9.1. Before You submit an application, You and the named participants must read these grant guidelines, the sample application form, the instructions to applicants, and the draft grant agreement. These documents may be found at GrantConnect. Any additional documents will be published on GrantConnect and by registering on this website You will be automatically notified of any changes.
9.2. To apply, You must:
complete the application form in the format We require;
b. address all of the eligibility and assessment criteria to be considered for a grant;
c. ensure the application contains all the information necessary for assessment, including eligibility assessment, without the need for further written or oral explanation, or reference to additional documentation. We may request additional information;
d. for each named participants list (i) all current grants and requested funding under any ARC grant program, and (ii) all current grants under any other Commonwealth grant program. Full details of any financial assistance received for, or in connection with, the research activities or project must be disclosed in the application and on an ongoing basis;
e. make sure that Your application is submitted in accordance with these grant guidelines, grant agreement, instructions to applicants and application form. You must only submit an application, if it and the named participants, will be eligible for the grant opportunity as per these grant guidelines; and
f. certify that the application is compliant with these grant guidelines and all relevant laws and regulations.
9.3. An application may be submitted more than once for the same grant opportunity in accordance with 11.2. If applying in the same grant opportunity, you must identify how the current application differs from the previously unsuccessful application(s) submitted in this round.
9.4. Your application must include a letter of support from each Partner Organisation which must:
include the official letterhead;
be no more than two A4 pages;
include a brief profile of the organisation;
provide details of the cash and/or in-kind contributions;
explain the source of its cash contribution (if a cash contribution is being made);
certify that no part of its cash contribution is drawn from funds previously appropriated or awarded from Commonwealth or Australian State or Territory Government sources for the purposes of research (if a cash contribution is being made) nor from funds previously used to leverage government research or research infrastructure funding;
state its expectations about industry outcomes/products and market value (where appropriate for the application);
provide details regarding how the application aligns with the Partner Organisation’s strategic objectives;
certify that it will meet the requirements outlined in a standard ARC grant agreement, including the requirement to enter into arrangements regarding Intellectual Property which do not unreasonably prevent or delay academic outputs; and
be signed by the Chief Executive Officer, or delegate.
9.5. You must:
submit Your application through Your Research Office;
submit Your application on the relevant application form available in the Research Management System (RMS) unless We advise You otherwise; and
certify Your application online in RMS. Research Offices must ensure that the person assigned the Research Office Delegate role in RMS is authorised to certify and submit applications.
9.6. Your application should include details of the proposed collaborative arrangements and governance processes to be implemented, including how:
each Partner Organisation will be involved in the project;
b. the project fits into each Partner Organisation’s overall strategic plan; and
c. the project is of value to each of the Partner Organisation(s) involved.
9.7. In-kind contributions must be essential and central to the application. It is Your responsibility to establish the merit of the case for recognition of in-kind contributions.
9.8. In-kind contributions in the budget section of the application should not include basic salary for any Commonwealth Fellowships, unless it is salary over and above the Commonwealth component supported.
9.9. Your application cannot include cash or in-kind contributions in years beyond the project activity period.
9.10. We reserve the right to determine the value of Partner Organisation contributions and may, for the purposes of assessment, determine contributions to be at levels that may differ from those in Your application.
9.11. Partner Organisation contributions must be specified in Australian dollars and, subject to these grant guidelines, contributed at the specified level regardless of currency fluctuations.
9.12. You should only include in the application budget items of eligible expenditure as specified in the eligible expenditure section of these grant guidelines.
9.13. You are responsible for ensuring that Your application is complete and all details in the application are accurate and current at the time of submission. Giving incomplete, false or misleading information will exclude Your application from further consideration.
9.14. You cannot change Your application (additions, deletions or modifications) after the application submission date and time.
9.15. We reserve the right at any point in the process to seek evidence from You to support the certification of applications. We are not obliged to accept any additional information, nor requests from You to correct or amend applications after the application submission date and time.
9.16. We may approve the withdrawal of an application upon receipt of a written request with justification from You. We will only approve such a request in exceptional circumstances.
9.17. We cannot fund the same research activities, infrastructure or project previously funded or currently being funded through any other Commonwealth grant.
9.18. The application form includes help information and further information is in the instructions to applicants document on GrantConnect. If You have any technical difficulties, please contact arc-systems@arc.gov.au.
Attachments to the application
9.19. You must attach supporting documentation to the application form in line with the instructions provided in these grant guidelines, within the form or in the instructions to applicants. You should only attach requested documents. We will not consider information in attachments that We do not request.
Timing of the grant opportunities
9.20. We publish information on GrantConnect for all Linkage Program grant opportunities and this includes the relevant timing for the submission of applications.
9.21. You must submit Your application to Us between the grant opportunity opening and closing date and time specified on GrantConnect.
9.22. Subject to the grant guidelines, a grant will commence on or after the grant commencement date for the grant opportunity, after Ministerial announcement, or other arrangements that are approved by the ARC.
Questions during the application period
9.23. Questions during the application period should be directed to Your Research Office. Answers to frequently asked questions may also be posted on GrantConnect.