects Funding Rules for funding commencing in 2012
Authority
Section 60 of the Australian Research Council Act 2001 (the Act) provides that the Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research must approve ARC funding rules.
Purpose and effect
Linkage Projects supports research and development projects which are collaborative between higher education researchers and other parts of the national innovation system, which are undertaken to acquire new knowledge, and which involve risk or innovation.
In accordance with subsection 59 (2) of the Act, the Linkage Projects Funding Rules for funding commencing in 2012 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 2012 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.
Linkage Projects Funding Rules for funding commencing in 2012 were approved by the Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research, the Hon Kim Carr MP, on 3 March 2011. No amendments have been made.
Documents incorporated by reference
The following documents are incorporated by reference:
- the NHMRC/ARC/UA Australian Code for the Responsible Conduct of Research (2007); the NHMRC/ARC/AVCC National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Human Research (2007); and codes on animal research promulgated by the NHMRC (see subsection 14.1.1 of the rules), available from (www.nhmrc.gov.au);
- Instructions to Applicants for funding commencing in 2012 (see section 5), available from (www.arc.gov.au)
- National Principles of Intellectual Property Management for Publicly Funded Research (see Section 14.4 of the rules), available from (www.arc.gov.au).
Commencement
Linkage Projects Funding Rules for funding commencing in 2012 shall take effect upon registration on the Federal Register of Legislative Instruments.
Explanation of provisions: provision by provision description
Section 1 provides the name of the Funding Rules.
Section 2 provides the commencement details.
Section 3 provides interpretations of the definitions.
Section 4 provides an overview and outlines the Linkage Projects scheme and the selection criteria.
Section 5 outlines the level and period of funding, budget items supported, budget items not supported and research/activities not support.
Section 6 deals with organisational types, roles and eligibility including eligible organisations, partner organisations, partner organisation general requirements, letter of support from a partner organisation, eligibility for concessional treatment and other organisations.
Section 7 deals with roles and eligibility for researchers including researcher’s roles and general eligibility, chief investigators, partner investigators and Australian Postdoctoral Fellowships (APDI Fellow).
Section 8 deals Fellowships including eligibility criteria for APDI Fellowship candidates, level and period of funding for APDI Fellows and eligibility criteria for Linkage Industry Fellowship (LIF).
Section 9 outlines the number of proposals, funded projects and proposal eligibility including duplication and eligibility exemption request.
Section 10 deals with submission of proposals including submission in RMS, closing times for proposals, certification in RMS and conflict of interest.
Section 11 outlines the selection and approval process, including assessment and selection process, rejoinder process, request not to assess and recommendations and offer of funding.
Section 12 deals the appeals process.
Section 13 deals with the reporting requirement, including, progress reports, end of year reports, final report and audited financial statement.
Section 14 outlines the fundamental principles of conducting research, including, ethics and research practices, applicable law, confidentiality, intellectual property and incomplete or misleading information.
Appendix A. Eligible Organisations