A4.1Overview

A4.1 Overview

A4.1.1 These Funding Rules are a legislative instrument current as at the date of signing by the Minister and have been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the ARC Act in force then.

A4.1.2 These Funding Rules relate to schemes funded under the Linkage Programme of the ARC’s National Competitive Grants Programme. The Linkage Programme supports the growth of research partnerships between university-based researchers and researchers in other sectors in Australia and overseas that generate new knowledge, technologies and innovations.

The objectives of the Linkage Programme are to deliver outcomes of benefit to Australia and build Australia’s research and innovation capacity through support for:

a.    collaborative research between university-based researchers and researchers in other sectors;

b.    research training and career opportunities that enable Australian and international researchers and research students to work with industry and other end-users; and

c.    research in priority areas.

A4.1.3 The Linkage Programme schemes provide funding to Administering Organisations to support research Projects.

A4.1.4 Linkage Programme funding will be awarded on the basis of excellence through a competitive peer review process for each scheme.

A4.1.5 The ARC undertakes periodic evaluations of the performance and administration of the schemes under the NCGP.

A4.1.6 The Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for the Linkage Programme are specified each year in the ARC Portfolio Budget Statements and the ARC Corporate Plan. The KPIs focus on long-term outcomes as well as medium-term outcomes relating to building Australia’s research capacity, for example, research careers and training, contributions in areas of national need and research collaboration. These are addressed each year in the ARC’s annual report.

A4.1.7 For details of scheme-specific overviews refer to Parts B, C, D and E.