Australian Research Council Linkage Projects Funding Rules for funding commencing in 2013

Overview

The Australian Research Council Act 2001 was enacted to support research and development that is collaborative between higher education researchers and other parts of the national innovation system. This legislation was designed to address the need for funding that not only seeks to acquire new knowledge but also involves risk or innovation. The Act empowers the Minister for Tertiary Education, Skills, Science and Research to approve funding rules under section 60, ensuring they align with specific policy objectives and funding allocations. The Linkage Projects Funding Rules for funding commencing in 2013, approved by Senator Chris Evans, outline the eligibility criteria for organisations and researchers, the application process, assessment methods, and conditions for varying funding approvals. These rules are integral to ensuring that funding is directed towards collaborative research projects that align with national innovation goals, while adhering to ethical research practices and intellectual property management principles.

Scope and Application

The Linkage Projects Funding Rules, made under section 60 of the Australian Research Council Act 2001, govern the eligibility criteria, application processes, assessment procedures, funding variations, and accountability requirements for Linkage Projects, which are collaborative research and development initiatives between higher education researchers and other entities within the national innovation system. These rules apply to organisations and researchers seeking financial assistance for projects that involve risk or innovation and aim to acquire new knowledge. The eligibility criteria include specific organisational types and research programs that qualify for funding. The rules are consistent with the funding cap and split determinations for the relevant years and incorporate various codes and principles concerning research conduct, ethics, intellectual property, and conflict of interest. The rules extend to the Commonwealth level and are applicable to all entities within the national innovation system participating in eligible research projects. The rules do not specify any exclusions, exemptions, or thresholds, but they do detail the reporting requirements and appeal processes for applicants. Subordinate instruments may further extend or restrict the application of these rules as necessary.

Key Provisions

The main operative sections of the Linkage Projects Funding Rules for funding commencing in 2013 (sections 4-13) detail the eligibility criteria, application process, assessment, funding variations, and accountability requirements for proposals seeking financial assistance. Section 4 provides an overview and outlines the program and the selection criteria, while section 5 specifies the level of funding, budget restrictions, and types of research not supported. Section 6 deals with organisational types, roles, and eligibility, and section 7 covers roles and eligibility for researchers. Section 8 addresses the number of proposals and cross-scheme eligibility. Section 9 outlines the submission of proposals, closing time, and Conflict of Interest. Section 10 details the selection process and approval processes, section 11 outlines the appeals process, and section 12 specifies the reporting requirements for End of Year and final reporting. Section 13 provides details for fundamental principles of conducting research, including ethics and research practices, applicable law, confidentiality, intellectual property, and incomplete or misleading information. The obligations and requirements imposed on parties governed by these rules include meeting the eligibility criteria (section 4), ensuring compliance with ethical standards and applicable laws (section 13), and submitting complete and accurate information (section 13). Organisations and researchers must adhere to the ethical guidelines set out in the NHMRC/ARC/UA Australian Code for the Responsible Conduct of Research (2007) and the NHMRC/ARC/AVCC National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Human Research (2007). Researchers must also comply with the National Principles of Intellectual Property Management for Publicly Funded Research. Furthermore, applicants must submit their proposals by the specified closing time, disclose any conflicts of interest, and provide necessary documentation for the assessment process (section 9). Approved projects must adhere to the reporting requirements set out in section 12, including End of Year and final reporting. Breaches of the Linkage Projects Funding Rules for funding commencing in 2013 may result in civil and criminal consequences. Section 13 of the rules explicitly states that incomplete or misleading information provided in proposals may lead to the disqualification of the application. Additionally, any failure to comply with the ethical guidelines or applicable laws could result in legal action, including fines or penalties as prescribed by relevant legislation. While the specific maximum penalties are not stated in the rules, breaches of ethical conduct or research practices may be subject to penalties under other relevant statutes, such as the Australian Research Council Act 2001 or the National Health and Medical Research Council Act 1992. Furthermore, the Australian Government’s Department of Education, Skills and Employment may also impose sanctions on institutions or researchers found to be in breach of the rules.