7.1. Research activities that meet the definition of ‘research’ as stated in the glossary of these grant guidelines are eligible to be supported under the Linkage Projects grant opportunity.
Activities not supported
7.2. Unless the following activities meet the definition of research as stated in the glossary in these grant guidelines, the Linkage Program does not support production of:
computer programs, research aids and tools;
b. data compilations, catalogues or bibliographies; or
c. teaching materials.
7.3. The Linkage Program does not support applications that involve medical research as detailed in the ARC Medical Research Policy on the ARC website.
7.4. We will not consider applications for a grant where one or more Partner Organisation(s) is seeking expert external assistance, not available within their own organisation, in order to develop specific applications or outputs that involve little innovation or are low risk. We deem such applications to be essentially contracted research or a consultancy arrangement and these are ineligible.
Eligible expenditure
7.5. Grant money may be requested and used for budget items that directly support the research project contained in an application, including the following items:
access to national and international research and infrastructure facilities including specialist archives, collections and databases;
access to technical workshop services linked to and justified explicitly against the project (for example, machine tools and qualified technicians);
expenditure on field research essential to the project, including technical and logistical support, travel expenses (including accommodation, meals and incidental costs);
d. expert services of a third party if the services are directly related to and essential for the project. Such services include, but are not limited to:
language translation services, transcribing services;
purchase of bibliographical or archival material (electronic or hard copy); and
data collection and analysis services;
e. equipment (and its maintenance) and consumables essential for the project. Funding will not be provided for equipment or consumables that are considered to be for broad general use;
f. publication and dissemination of project research outputs and outreach activity costs;
Section 7 - Grant Guidelines for the Linkage Program (2018) Linkage Projects - What the grant money can be used for | Zoe
g. specialised computer equipment and software essential to the project;
h. travel costs essential to the project, including economy travel costs for domestic and/or international travel and accommodation, not exceeding an average of $20,000 per year of the project. Funding is permitted for CIs, PIs, HDR candidates, postdoctoral researchers and research support personnel. Travel costs related to c. and i. are not counted towards the average of $20,000 per year limit detailed here;
i. reasonable essential costs to allow a participant who is a carer, or who personally requires care or assistance, to undertake travel essential to the project;
j. web hosting and web development specific to the project;
k. workshops, focus groups and conferences that are essential for the conduct of the project (including reasonable hospitality costs such as morning tea, lunch and afternoon tea);
l. salary support for research associates and assistants, technicians and laboratory attendants at an appropriate salary level, including 30 per cent on-costs, at the employing organisation;
m. stipends for HDR students, in whole or in part, at an appropriate level for the Administering Organisation or the relevant industry sector; and
n. teaching relief for CIs up to a total value for the project of $50,000 per year.
7.6. You must justify all items for which grant funds are sought in Your application to Our satisfaction.
7.7. You can only spend grant funds on eligible grant activities as defined in these grant guidelines and any additional expenditure conditions specified in the grant agreement.
What the grant money cannot be used for
7.8. You cannot request or use grant money for the following activities:
bench fees or similar laboratory access fees;
basic facilities that should normally be funded by an Administering Organisation, Eligible Organisation and/or Partner Organisation (including standard refurbishment costs of a laboratory);
c. capital works and general infrastructure costs;
d. costs not directly related to the project, including but not limited to professional membership fees, professional development courses, fees for patent application and maintenance, equipment for live music or drama performances, equipment for gallery and museum exhibitions, visas, relocation costs, entertainment costs, insurance, mobile phones (purchase or call charges) and other indirect costs;
e. fees for international students or the Higher Education Contribution Scheme (HECS) and Higher Education Loan Program (HELP) liabilities for students;
f. salaries and/or on-costs, in whole or in part, for CIs or PIs; and
g. salary top ups for personnel above any given stipend or salary levels specified in these grant guidelines.
7.9. The following basic facilities must be provided (where relevant) and funded by You, or the Other Eligible Organisations or Partner Organisations and are not funded by the ARC:
access to a basic library collection;
access to film or music editing facilities;
work accommodation (for example, laboratory and office space, suitably equipped and furnished);
basic computer facilities and standard software; and
e. standard reference materials or funds for abstracting services.