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ARC Linkage Project Scheme: what's in it for researchers

What can I apply for?

You can access support for the costs associated with undertaking research, including salaries for some support personnel, equipment, maintenance and travel. There are specific items that can be requested

  • Australian Postgraduate Awards Industry (APAI): stipends for postgraduate research students studying towards a Master’s (two years) or PhD award (3.5 years);
  • Australian Postdoctoral Fellowships Industry (APDI): salary for researchers with less than three years’ postdoctoral experience (APDI duration is three years);
  • Linkage Industry Fellowships (up to one year) for salary costs associated with short-term transfers between organisations for university or collaborator researchers.

Support is not available for clinical medical and dental research and training, contract research or consultancies, data compilation or existing projects previously funded by the Commonwealth under an ARC Scheme or via the CRC program.

When do I apply and how much funding can I apply for?

There is no longer a maximum request but it would be unusual to seek more than $500,000 per annum for up to five years, depending on the ambition and scale of the proposed project. The minimum request is $20,000 per annum. The average grant awarded by the ARC is $100,000 per annum, for three to five years.

Currently two application rounds are held annually – in early May and late November (internal University closing dates are mid April and early November) for funding to commence in the following January or July respectively.

What constitutes a ‘collaborating organisation’?

Almost all public, private, community, government and non-profit organisations are eligible collaborators, provided they are not primarily funded for research or research-related activities from government sources. The following organisations and types of organisations are not eligible: universities, rural R&D boards, CRCs, DSTO, ANSTO and CSIRO

Overseas organisations may also be included as collaborators, though it is preferable to include an Australian based organisation as well, to ensure project outcomes will be of economic or social benefit to Australia, and used in Australia.

The University currently has Linkage projects with a range of collaborators, including the Autism Associations of NSW, BHP Billiton Innovation Pty Ltd, Singtel Optus Pty Ltd, Glaxo Smith Kline, Sydney City Council, NSW Department of Education and Training, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, and the State Art Gallery.

How are applications assessed?

Applications are assessed against the following criteria:

  • Track record of the named investigators relative to opportunity (20 per cent)
  • Commitment from collaborating organisation (25 per cent)
  • Significance and innovation of the proposed project (25 per cent)
  • Approach and training (20 per cent), and
  • National benefit (10 per cent).