Australian Research Council Act 2001 - Federation Fellowships - Funding Rules for funding commencing in 2007
8Selection and approval process
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8.1.1 All Federation Fellowships Proposals which meet the eligibility criteria will be assessed using the following criteria:
Investigator (50%)
- outstanding research track record
consideration should be given to opportunities the applicant has had to attain this level of achievement.
- leadership ability to build world-class research capacity
what is the applicant’s capability to undertake ground-breaking research and leadership over the term of the proposed project?
Project/Program of research activity (30%)
- significance and innovation
does the research address an important problem?
how will the anticipated outcomes advance the knowledge base?
are the project aims and concepts novel and innovative?
will new methods or technologies be developed?
- approach
are the conceptual framework, design, methods and analyses adequately developed, well integrated and appropriate to the aims of the project?
- nature and level of organisational support
the level of institutional or organisational commitment
appropriateness of support in matching funds
is the package of administrative support and facilities adequate to support the research plan put forward in the application?
does the package include funding for postgraduate students and post-doctoral researchers to work with the Federation Fellow?
National benefit (20%)
- how will the research build and sustain world-class capacity in Australia?
- what is the potential of the research project to result in economic, environmental, social and/or cultural benefits for Australia?
- what is the potential for the research to contribute to the National Research Priorities?
how does the research program enhance innovation in Australia?
is the project/program likely to expand Australia’s knowledge base and research capability?
does the project/program build and sustain a world-class research team and linkages?
8.1.2 There is a limited number of Federation Fellowships available for funding. The recommending of Federation Fellowships is at the ARC’s discretion, having regard to the criteria in subsection 8.1.1 and the matters at subsections 1.3.4, 1.3.5 and 8.1.3.
8.1.3 Subject to the ARC receiving an adequate number of requests of the requisite type and of sufficient quality, the ARC will award up to five Federation Fellowships to support researchers who are not Australian citizens or permanent residents, but who can demonstrate that the Federation Fellowship would be of national benefit to Australia. Proposals for these Federation Fellowship candidates should demonstrate special expertise, extensive skills or exceptionally high performance levels, and the ability to build Australian research capacity by facilitating the transfer of critical knowledge to Australia and Australians.
8.2 Assessment and selection procedure
8.2.1 Assessment and selection process
8.2.1.1 Assessment of Proposals is undertaken by the ARC, which has the right to make decisions and recommendations solely on the basis of its expertise, and which may:
a. determine if a Proposal satisfies the eligibility criteria set out in these Funding Rules;
b. identify and determine any other matters that these Funding Rules state may result in the ARC’s not recommending a Proposal for approval;
c. assign assessors to review Proposals;
d. rank each Proposal relative to the others on the basis of the Proposal and any assessors’ reports;
e. assess and recommend the amount of funding to be made available for a Proposal; and
f. prepare funding recommendations for the Minister as required by the ARC Act.
8.2.1.2 The ARC College of Experts may assist with the assessment of Proposals. The ARC has procedures for managing organisational and personal conflicts of interest experienced by members of the College of Experts, members of other ARC committees, ARC members, and other assessors, and for enabling individuals to withdraw from the assessment process for particular Proposals where any actual or perceived conflict may exist.
8.2.2 Exclusion of Proposals
8.2.2.1 The ARC will not recommend for approval, and the Minister will not approve for funding, any Proposal that fails to satisfy the “eligibility criteria” set out in these Funding Rules, including:
a. if the Proposal is not for a program of research, or a program that supports the conduct of a program of research, of a type specifically referred to in subsections 1.3.1 and 1.3.2;
b. if the Proposal was not submitted by an Eligible Organisation (Section 4.1);
c. if the ARC considers that a Federation Fellowship candidate nominated in the Proposal does not meet the eligibility criteria for a Federation Fellow as specified in Section 5;
d. if the ARC determines that a proposed project would fall within the area of clinical medical and dental research and training (Sections 3.4 and 6.4);
e. if the Proposal does not meet the requirement for contributions from the Administering Organisation (Sections 3.1 and 4.1 and Appendix 4); and/or
f. if a Proposal has not been submitted through the appropriate Research Office/Chief Executive Officer for certification (Section 7.2).
8.2.2.2 The ARC may in its absolute discretion decide not to recommend for approval a Proposal if:
a. in the opinion of the ARC, the Federation Fellowship candidate nominated in the Proposal has caused or has significantly contributed to the failure of an organisation to meet its obligations under any current or previous funding agreement with the ARC, or all obligations regarding previously funded projects involving the candidate have not been fulfilled to the satisfaction of the ARC (subsections 1.1.5 and 5.1.6);
b. the limits on the number of Proposals and projects permissible are exceeded (subsection 3.6.1);
c. in the opinion of the ARC, a Proposal duplicates or is likely to duplicate research already being funded by the Commonwealth (subsections 1.4.2 and 6.1.1);
d. where required the Proposal does not include details of other funding or funding requests (subsection 6.2.1);
e. the ARC considers inaccurate, false, or misleading material has been provided in relation to the Proposal or if the Administering Organisation and/or Federation Fellowship candidate nominated in the Proposal have provided the ARC with incomplete, false or misleading information in relation to the reporting of progress of a funded project (subsections 6.2.1 and 11.5.2);
f. the Proposal is submitted after the closing time (subsection 7.3.5); and/or
g. the Proposal fails to meet any format and other submission requirements (Section 7.3).
8.2.3 Assessment
8.2.3.1 In addition to assessment by the ARC, a Proposal may at the ARC’s absolute discretion be assessed by external assessors. Assessors may be drawn from a range of organisations to reduce the potential for conflicts of interest. Proposals will be assessed against the criteria set out in these Funding Rules.
8.2.3.2 The ARC reserves the right to make recommendations for funding to the Minister based on any number of assessments or solely on the assessment of the ARC.
8.2.3.3 Administering Organisations may name any person or persons whom they do not wish to assess a Proposal. Detailed written justification must be submitted through the Administering Organisation’s Research Office in a separate letter which must not accompany the Proposal. The letter must be received by the ARC by the closing time for submission of Proposals, 5.00 pm (AEST) Friday 13 October 2006, and be sent to:
Federation Fellowships Coordinator
Australian Research Council
GPO Box 2702
CANBERRA ACT 2601
8.2.3.4 The ARC will consider the justification put forward to exclude any person as an assessor, but may choose not to give effect to such a request.
8.2.4 Recommendations
8.2.4.1 The ARC’s recommendations will be submitted in accordance with the ARC Act to the Minister for Education, Science and Training (the Minister) for consideration. The Minister determines which Proposals will be approved and the amount and timing of financial assistance to be paid to Administering Organisations for approved projects.
8.2.4.2 Under the ARC Act, the Minister may not approve for funding any Proposal that fails to meet the eligibility criteria set out in these Funding Rules
8.3 Offer of funding
8.3.1 An Administering Organisation which has Proposal(s) approved will be:
a. notified in a letter of offer that will indicate the financial assistance to be offered; and
b. provided with a Funding Agreement for signing.
Section 8 - Australian Research Council Act 2001 - Federation Fellowships - Funding Rules for funding commencing in 2007 - Selection and approval process | Zoe