2Changes from last year

2         Changes from last year

2.1.1        A number of clarifications and revisions have been made in these Funding Rules for funding commencing in 2007 (the 2007 LIEF Funding Rules). Significant changes from the 2006 LIEF Funding Rules include:

a. A definitions section has been added to the 2007 LIEF Funding Rules (pages 7-9).

b.  The Introduction Section (page 10) alerts Applicants and other parties involved in Proposals that a Proposal may be not recommended for approval if any person nominated as a CI or PI on the Proposal has caused or significantly contributed to the failure of an Administering Organisation to meet its obligations under a current or prior funding agreement.

c.  Subsection 3.3.1 stipulates the types of research facilities and equipment that are supported under LIEF.

d. Section 3.4 outlines the areas of investigation/work not supported under LIEF.

e. Section 5 is re-written and defines the roles of investigators as CIs and PIs. Section 5.2 specifies the eligibility criteria for CIs and Section 5.3 for PIs.

f. Subsection 5.1.6 generally requires researchers nominated in a Proposal as a CI or PI to take significant intellectual responsibility for the proposed project, its conception, and any strategic decisions called for in its pursuit and the communication of results. The researchers must have the capacity to make a serious commitment to the project and cannot assume the role of a supplier of resources for work that will largely be placed in the hands of others. The ARC reserves the right to determine whether a person has the requisite capacity to perform the role.

g.            Section 8 introduces revised selection criteria and assigns percentage weightings for each selection criterion.

h.            The cash contribution requirements for organisations has been moved to an Appendix (Appendix 3).

i.              Appendix 3 requires the cash contributions from Collaborating Organisations and Partner Organisations to be paid to the Administering Organisation by 31 October 2007, unless otherwise approved by the ARC.

The list of changes above is not comprehensive – a number of minor formatting, style and other changes have also been made. Applicants and other parties involved in Proposals should read and understand the entire Funding Rules and draft Funding Agreement before a Proposal is submitted to the ARC.