1Discovery Program processes

1. Discovery Program processes

The Discovery Program is designed to achieve the Australian Government’s objectives for research and innovation.

This grant program contributes to the ARC’s Outcome 1, which is to grow knowledge and innovation through managing research grants, measuring research excellence and providing advice.

There are five grant opportunities in the Discovery Program: Australian Laureate Fellowships; Future Fellowships; Discovery Early Career Researcher Award; Discovery Indigenous; and Discovery Projects. The following process flowchart is relevant to all five grant opportunities.

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The grant opportunity opens.

We (the ARC) publish the grant guidelines and advertise on GrantConnect.

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You (the Administering Organisation) complete and submit an application.

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We manage the assessment of all applications.

We manage the assessment of applications against eligibility criteria and assessment criteria including an overall consideration of value for money.

Your application will be assigned to Detailed Assessors to undertake in-depth assessments. You will have an opportunity to respond to Detailed Assessors’ written comments through a rejoinder.

Selection Advisory Committee (SAC) members will then assess Your application, consider the Detailed Assessors’ ratings and comments and Your rejoinder and assign a final score.

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We make grant recommendations.

The SAC will collectively consider all applications and recommend to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) the applications to be funded, and the level and duration of funding for each project.

The CEO will recommend to the Minister the applications to be funded, and the level and duration of funding for each grant.

In making recommendations to the Minister the CEO will consider the applicant’s response to the National Interest Test. The CEO will seek information from Administering Organisations on applications where there is concern about how they meet the National Interest Test based on the information provided in the application form. The CEO will make grant recommendations to the Minister that satisfy the National Interest Test and which are eligible for funding.

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Grant decisions are made.

The Minister decides which applications are approved, and the level of funding and duration of funding for each approved project.

The Minister may consider the National Interest Test in determining which applications to approve.

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We notify You of the outcome.