Grant Guidelines for the Linkage Program (2018) Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment and Facilities

Administered by Department of Education

Legislation au F2019L00042 Not in force Legislative Instrument

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EXPLANATORY STATEMENT

 

Grant Guidelines made under section 60 of the Australian Research Council Act 2001

Grant Guidelines for schemes under the Linkage Program 2018— Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment and Facilities for funding commencing in 2020.

 

Issued by the authority of the Minister for Education

Subject: Australian Research Council Act 2001— Grant Guidelines for schemes under the                              Linkage Program 2018— Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment and Facilities for                                           funding commencing in 2020.

 

Authority

Section 60 of the Australian Research Council Act 2001 (the Act) provides that the Minister must approve ARC Grant Guidelines. 

Purpose and effect

The instrument is a legislative instrument for the purposes of the Legislation Act 2003 (the LA). These Grant Guidelines relate to a scheme funded under the Linkage Program 2018— Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment and Facilities (LIEF). The LIEF scheme provides funding for research infrastructure, equipment and facilities to Eligible Organisations. It enables researchers to participate in cooperative initiatives so that expensive research infrastructure, equipment and facilities can be shared between higher education organisations and also with Industry. The scheme also fosters collaboration through its support of the cooperative use of international or national research facilities.

In particular, these guidelines relate to the Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment and Facilities scheme for funding commencing in 2020.

 

In accordance with subsection 59 (2) of the Act, the Grant Guidelines for the scheme under the Linkage Program 2018— Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment and Facilities for funding commencing in 2020 contains:

(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 programme 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 (4) of the Act, the Grant Guidelines for the scheme under the Linkage Program 2018— Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment and Facilities for funding commencing in 2020 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 Grant Guidelines for the scheme under the Linkage Program 2018— Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment and Facilities for funding commencing in 2020 were approved by the Minister for Education, Hon Dan Tehan MP, on 21 December 2018.

Documents incorporated by reference                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               

The following documents are incorporated by reference:

  • the ARC Research Integrity and Research Misconduct Policy (2016);
  • the National Principles of Intellectual Property Management for Publicly Funded Research (2017);
  • the ARC Open Access Policy (2017);
  • the Australian Code for the Responsible Conduct of Research (2018);
  • as applicable, the National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Human Research (2007) (updated July 2018);
  • as applicable, NHMRC Ethical conduct in research with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and communities: Guidelines for researchers and stakeholders (2018);
  • as applicable, Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies Guidelines for Ethical Research in Australian Indigenous Studies (2012);
  • as applicable, Australia Council for the Arts Protocols for Producing Indigenous Australian Music; Writing; Visual Arts; Media Arts; and Performing Arts (2007); and
  • as applicable, the Australian Code for the Care and Use of Animals for Scientific Purposes (2013).

 

 

Commencement

The Grant Guidelines for the scheme under the Linkage Program 2018— Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment and Facilities for funding commencing in 2020 shall take effect upon registration on the Federal Register of Legislative Instruments. 

 

The provisions include;

These Guidelines contain information relating to the Grant Guidelines for the scheme under the Linkage Program 2018— Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment and Facilities for funding commencing in 2020, this includes: grant amount, eligibility, assessment criteria, application process and delivery or grant activities.

Consultation

The ARC consulted with the Department of Finance and the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet and they have determined the Grant Guidelines as low risk.

 

Regulatory Impact Statement

These Grant Guidelines include a number of measures that reduce regulatory burden on the higher education sector. This includes coordination with the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) to produce a timeline that minimises the burden on the sector in relation to preparation and submission of proposals.

 

Statement of compatibility with human rights

Section 9(1) of the Human Rights (Parliamentary Scrutiny) Act 2011 requires the rule maker in relation to a legislative instrument to which section 42 (disallowance) of the LA applies to cause a statement of compatibility to be prepared in respect of that legislative instrument.

The legislative instrument does not engage any of the applicable rights or freedoms. It is compatible with human rights, as it does not raise any human rights issues.

 

Overview

The Grant Guidelines made under section 60 of the Australian Research Council Act 2001 are designed to regulate the funding process for the Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment and Facilities (LIEF) scheme, specifically for funding commencing in 2020. Enacted by the Australian Parliament, the Act aims to streamline and formalise the funding of research infrastructure, equipment, and facilities, enabling collaborative initiatives between higher education institutions and industry. The primary objective of these guidelines is to ensure that proposals for financial assistance meet specific eligibility criteria, establish a clear application process, outline the assessment and decision-making process, detail how funding approvals may be varied, and include any additional accountability measures deemed necessary by the ARC. Approved by the Minister for Education, these guidelines are consistent with the funding cap and split determination for the applicable years, taking into account broader policy objectives such as fostering collaboration and sharing expensive research resources.

Scope and Application

The Grant Guidelines made under section 60 of the Australian Research Council Act 2001 pertain to schemes under the Linkage Program 2018— Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment and Facilities for funding commencing in 2020. These guidelines apply to eligible organisations that intend to apply for financial assistance for research infrastructure, equipment, and facilities. Eligible organisations include higher education organisations and industry entities. The guidelines provide criteria for eligibility, application processes, assessment procedures, funding variations, and accountability requirements. They are intended to foster collaboration between higher education organisations and industry by enabling the sharing of expensive research infrastructure, equipment, and facilities. The guidelines also consider the funding cap and funding split determination for the applicable years and are consistent with various policies and principles, including research integrity, intellectual property management, open access, responsible conduct of research, and ethical conduct in research. These guidelines have been approved by the Minister for Education and are in line with low-risk assessments from the Department of Finance and the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet. They aim to reduce regulatory burden on the higher education sector and have been deemed compatible with human rights, as they do not engage any applicable rights or freedoms.

Key Provisions

The Australian Research Council Act 2001 (section 60) requires the Minister for Education to approve the Grant Guidelines for schemes under the Linkage Program 2018, specifically for the Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment and Facilities (LIEF) scheme which provides funding for research infrastructure, equipment and facilities to eligible organisations. These guidelines, approved on 21 December 2018, outline the eligibility criteria for proposals, the application process, the assessment criteria for deciding which proposals to approve, the circumstances under which a funding approval may be varied, and any additional accountability requirements deemed necessary by the ARC (sections 59(2) and (4)). These guidelines also incorporate by reference various policies and guidelines that govern research integrity, intellectual property management, open access, responsible conduct of research, ethical conduct, and the care and use of animals in scientific research. Under these Grant Guidelines, eligible organisations must meet specific criteria to qualify for financial assistance, including the type of organisation and the research program for which assistance is sought. The application process requires detailed information about the proposed research infrastructure, equipment, or facilities, and the expected benefits of the project, including any potential for collaboration with industry or other higher education institutions. The assessment process evaluates the merit and impact of the proposal, ensuring that the funding supports high-quality research that can be shared across the sector. Additionally, these guidelines may impose variations on funding approvals if the circumstances of the project change significantly, or if there are issues related to compliance with the terms of the grant. Failure to comply with the Grant Guidelines can result in penalties or other consequences. For example, if an organisation submits an ineligible proposal or provides false information, it may be disqualified from receiving funding. Moreover, if an organisation breaches the terms of the grant, such as not using the funds for the intended purpose or failing to report on the project's outcomes, the ARC may require the return of funds or take other corrective actions. These measures are intended to ensure that the funding is used effectively and that the benefits of the research infrastructure, equipment, and facilities are realised for the broader research community and industry. The Grant Guidelines also outline the regulatory impact, noting measures to reduce the burden on the higher education sector by coordinating timelines with the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) and other agencies. This ensures that the process for preparing and submitting proposals is streamlined and efficient. Furthermore, a statement of compatibility with human rights confirms that the guidelines do not engage any applicable rights or freedoms and are compatible with human rights, as they do not raise any human rights issues. The guidelines have been determined to be low risk by relevant departments, ensuring they balance support for research with appropriate oversight and accountability.

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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.