Funding

ARC Centres of Excellence are prestigious focal points of expertise through which high-quality researchers maintain and develop Australia’s international standing in research areas of national priority.

ARC Discovery Projects provide funding for research projects that can be undertaken by individual researchers or research teams.

The ARC Discovery Indigenous scheme provides funding to Administering Organisations to support research programmes led by an Indigenous Australian researcher and build research capacity of higher degree research and early career researchers.

The Industrial Transformation Research Program (ITRP) offers a suite of funding schemes attractive to both university-based researchers and industries.

IT Research Hubs (ITRH) is a scheme that will support collaborative research activity between the Australian higher education sector and industry designed to focus on strategic outcomes that are not independently realisable.

IT Training Centres (ITTC) is a scheme that will foster close partnerships between university-based researchers and other research end-users to provide innovative Higher Degree by Research (HDR) and postdoctoral training for the end-user focused research industries vital to Australia's future.

The ARC Linkage Projects scheme promotes national, and international, collaboration and research partnerships between key stakeholders in research and innovation including higher education institutions, government, business, industry and end-users. Proposals must include at least one Partner Organisation who must make a contribution in cash and/or in kind to the project. The combined Partner Organisation contributions for a Proposal (i.e. the total of the cash and in-kind contributions of the Partner Organisations) must at least match the total funding requested from the ARC.

The ARC Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment and Facilities scheme provides funding for research infrastructure, equipment and facilities to eligible organisations, allowing expensive infrastructure, equipment and facilities to be shared between higher education organisations and also with industry.

The ARC Australian Laureate Fellowships scheme is open to outstanding researchers of international repute and encourages proposals involving Australian or international researchers. The scheme provides project funding in addition to a salary supplement and salary-related support for up to 5 years.

ARC Discovery Early Career Researcher Awards (DECRA) provide focused support for researchers and aims to create more opportunities for early-career researchers in both teaching and research, and research-only positions. The scheme provides a contribution towards salary and project costs for up to three years. 

ARC Future Fellowships aim to attract and retain the best and brightest mid-career researchers. The scheme provides salary support and non-salary funding for costs including personnel, equipment, travel and field research costs directly related to the research, for up to 4 years.

Clinical Trials & Cohort Studies Grants support high-quality clinical trials and cohort studies that address important gaps in knowledge, leading to relevant and implementable findings for the benefit of human health.

NHMRC Ideas Grants support innovative research projects addressing a specific research question(s). This scheme will provide particular opportunities for early and mid-career researchers. It is expected that CIA will have the scientific leadership and skills to achieve the proposed project. Not intended to support research where a clinical trial or cohort study is the primary objective, instead apply under NHMRC Clinical Trials and Cohort Studies Grants.

NHMRC Investigator Grants support the research program of outstanding investigators at all career stages. This scheme is consolidated into two main research leader categories Emerging Leadership (EL) and Leadership (L).

NHMRC Synergy Grants support outstanding multidisciplinary teams of investigators to work together to answer major research questions, that cannot be answered by a single investigator.

NHMRC Centres of Research Excellence (CRE) scheme will provide support for teams of researchers to pursue collaborative research and develop capacity in clinical, population health and health services research.

Applications are currently closed. 

NHMRC Development Grants provide funding support financial support to individual researchers and/or research teams to undertake health and medical research within Australia at the proof-of-concept stage that specifically drives towards a commercial outcome within a foreseeable timeframe. Applicants must secure at least one industry/commercial partner and as part of the application to demonstrate how the industry/commercial partner/s will contribute to, and be involved in the advancement of the proposed Development Grant.

NHMRC Partnership Projects provide funding and support to create new opportunities for researchers and policy makers to work together to define research questions, undertake research, interpret the findings and implement the findings into policy and practice.

The NHMRC Partnership Projects scheme follows a continuous application process – so there are more opportunities to apply in one year, rather than one annual round. This benefits researcher and Partner Organisation collaborations with funding administered more quickly if successful.

These fellowships are intended to empower up to 40 of the world's best and brightest emerging academics to undertake innovative research that will build our understanding of, and resilience to climate change, improve health outcomes, and create a more sustainable world.

Read more about the Sydney Horizon Fellowships here.

Contact: horizon.fellowships@sydney.edu.au

The University of Sydney funds three categories of Research excellence and inclusion prizes for employees. They include:

Thompson

Aims to promote and enhance the careers of academic women. They are offered to academic and research-only women employed by the University of Sydney at levels C or D. 

Brown 

Offered to researchers whose careers have been interrupted by the undertaking of sustained primary caring duties and provide relief from routine teaching and administrative responsibilities, and research-only staff with funding for technical assistance for up to two semesters

Laffan

Named in honour of Mr Matt Laffan, Sydney alumnus and colourful character in Sydney's legal fraternity who battled a rare genetic disorder and inspired Australians with his zest for life. These are offered to university researchers who have, or have experienced, a significant disability, and aims to assist recipients re-establish or enhance their academic research careers.

More detailed information is provided on the intranet (unikey required).

Contact: researcher.development@sydney.edu.au

Available to University of Sydney employees, the following opportunities are available for industry engagement:

Proof-of-Concept Fund 

Provides critical financial support for research projects with the potential to be translated to industry or to spin out into a new venture, including not-for-profit or social/cultural enterprises. 
Contact: commercialisation@sydney.edu.au

PERIscope Commercialisation Award 

To refine and validate the market potential of research, identify and accelerate spinout and licensing opportunities, grow networks of industry partners, and build individual commercial skills and entrepreneurial mindsets.
Contact: jane.cockburn@sydney.edu.au at the Sydney Knowledge Hub

External Research Collaboration Seed Funding 

Aims to promote and increase the University’s external research engagement by supporting engagement with industry, government and/or community partner organisations.

• Contact: research.support@sydney.edu.au

Provides pre-seed investment funding with long-term horizon, support, guidance, mentoring, introductions and advocacy to help navigate the challenging journey from concept to commercialisation.

Read more about the fund here.

Contact: venture.investment@sydney.edu.au

The Ignition Grants support researchers from the University of Sydney and its strategic partner universities to facilitate collaborative projects that develop multidisciplinary innovative research to create academic and societal impact. Projects that address the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals are highly encouraged.

These grants are designed to provide researchers, in particular early- and mid-career researchers, with the opportunity to work with our strategic partners in developing joint research projects. Preference is given to teams which include PhD or masters by research students, postdocs, early- and mid-career researchers and researchers on sabbatical leave, rather than one-to-one research projects.

It is expected that all funded projects will evolve into larger scale projects, sustained by leveraging external funding.

The number of projects selected and funding available varies between partnerships. Funds are available for 12 months, and the amounts awarded range between AUD $20,000 to AUD  $40,000 per project.

Contact: Office of Global and Research Engagement ip.ipdf@sydney.edu.au

The SDG collaboration program is a sustainability strategy funding initiative for collaborative research projects that address the UN's Sustainable Development Goals.

Proposals are open to academic staff of all disciplines at the University of Sydney and its affiliated Research Centres and Institutes. Proposals must involve collaborative research teams from the University of Sydney and international partners. Preference is for University strategic partner universities or network partners. Proposals should be sustainable in the long-term, with a plan for engagement that includes leveraging external funding and publication outputs.

Contact: Office of Global Engagement ip.ipdf@sydney.edu.au

The University of Sydney and the University of Glasgow Ignition Grants have been established to facilitate joint initiatives that align with the two universities’ strategic priorities and develop multi-disciplinary innovative research that creates academic and societal impact.

Proposals should be sustainable in the long-term with a plan for engagement that includes leveraging external funding and publication outputs. 

More information on the Glasgow Ignition Grants

Contact: Office of Global and Research Engagement ip.ipdf@sydney.edu.au