Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment and Facilities Funding Rules for funding commencing in 2014

Administered by Department of Education

Legislation au F2013L00514 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 Infrastructure Equipment and Facilities Funding Rules for funding commencing in 2014

 

Issued by the authority of the Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research

 

Subject: Australian Research Council Act 2001

  Linkage Infrastructure Equipment and Facilities Funding Rules for funding                              commencing in 2014

 

Authority

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

 

Purpose and effect

Linkage Infrastructure Equipment and Facilities is a scheme funded under the Australian Research Council’s National Competitive Grants Program. The Linkage Infrastructure Equipment and Facilities for funding commencing in 2014 sets out the eligibility and accountability requirements and other relevant matters for research programs which may be funded under this scheme. The scheme provides funding to eligible organisations for research infrastructure, equipment and facilities that will be used to support high-quality research projects.

 

In accordance with subsection 59 (2) of the Act, the Linkage Infrastructure Equipment and Facilities for funding commencing in 2014 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 Infrastructure Equipment and Facilities Funding Rules for funding commencing in 2014 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 Infrastructure Equipment and Facilities Funding Rules for funding commencing in 2014 were approved by the Minister for Tertiary Education, Skill, Science and Research, the Hon Chris Bowen, on 21 February 2013. 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/UA National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Human Research (2007); and codes on animal research promulgated by the NHMRC (see section 13.1 of                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             the rules), available from (www.nhmrc.gov.au);
  • Instructions to Applicants for funding commencing in 2014 (see section 9.2), available from (www.arc.gov.au)
  • National Principles of Intellectual Property Management for Publicly Funded Research (see section 13.4 the rules), available from (www.arc.gov.au).

 

 

 

 

Commencement

The Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment and Facilities Funding Rules for funding commencing in 2014 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 definitions.

 

Section 4 provides an overview and outlines the objectives of the Linkage Infrastructure Equipment and Facilities scheme and selection criteria.

 

Section 5 outlines the level of funding, restrictions on budget items, and types of research not supported.

 

Section 6 deals with organisational types, roles and eligibility.  This includes eligible, collaborating and partner organisations.

 

Section 7 outlines roles and general eligibility for researchers and eligibility criteria for Chief Investigators and Partner Investigators.

 

Section 8 outlines the number of proposals, funded projects and cross-scheme eligibility.

 

Section 9 outlines the submission of proposals, including proposal content and format, how to complete and submit proposals, closing time for proposals and certification of proposals

 

Section 10 deals with the selection and approval process.

 

Section 11 outlines the appeals process.

 

Section 12 outlines reporting requirements including progress reports, end of year reports, final report and audited financial statement.

 

Section 13 outlines fundamental principles of conducting research including ethics and research practices, applicable law, confidentiality, intellectual property and incomplete or misleading information.

 

Appendix A: Eligible Organisations

Overview

The Linkage Infrastructure Equipment and Facilities Funding Rules for funding commencing in 2014 were enacted to provide guidelines and criteria for the funding of research infrastructure, equipment, and facilities under the Australian Research Council's National Competitive Grants Program. This legislation, issued under section 60 of the Australian Research Council Act 2001, was approved by the Minister for Tertiary Education, Skills, Science and Research, the Hon Chris Bowen, on 21 February 2013, and aims to support high-quality research projects by defining eligibility, accountability requirements, and other relevant matters. The rules establish criteria for eligibility, the application process, assessment criteria, and variations in funding approvals, all consistent with the funding cap and split determination for the applicable year. The rules also incorporate ethical conduct guidelines and other relevant documents by reference. The Linkage Infrastructure Equipment and Facilities Funding Rules for funding commencing in 2014 address the need for clear and consistent guidelines for funding research infrastructure, equipment, and facilities. By providing a structured approach to eligibility, assessment, and accountability, the rules aim to ensure that funding is directed towards high-quality research projects that will benefit Australia. The rules are consistent with the funding cap and split determination for the applicable year, ensuring that the funding is allocated efficiently and effectively. The incorporation of ethical guidelines and other relevant documents by reference further ensures that the research conducted under this scheme adheres to high standards of conduct and integrity.

Scope and Application

The Funding Rules made under section 60 of the Australian Research Council Act 2001 govern the Linkage Infrastructure Equipment and Facilities scheme, which is part of the Australian Research Council’s National Competitive Grants Program. These rules, approved by the Minister on 21 February 2013, apply to the funding of research infrastructure, equipment, and facilities starting from 2014. They set out the eligibility criteria, application process, assessment methods, funding variations, and accountability requirements for research programs that may receive financial assistance under this scheme. The rules take into account the funding cap and funding split determination for the applicable years and are consistent with national research standards and ethical guidelines. They apply to eligible organisations, researchers, and research projects, ensuring that funding is directed towards high-quality research initiatives. The rules also outline exclusions such as certain types of research and budget restrictions, and they incorporate by reference various ethical and intellectual property guidelines. The rules apply nationally and are subject to subordinate legislation for further detail and implementation.

Key Provisions

The Linkage Infrastructure Equipment and Facilities Funding Rules for funding commencing in 2014 (section 4) establish the eligibility criteria and accountability requirements for the Linkage Infrastructure Equipment and Facilities scheme. This scheme is part of the Australian Research Council’s National Competitive Grants Program and provides funding to eligible organisations for research infrastructure, equipment, and facilities that support high-quality research projects. To qualify for funding, proposals must meet specific criteria, including the type of organisation eligible to receive assistance and the nature of the research program. Section 6 elaborates on the types of organisations eligible for funding, which include eligible, collaborating, and partner organisations, each with specific roles and responsibilities. Section 7 details the eligibility criteria for researchers, particularly for Chief Investigators and Partner Investigators. These funding rules impose several obligations on the parties involved. Eligible organisations must ensure that their research proposals comply with the specified eligibility criteria (section 4). Researchers, particularly Chief Investigators and Partner Investigators, must meet the outlined eligibility criteria (section 7). Organisations and researchers must adhere to the submission guidelines, including the content and format of proposals, and ensure timely submission (section 9). Additionally, funded organisations are required to provide regular progress reports, an end-of-year report, a final report, and an audited financial statement (section 12). These reporting requirements ensure transparency and accountability in the use of funds. Breaches of these funding rules may result in various consequences. For instance, submitting incomplete or misleading information (section 13) can lead to the rejection of proposals or the withdrawal of funding. While the rules do not explicitly outline specific penalties for breaches, the consequences could include the inability to receive future funding and potential reputational damage. Additionally, ethical breaches or failure to comply with applicable laws and regulations (section 13) could result in further sanctions, including legal action or exclusion from future funding opportunities. The penalties and consequences for non-compliance are not explicitly stated in the rules but are inferred from the need for adherence to ethical and legal standards.

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Area of Law
Funding and Grants Law
Instrument
Regulation
Concepts
Definitions & Interpretation
Reporting & Disclosure Obligations
Eligibility Criteria

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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.