Australian Research Council (ARC)

Linkage-Infrastructure Equipment & Facilities (LIEF) provides funding assistance for the institutional resources essential for mounting high-quality research projects in a particular field, including associated indirect costs. The programme aims to develop collaborative arrangements between and within institutions, and with organisations outside the sector, in order to develop research infrastructure. Further, it allows the sharing of large-scale expensive facilities to enhance access in areas of recognised research strength and potential.

The ARC has invited Full Proposals from applicants who submitted an Expression of Interest (EoI) late in 2009. Only invited Proposals can be submitted.

Linkage Projects aims to foster alliances between higher education institutions and external Partner Organisations. A specific objective of this programme is to provide research training opportunities for Postdoctoral and Postgraduate researchers. Specific cash and/or in-kind co-contributions are required from Partner Organisations, depending on the level of ARC funding requested.

1. Notification of Intent: Applicants are requested to complete a simple Notification of Intent (NoI) form and return to arcgrants@adelaide.edu.au. This will assist RB and ARI Pty Ltd to coordinate and streamline approaches to developing Linkage Projects and their concomitant agreements.

2. Eligibility Ruling: Requests must be sent to the Research Branch by Monday, 29 March 2010. Please note that these requests must be completed in the ARC's Research Management System (RMS).

3. Proposals: Completed proposals, with certification proforma & coversheet, are due in Research Branch by COB Tuesday, 27 April 2010. These applications will receive a full review. Research Branch review cannot be guaranteed for applications submitted after this date.

Please provide one valid and complete RMS pdf of your application together with the UA application coversheet and Certification Proforma.

In anticipation of the ARC’s Funding Rules for Australian Laureate Fellowships for funding commencing in 2011, potential applicants are required to complete an Expression of Interest to the University countersigned by the appropriate Head of School and Faculty Executive Dean and returned to Research Branch by 30th July 2010.

Further information on completing an Expression of Interest can be found in the internal information sheet. The Expression of Interest will be used to shortlist applicants to be invited to prepare a full proposal.

Up to 15 Australian Laureate Fellowships may be awarded for funding commencing in 2010. Preference will be given to researchers who will play a significant, sustained leadership and mentoring role in building Australia's internationally competitive research capacity. Laureate Fellowships do not support work in clinical medical and dental research. To learn more, please see more information on the scheme.

The research strength and culture of the University of Adelaide make it an ideal location for ARC Australian Laureate Fellowship recipients to undertake their programs of research.

The University can only submit a maximum of six (6) Super Science Fellowship proposals - 1 proposal per discipline area per 2010 or 2011 funding commencement. The Faculty Associate Deans (Research) are currently preparing details of Faculty-endorsed EoIs for consideration by the DVCR (to be completed by 23rd October). The DVCR will determine which of up to six proposals go forward to ARC submission.

A Proposal may also be submitted only by an Eligible Organisation that is linked to existing Super Science funding (for example, National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Scheme funding within a discipline area); and/or be involved in an ARC Centre of Excellence, CRC within one or more of the key discipline areas and/or strategic priority of a Publicly Funded Research Agency (e.g. CSIRO).The key theme areas are:

• Space science and astronomy;
• Marine and climate science; and
• Future industries research's biotechnology and nanotechnology.

Please see more information about the scheme under related links below.

Further details are provided on the ARC's overview page at: http://www.arc.gov.au/ncgp/ssf/ssf_overview.htm. Please download the ARC’s Frequently Asked Questions document.

The Discovery Indigenous Researchers Development scheme provides salary support to Indigenous Australian researchers and postgraduate research students to develop research expertise and experience to a level that is competitive with applicants for mainstream funding.

Indigenous Researcher Fellowships, which provide a salary equivalent to the ARC's Australian Postdoctoral Fellowships, are also offered under the scheme for early-career researchers to undertake research of national and international significance and to broaden their research experience. To be eligible to apply researchers must have recently completed, or be expected to soon complete, their PhD.