12 Linkage International Awards
12.1.1 The ARC provides funds under Linkage International Awards for Australia-based researchers to participate in joint research projects with overseas collaborators, establish new collaborations, strengthen ongoing collaborations and provide international research experiences.
12.1.2 Linkage International Awards may support collaboration with researchers in any country or countries.
12.1.3 Investigator Types, Roles and Eligibility
12.1.3.1 Linkage International Award Proposals must include at least one Australia-based CI and at least one OI.
12.1.4 Rounds
12.1.4.1 Funding under Linkage International Awards will be made available in rounds. Applicants are able to apply in the first round by 5 April 2006 (Round 1), or in the second round by 14 July 2006 (Round 2), or in the third round by 13 October 2006 (Round 3). Prior to commencement of a round the ARC will advise the opening date for lodgment of Proposals. The ARC will allocate funds between the three rounds as it thinks necessary and appropriate, taking into account the total funds available for Linkage International and the demand for funding and the quality of Proposals received in each round.
12.1.5 Funding
12.1.5.1 General rules on funding are specified in Section 3.
12.1.5.2 Collaborations for which Linkage International Awards support may be requested include:
- visits by CIs, OIs, postgraduate and/or postdoctoral researchers working in the CIs’ and/or OIs’ research teams;
b. participation by named participants in international research activities, including attending meetings and workshops directly related to the research collaboration; and
c. innovative modes of international research collaboration, for example through e-research networking or modes other than reciprocal visits and exchanges.
12.1.5.3 In addition to the limitations and restrictions specified in Sections 3.4 and 3.5, Linkage International Awards do not support costs of:
a. non-travel-related aspects of research projects, including field trips, equipment and support staff salaries, other than those allowed for in subsection 12.1.8; and
b. conference attendance and associated expenditure.
12.1.6 Level of Funding
12.1.6.1 The minimum level of funding which will be provided for any one Linkage International Award is A$5,000 over the life of the project.
12.1.6.2 The ARC reserves the right to recommend the levels of funding allocated to a project.
12.1.7 Duration of Funding
12.1.7.1 Funding for Linkage International Awards may be recommended for 1 to 3 years, subject to sufficient funding being available for Linkage International, and the provisions of the ARC Act.
12.1.7.2 The ARC may recommend funding for a project for a duration different from that requested in the Proposal.
12.1.8 Budget Items Supported
12.1.8.1 Linkage International Awards, funding may be sought:
a. for persons travelling from Australia - funding for return economy class airfares;
b. for persons travelling to Australia - a contribution to living expenses, at a rate of up to A$700 per week, and/or local travel necessary for the collaboration (excluding costs associated with field trips); and
c. consumables directly related to the collaboration at a rate of up to A$5,000 per year.
12.1.8.2 The ARC expects that Linkage International funding will be augmented by matching cash and in-kind contributions from the overseas collaborators to meet the direct costs of their participation. Contributions from the overseas collaborators in the form of research project costs and salary will not be considered as matching contributions.
12.1.8.3 Proposals which do not include matching reciprocal funding will be considered in relation to the objectives of the program, noting that value for money and budget justification are part of the selection criteria (subsection 12.1.10.1 d iii).
12.1.9 Number of Proposals
12.1.9.1 The following limits apply to Linkage International Award Proposals:
- An Australia-based researcher may not be nominated as a CI, OI or PI on a Linkage International Award Proposal if he/she has been so identified within the preceding 12 months.
- An Australia-based researcher may be nominated as a CI, OI or PI on no more than one Linkage International Award Proposal in any round.
- At any time, a researcher may participate on a maximum of two Linkage International Awards on which he/she is a CI, OI or PI.
12.1.9.2 Submitting Proposals that exceed these limits may result in all Proposals involving the relevant researcher(s) not being recommended or approved for funding.
12.1.9.3 For the purposes of this section, a project for which funding was/is to be carried over, or deferred, into the next year is considered to be funded for the years for which it was recommended for funding. For example, if a project was originally funded for 3 years and funding is subsequently carried over to a fourth year, this project will still be considered for these purposes as funded for the original 3 years.
12.1.10 Selection criteria
12.1.10.1Further to Section 8.1, Linkage International Award Proposals submitted in a particular round which meet the eligibility criteria; will be assessed and merit ranked using the following criteria and weightings:
- Strengths and benefits of the collaboration 40%
Assessment against this criterion will take into account the nature and merit of the collaboration including the role of, and benefit to, the Australia-based and overseas parties.
b. Australia-based Investigators 20%
Assessment against this criterion will take into account the Australia-based parties (including all named CIs and PIs) who are to be involved in and associated with the proposed activities, including:
i. their track record relative to opportunities; and
ii. their capacity to undertake the proposed research and collaborative activities, including in relation to commitments to other research programs, teaching, committee memberships and administrative duties.
c. OIs 20%
Assessment against this criterion will take into account all named OIs who are to be involved in and associated with the proposed activities, including:
- their track record relative to opportunities; and
ii. their capacity to undertake the proposed research and collaborative activities, including in relation to commitments to other research programs, teaching, committee memberships and administrative duties.
d. Proposed program of collaborative research 20%
Assessment against this criterion will take into account the aims, significance, research management plan and methods of the Proposal, including:
- the management plan for the collaboration, including the proposed schedule of research activities;
- the expected results, including the potential of the research to result in economic and/or social benefits for Australia and to contribute to one of the National Research Priorities; and
- value for money and budget justification, including where appropriate any cash or in-kind financial contributions to be made from non-ARC sources.