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Commonwealth legislation
This Act has been repealed and is no longer in force. It is retained for historical reference.
These grant guidelines set the operational rules for five ARC Discovery Program schemes: who may apply, how to apply and be assessed, what costs are eligible, and the funding amounts and durations. They affect the listed Eligible Organisations and named researchers (candidates, Chief/Partner Investigators and fellows) because they allocate Commonwealth research funding, set reporting and compliance duties, and vest assessment and final approval powers in the ARC CEO and the Minister (see ss 4, 8 and 10).
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Direct links to the current provisions in Discovery Program Grant Guidelines (2021 edition) Variation No. 1: Australian Laureate Fellowships Future Fellowships Discovery Early Career Researcher Award Discovery Indigenous Discovery Projects.
Sourced from the Federal Register of Legislation (legislation.gov.au), CC BY 4.0.
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Discovery Program Grant Guidelines (2021 edition) Variation No. 1:
Australian Laureate Fellowships
Future Fellowships
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award
Discovery Indigenous
Discovery Projects
| Opening date: | Available on GrantConnect |
|---|---|
| Closing date and time: | Available on GrantConnect |
| Commonwealth policy entity: | Australian Research Council |
| Enquiries: | Researchers are required to direct requests for information to the Research Office within the Administering Organisation.<br>ARC Contacts are on the ARC website. |
| Date guidelines released: | 18 March 2022 |
| Type of grant opportunity: | Restricted competitive |
Australian Research Council Act 2001
I, Stuart Robert, Minister for Education and Youth, having satisfied myself of the matters set out in section 59 of the Australian Research Council Act 2001, approve these grant guidelines under section 60 of that Act.
Dated 16 March 2022
Stuart Robert
Minister for Education and Youth
Contents
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.
The grant opportunity opens.
We (the ARC) publish the grant guidelines and advertise on GrantConnect.
You (the Administering Organisation) complete and submit an application.
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.
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 are peer assessed for research excellence, satisfy the National Interest Test and which are eligible for funding.
The CEO may take into account any advice received on national security or other matters from Commonwealth agencies.
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 and any advice on national security risks in determining which applications to approve.
We notify You of the outcome.
We advise You if Your application was successful or not through Our Research Management System (RMS).
We enter into a grant agreement with You.
We will enter into a grant agreement with You through RMS.
Delivery of the grant.
You undertake the grant activity and report to us as set out in Your grant agreement. We manage the grant by monitoring Your progress and making payments.
Evaluation of the grant opportunity.
We evaluate the specific grant activity and the individual grant opportunity as a whole. We will use information You provide to Us through Your reports to inform evaluations.
Introduction
1.1. These grant guidelines establish the rules which govern the administration of the Discovery Program including the application, eligibility, and selection processes to be followed and the assessment criteria that will be used to select grantees.
1.2. These grant guidelines contain information for the Discovery Program schemes.
1.3. You and the named participants must read these grant guidelines before filling out an application.
1.4. This document sets out:
b. the general eligibility and assessment criteria applicable for all Discovery Program schemes;
c. the additional specific eligibility and assessment criteria applicable to each scheme;
d. how applications are considered and selected;
e. how grantees are notified and receive grant payments;
f. how grantees will be monitored and evaluated; and
g. responsibilities and expectations in relation to each scheme.
1.5. In this document:
b. Parts A to E provide specific information about each scheme.
1.6. These grant guidelines 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 at that date.
2. About the Discovery Program
2.1. The Discovery Program is one of two Programs under the ARC National Competitive Grants Program (NCGP).
Objectives
2.2. The Discovery Program aims to deliver outcomes of benefit to Australia and build Australia’s research capacity through support for:
b. research training and career opportunities for the best Australian and international researchers;
c. international collaboration; and
d. research in Australian Government priority areas.
Intended outcome
2.3. The intended outcome of the Discovery Program is to contribute to the growth of Australia’s research and innovation capacity. Increasing Australia’s research and innovation capacity generates new knowledge and results in the development of new technologies, products and ideas, the creation of jobs, economic growth and an enhanced quality of life in Australia.
Scope and timeframes
2.4. Discovery Program grants are awarded on the basis of excellence through a competitive peer review process for each grant opportunity.
2.5. Each Discovery Program grant opportunity is open for applications once a year or as required.
2.6. These grant guidelines will be in effect from the date the Minister signs these grant guidelines.
Key performance indicators
2.7. The Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for the Discovery Program are identified each year in the ARC Portfolio Budget Statements and the ARC corporate plan. Reporting is provided every year in Our annual report.
2.8. 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.
Other relevant information
2.9. The Discovery Program is undertaken according to the Australian Research Council Act 2001 (ARC Act) and the Commonwealth Grants Rules and Guidelines (CGRGs).
About the Discovery Program grant opportunities
2.10. The schemes available under the Discovery Program are:
b. Future Fellowships—Part B;
c. Discovery Early Career Researcher Award (DECRA)—Part C;
d. Discovery Indigenous—Part D; and
e. Discovery Projects—Part E.
2.11. The five schemes comprise:
– early career researchers through the DECRA;
– mid-career researchers through Future Fellowships; and
– established researchers through Australian Laureate Fellowships.
b. the Discovery
This is an opening excerpt, not the complete document.