CHAPTER 3—AUSTRALIA’S ECONOMIC ACCELERATOR LAUNCH PROGRAM
3.1 Program
The Australia’s Economic Accelerator Launch Program (AEA Launch Program) is specified for the purposes of:
(a) supporting research by, and the research capability of, higher education providers; and
(b) encouraging higher education providers to engage with industry.
3.5 Program objectives
The objectives of the AEA Launch Program are to:
(a) Support higher education providers to bridge the divide between basic research activities and commercialisation outcomes, through closer engagement with industry partners;
(b) support research activities aligned to national priority areas, undertaken by higher education providers;
(c) boost the research capability of higher education providers to conduct research with high commercialisation potential;
(d) foster a culture of collaboration between universities and industry; and
(e) encourage industry engagement with university research, boosting research capability in areas with the greatest potential for economic impact.
3.10 Extra conditions of eligibility
(1) Grants under the AEA Launch Program may only be provided to support projects that align with one of the priority areas as set by the Minister in program guidelines.
(2) Grants under the AEA Launch Program may be provided across two stages:
(a) The first stage will operate as follows—eligible higher education providers seeking a grant at this stage must demonstrate industry engagement with the proposed project, and be able to demonstrate that the project activities are designed to provide:
(i) an experimental proof of concept;
(ii) that the technology will be validated in a laboratory (or equivalent setting); or
(iii) that the technology will be validated in an industrially relevant environment.
(b) The second stage will operate as follows—eligible higher education providers seeking a grant at this stage must provide a project plan that demonstrates a plan, developed in association with an industry partner, in respect of the technology proposed in their project:
(i) that the technology will be validated in an industrially relevant environment;
(ii) that the technology will be demonstrated in an industrially relevant environment; or
(ii) the system prototype will be demonstrated in an operational environment.
3.15 Approval of grants
Grants under the AEA Launch Program will be:
(a) approved by the Minister in writing;
(b) made in respect of projects; and
(c) subject to conditions imposed on the grant by the Minister in writing under paragraph 41-25(1)(c) of the Act.
CHAPTER 4—NATIONAL INDUSTRY PHD PROGRAM
4.1 Program
The National Industry PhD Program (the Program) is specified for the purposes of supporting the training of research students, and supporting arrangements to increase industry-led study and postgraduate research, under items 8 and 11A of the table in subsection 41-10(1) of the Act.
4.5 Program objectives
The objectives of the Program are to:
develop talented PhD Candidates into researchers who can work in both industry and academic settings;
support high calibre industry professionals into industry researchers and leaders, with the potential to work in academic settings;
contribute to industry-focused innovation and development through university-industry collaboration;
strengthen collaboration between Australian companies and universities;
support industry-focused PhD research projects that align with the priority areas as set by the Minister in the program guidelines;
for the purpose of item 8 of the table in subsection 41-10(1) of the Act, support higher education providers to provide appropriate academic supervision of PhD Candidates to undertake a research project with an industry application; and
for the purpose of item 11A of the table in subsection 41-10(1) of the Act, support bodies corporate that meet the requirements in subsection 4.10(1) (industry partners) to support employees to undertake PhD projects in partnership with a university.
4.10 Specified bodies corporate and extra conditions of eligibility
Specified bodies corporate
(1) Bodies corporate that meet all of the following criteria are specified for the purposes of item 11A in the table in subsection 41-10(1) of the Act, as an industry partner eligible to receive a grant for the purposes of paragraph 4.5(g):
(a) the body corporate undertakes R&D activities;
(b) the body corporate is partnered with a higher education provider eligible to receive a grant to support a PhD project for the Industry Researcher PhD stream; and
(c) the body corporate employs a PhD Candidate that:
(i) will be eligible for a RTP Fees Offset for the duration of their PhD candidature in the Program;
(ii) has not previously completed a PhD program at the time the PhD Candidate applies to participate in the Program;
(iii) will enrol in the year that they are offered a position in the Program; and
(iv) will be in the first year of their PhD, or if they have already commenced another PhD program, they have received approval from their higher education provider to transfer across to the Program.
Extra conditions of eligibility
(2) Grants under the Program may only be provided to support PhD projects that are:
(a) co-designed by eligible higher education providers and industry (the Industry Linked PhD stream), or
(b) undertaken by industry professionals who are supported by an industry partner to undertake a PhD project in partnership with a university (the Industry Researcher PhD stream).
(3) Grants under the Program may only be provided to:
(a) higher education providers for the purposes of paragraph 4.5(f); or
(b) industry partners for the purposes of paragraph 4.5(g).
(4) Grants under the Program will only be provided to eligible higher education providers that:
(a) for the Industry Researcher PhD stream, are partnered with an industry partner who will receive a grant under the Program;
(b) for the Industry Linked PhD stream:
(i) have entered into an agreement with a business or organisation with an ABN or ACN that undertakes R&D activities, in relation to PhD Candidates associated with that business or organisation’s research project; and
(ii) the agreement in subparagraph (i) provides that the business or organisation will provide a yearly cash contribution; and
(iii) the yearly cash contribution in subparagraph (ii) must be at least $10,000 for four years for each full-time PhD Candidate, and at least $5,000 for up to eight years for each part-time PhD Candidate; and
(c) will enrol PhD candidates for the purposes of the Program that:
(i) will be eligible for a RTP Fees Offset for the duration of their PhD candidature in the Program;
(ii) have not previously completed a PhD program at the time the PhD Candidate applies to participate in the Program;
(iii) will enrol in the year that they are offered a position in the Program;
(iv) will be in the first year of their PhD, or if they have already commenced another PhD program, they have received approval from their higher education provider to transfer across to the Program;
(v) for the Industry Linked PhD stream, the PhD Candidate will be eligible for a stipend equivalent to the amount of the RTP Stipend for the duration of their PhD candidature; and
(vi) for the Industry Researcher PhD stream, the PhD Candidate must be employed by an industry partner and supported to participate in the Program by that employer.
4.15 Method by which the amount of grants under the program are determined
Method for determining the amount of grants to higher education providers
(1) The grant for a participating higher education provider will be made up of:
(a) an administrative component to assist with meeting the higher education provider’s costs in administering the Program (administrative component); and
(b) a student stipend component to meet the higher education provider’s obligation to pay the student an additional amount for the Industry Linked PhD stream under subsection 4.25(1) (student component).
Administrative component
(2) Subject to subsection (3), the administrative component for a participating higher education provider will be:
(a) $10,350 a year for up to four years for each full-time PhD Candidate; and
(b) $5,175 a year for up to eight years for each part-time PhD Candidate.
(3) A participating higher education provider will not be eligible to receive more than $41,400 in administrative component payments for a single PhD Candidate for the duration of their PhD project.
Student component
(4) The student component for a participating higher education provider will be:
(a) $6,210 a year for up to four years for each full-time PhD Candidate in the Industry Linked PhD stream; and
(b) $3,105 a year for up to eight years for each part-time PhD Candidate in the Industry Linked PhD stream.
(5) A participating higher education provider will not be eligible to receive more than $24,840 in student component payments for a single PhD Candidate for the duration of their PhD project.
Method for determining the amount of grants to industry partners
(6) The grant for a participating industry partner will be:
(a) $41,400 a year for up to four years for each full-time PhD Candidate in the Industry Researcher PhD stream; and
(b) $20,700 a year for up to eight years for each part-time PhD Candidate in the Industry Researcher PhD stream.
(7) A participating industry partner will not be eligible to receive more than $165,600 for a single PhD Candidate for the duration of the PhD project.
4.20 Indexation
The amounts listed in section 4.15 are listed for the year 2023 and are to be indexed for subsequent years using the method of indexation set out in Part 5-6 of the Act.
4.25 Conditions that apply to grants
Conditions on grants to higher education providers
(1) Subject to subsection (3), the participating higher education provider must provide the student component of the grant to each PhD Candidate in the Industry Linked PhD stream.
(2) The participating higher education provider must not retain any amount of the student component of the grant.
(3) The participating higher education provider must not provide the student component of the grant to a PhD Candidate if:
(a) the PhD Candidate ceases to meet the requirements set out in paragraph 4.10(4)(c); or
(b) for the Industry Linked PhD stream, the business or organisation with which the higher education provider has an agreement no longer provides a cash contribution consistent with subparagraph 4.10(4)(b)(ii).
(4) If the participating higher education provider becomes aware that a body corporate no longer meets the criteria to be specified is an industry partner under subsection 4.10(1), the participating higher education provider must inform the department.
(5) The participating higher education provider must provide appropriate PhD research supervisors, access to the provider’s facilities and infrastructure, learning and development opportunities and support for the development of research skills to PhD Candidates in the Program to ensure the PhD Candidates are making appropriate progress and to ensure the successful completion of the PhD project.
(6) The participating higher education provider must only use the administrative component of the grant for administrative costs associated with the Program, and must not pass on the administrative component of the grant to the PhD Candidate.
Note: Examples of administrative costs that could be incurred by a participating higher education provider include (but are not limited to) salary costs for administrative support staff, providing a workspace for the PhD Candidate, or travel expenses of the PhD candidate.
Conditions on grants to industry partners
(7) The participating industry partner must agree to support the PhD Candidate for the full duration of the Program to undertake study and work concurrently, and must pay full salary and benefits to the PhD Candidate for the duration of the Program.
(8) The participating industry partner must agree to be responsible for all other relevant expenses incurred by their participation in the Program.
Note: Examples of expenses that could be incurred by a participating industry partner’s participation include (but are not limited to) costs associated with workplace accommodation, equipment or materials for the PhD Candidate.
(9) The participating industry partner must use only use the grant amount to support the provision of higher education to their employed PhD Candidate, including for one of the following purposes:
(a) to support PhD Candidates to complete their PhD project; and
(b) to support the participating industry partner with releasing PhD Candidates and other employees of the industry partner for periods of time for the purposes of assisting PhD Candidates to complete their PhD project.
(10) The participating industry partner must provide supervision for their employed PhD Candidate.
(11) The participating industry partner must provide appropriate access to appropriate facilities and infrastructure to support the PhD Candidate.
Conditions on higher education providers and industry partners in respect of PhD Candidates
(12) Participating higher education providers must ensure that PhD Candidates enrolled in the Industry Linked PhD stream must spend 20 to 50 per cent of the duration of their PhD Candidature undertaking work relevant to their PhD project in the facilities of the business or organisation referred to in paragraph 4.10(4)(b), unless an exception is approved by the department.
(13) Participating industry partners must ensure that PhD Candidates enrolled in the Industry Researcher PhD stream must spend 20 to 50 per cent of the duration of their PhD Candidature embedded in the participating higher education provider’s facilities, unless an exception is approved by the department.
Conditions in respect of the agreement between the higher education provider and the industry partner or relevant business or organisation
(14) The participating higher education provider and participating industry partner must enter into an agreement for each PhD project for the Industry Researcher PhD stream.
(15) The participating higher education provider must enter into an agreement with the relevant business or organisation referred to in paragraph 4.10(4)(b) for each PhD project in the Industry Linked PhD stream.
(16) The agreements referred to in subsections (14) and (15) must provide for how intellectual property rights created as part of the PhD project should be handled, and must allow the PhD Candidate to use and publish such intellectual property in their thesis or relevant publications.
Reporting
(17) The participating higher education provider and industry partner must collect data specified by the department for the purpose of program assurance and give that data to the department annually.
(18) The participating higher education provider and industry partner must, on request, provide a report on performance in the format requested by the department.
Privacy
(19) If the participating higher education provider or industry partner is not an ‘organisation’ for the purposes of the Privacy Act 1988, the participating higher education provider or industry partner must comply with the Australian Privacy Principles as set out in Schedule 1 of the Privacy Act 1988, as if it were an ‘organisation’ for the purposes of the Privacy Act 1988.
CHAPTER 5—AUSTRALIA’S ECONOMIC ACCELERATOR PROGRAM
5.1 Program
The Australia’s Economic Accelerator Program is specified for the purpose of assisting higher education providers to undertake programs of research, in areas of national priority, that progress development of technologies and services to a state of commercial investor readiness, under item 14 of the table in subsection 41-10(1) of the Act.
5.5 Program objectives
The objectives of the Australia’s Economic Accelerator Program are to provide grants that:
(a) support higher education providers to bridge the divide between basic research activities and commercialisation outcomes, through closer engagement with industry partners;
(b) support research activities aligned to national priority areas, undertaken by higher education providers;
(c) boost the research capability of higher education providers to conduct research with high commercialisation potential;
(d) foster a culture of collaboration between universities and industry, including greater job mobility and career development opportunities within both sectors; and
(e) encourage industry engagement with university research, boosting research capability in areas with the greatest potential for economic impact.
5.10 Approval of grants
Grants under the Australia’s Economic Accelerator Program will be:
(a) approved by the Minister in writing;
(b) made in respect of projects; and
(c) subject to conditions imposed on the grant by the Minister in writing under subsection 41-25(2) of the Act.
5.15 Priority managers
For the purposes of paragraph 42-75(1)(a) of the Act, the functions of a priority manager in relation to the Australia’s Economic Accelerator Program are to:
(a) provide advice to the department in relation to the Australia’s Economic Accelerator Program;
(b) provide advice to potential grant recipients on how grant applications may best align with the objectives of the Australia’s Economic Accelerator Program;
(c) assess initial pitches submitted by eligible higher education providers for Ignite Grants and provide advice on whether the project that is the subject of the pitch satisfies the eligibility criteria set out in the Act and these Guidelines and any other selection criteria notified by the department;
(d) make recommendations to the department on the merits of eligible Ignite Grant applications that are submitted for consideration for grants under Part 1 of this Chapter;
(e) assess initial expressions of interest submitted by providers for Innovate Grants, and provide advice on whether these expressions of interest satisfy the eligibility criteria set out in the Act and these Guidelines and any other selection criteria notified by the department;
(f) short-list eligible Innovate Grant applications that are submitted for grants under Part 2 of this Chapter, and provide the shortlist to the AEA Advisory Board for its consideration, prior to the Board making recommendations to the Minister or the department;
(g) drive a commercialisation culture and increased capability, knowledge and awareness of research commercialisation, including by encouraging success of projects through coaching and support to grant recipients, building connections across projects, and promoting the Australia’s Economic Accelerator Program and other Commonwealth Government commercialisation initiatives;
(h) provide strategic leadership, advice and mentoring to research and industry stakeholders and create partnerships to benefit the Australia’s Economic Accelerator Program; and
(i) assist the department in the management of funded projects as required.
5.20 AEA Advisory Board
For the purposes of paragraph 42-15(d) of the Act, the AEA Advisory Board also has the function of making recommendations to the Minister or the department on eligible Innovate Grant applications.
PART 1—IGNITE GRANTS
5.25 Purpose of Ignite Grants
Grants may be made to providers under the Australia’s Economic Accelerator Program for the purposes described in paragraph 5.5, and specifically, for the purposes of assisting providers with demonstrating the commercial feasibility of a project by undertaking testing in an industrially relevant environment that simulates the intended commercial use of the technology (Ignite Grants).
5.30 Specified bodies corporate and extra conditions of eligibility
Specified bodies corporate
(1) For the purposes of item 14 in the table in subsection 41-10(1) of the Act, bodies corporate that are in the ‘University College’ provider category listed in the Higher Education Standards Framework (Threshold Standards) 2021, are eligible to receive Ignite Grants under the Australia’s Economic Accelerator program.
Extra conditions of eligibility
(2) It is an extra condition of eligibility that grant recipients receiving an Ignite Grant:
(a) nominate an individual engaged by the grant recipient (Lead Entrepreneur) that must commit to work on the project for a minimum of 0.5 FTE over the grant period; and
(b) demonstrate that, at least one participating organisation has committed a cash or in-kind contribution to the project; and
(c) demonstrate how their proposed project aligns with one of the following national priority areas:
(i) value-add in the resources sector;
(ii) value-add in the agriculture, forestry and fisheries sectors;
(iii) transport;
(iv) medical science;
(v) renewables and low emissions technology;
(vi) defence capability; or
(vii) enabling capabilities such as data science, artificial intelligence and robotics;
(viii) a national priority set out in the annual investment plan prepared by the AEA Advisory Board in accordance with section 42-5 of the Act for the relevant year; and
(d) demonstrate that, at the time the grant is made, all actual or perceived conflicts of interest, pecuniary or otherwise, both within and outside Australia, that exist in relation to the conduct of the proposed project have been disclosed to the department, and the grant recipient has demonstrated that they have taken steps required by the department to resolve or address the conflict.
5.35 Conditions that apply to Ignite Grants
Conflicts of interest
(1) The grant recipient must make reasonable enquiries to ensure that no actual or perceived conflicts of interest, pecuniary or otherwise, both within and outside Australia, other than those disclosed to the department consistent with sub-subparagraph 5.30(2)(d), exist in relation to the conduct of the project funded by the Ignite Grant.
(2) If any actual or perceived conflict of interest, pecuniary or otherwise, both within and outside Australia, arises during the project, the grant recipient must immediately make full disclosure of the conflict to the department, and take any steps that the department requires to resolve or address the conflict.
Privacy
(3) If the grant recipient is not an ‘agency’ for the purposes of the Privacy Act 1988, the grant recipient must comply with the Privacy Act 1988 and the Australian Privacy Principles as set out in Schedule 1 of the Privacy Act 1988, as if it were an ‘agency’ for the purposes of the Privacy Act 1988.
(4) If the grant recipient enters into a contract in relation to the performance of the project funded by the Ignite Grant, the grant recipient must ensure that any contractor is contractually bound to comply with the Australian Privacy Principles in Schedule 1 of the Privacy Act 1988.
Acknowledgment
(5) The grant recipient must acknowledge the contribution made by the Commonwealth to the project funded by the Ignite Grant in all related promotional material, including by ensuring:
(a) the acknowledgment is prominently recorded and commensurate with that given to state or local government, corporate or other sponsors;
(b) any formal statement issued in relation to any aspect of the project, including speeches, media releases, and brochures, should make reference to the Commonwealth contribution as well as the Australia’s Economic Accelerator Program;
(c) any signs or plaques erected in association with the project must acknowledge the Commonwealth assistance; and
(d) where an official opening or launch is proposed for the project, the Minister is to be invited to attend or to send a representative.
Liaison and monitoring
(6) The grant recipient must:
(a) liaise with and provide information about the project funded by the Ignite Grant to the department or Priority Managers on request; and
(b) comply with all reasonable requests, directions or monitoring requirements received from the department.
Indemnity
(7) The grant recipient must indemnify the Commonwealth against any loss or liability incurred by the Commonwealth, loss of or damage to Commonwealth property, or loss or expense incurred by the Commonwealth in dealing with any claim against the Commonwealth arising from:
(a) any act or omission by the grant recipient or the grant recipient’s employees, agents or subcontractors in relation to the project funded by the Ignite Grant; or
(b) any breach of the grant recipient or any of the grant recipient’s employees, agents or subcontractors of these conditions or conditions imposed on the grant by the Minister in writing under subsection 41-25(2) of the Act; or
(c) any use or disclosure by the grant recipient, or its officers, employees, agents or subcontractors of personal information held or controlled in connection with the project funded by the Ignite Grant; or
(d) the use by the Commonwealth of the information provided to the Commonwealth by the grant recipient in reports provided as part of the grant recipient’s participation in the Australia’s Economic Accelerator Program.
Intellectual property
(8) The grant recipient must provide the department with details of their proposed intellectual property arrangements, including providing details on the use of intellectual property in the project and the ownership of intellectual property created by the project.
(9) The grant recipient must warrant their ownership of and access to, or the beneficial use of, any intellectual property necessary to carry out the project.
(10) The grant recipient must offer to use the HERC IP Framework when entering into agreements with third parties for activities related to the project funded by the Ignite Grant, and indicate to such third parties the grant recipient’s preference to use the HERC IP Framework.
PART 2—INNOVATE GRANTS
5.40 Purpose of Innovate Grants
Grants may be made to providers under the Australia’s Economic Accelerator Program for the purposes described in paragraph 5.5, and specifically, for the purposes of assisting providers with developing and testing prototypes in an operational environment (Innovate Grants).
5.45 Specified bodies corporate and extra conditions of eligibility
Specified bodies corporate
(1) For the purposes of item 14 in the table in subsection 41-10(1) of the Act, bodies corporate that are in the ‘University College’ provider category listed in the Higher Education Standards Framework (Threshold Standards) 2021, are eligible to receive Innovate Grants under the Australia’s Economic Accelerator program.
Extra conditions of eligibility
(2) It is an extra condition of eligibility that grant recipients receiving an Innovate Grant:
(a) nominate an individual engaged by the grant recipient (Lead Entrepreneur) to work on the project over the grant period;
(b) be partnered with at least one organisation that is an Australian body corporate;
(c) demonstrate that, at the time the grant is made, at least one participating organisation has committed cash or in-kind contributions to the project equivalent to the grant amount made to the grant recipient;
(d) demonstrate how their proposed project aligns with the following national priority areas:
(i) value-add in the resources sector;
(ii) value-add in the agriculture, forestry and fisheries sectors;
(iii) transport;
(iv) medical science;
(v) renewables and low emissions technology;
(vi) defence capability; or
(vii) enabling capabilities such as data science, artificial intelligence and robotics;
(viii) a national priority set out in the annual investment plan prepared by the AEA Advisory Board in accordance with section 42-5 of the Act for the relevant year; and
(e) demonstrate that, at the time the grant is made, all actual or perceived conflicts of interest, pecuniary or otherwise, both within and outside Australia, that exist in relation to the conduct of the proposed project have been disclosed to the department, and the grant recipient has demonstrated that they have taken steps required by the department to resolve or address the conflict.
5.50 Conditions that apply to Innovate Grants
Conflicts of interest
(1) The grant recipient must make reasonable enquiries to ensure that no actual or perceived conflicts of interest, pecuniary or otherwise, both within and outside Australia, other than those disclosed to the department consistent with sub-subparagraph 5.45(2)(d), exist in relation to the conduct of the project funded by the Innovate Grant.
(2) If any actual or perceived conflict of interest, pecuniary or otherwise, both within and outside Australia, arises during the project, the grant recipient must immediately make full disclosure of the conflict to the department, and take any steps that the department requires to resolve or address the conflict.
Privacy
(3) If the grant recipient is not an ‘agency’ for the purposes of the Privacy Act 1988, the grant recipient must comply with the Privacy Act 1988 and the Australian Privacy Principles as set out in Schedule 1 of the Privacy Act 1988, as if it were an ‘agency’ for the purposes of the Privacy Act 1988.
(4) If the grant recipient enters into a contract in relation to the performance of the project funded by the Innovate Grant, the grant recipient must ensure that any contractor is contractually bound to comply with the Australian Privacy Principles in Schedule 1 of the Privacy Act 1988.
Acknowledgment
(5) The grant recipient must acknowledge the contribution made by the Commonwealth to the project funded by the Innovate Grant in all related promotional material, including by ensuring:
(a) the acknowledgment is prominently recorded and commensurate with that given to state or local government, corporate or other sponsors;
(b) any formal statement issued in relation to any aspect of the project, including speeches, media releases, and brochures, should make reference to the Commonwealth contribution as well as the Australia’s Economic Accelerator Program;
(c) any signs or plaques erected in association with the project must acknowledge the Commonwealth assistance; and
(d) where an official opening or launch is proposed for the project, the Minister is to be invited to attend or to send a representative.
Liaison and monitoring
(6) The grant recipient must:
(a) liaise with and provide information about the project funded by the Innovate Grant to the department or Priority Managers on request; and
(b) comply with all reasonable requests, directions or monitoring requirements received from the department.
Indemnity
(7) The grant recipient must indemnify the Commonwealth against any loss or liability incurred by the Commonwealth, loss of or damage to Commonwealth property, or loss or expense incurred by the Commonwealth in dealing with any claim against the Commonwealth arising from:
(a) any act or omission by the grant recipient or the grant recipient’s employees, agents or subcontractors in relation to the project funded by the Innovate Grant; or
(b) any breach of the grant recipient or any of the grant recipient’s employees, agents or subcontractors of these conditions or conditions imposed on the grant by the Minister in writing under subsection 41-25(2) of the Act; or
(c) any use or disclosure by the grant recipient, or its officers, employees, agents or subcontractors of personal information held or controlled in connection with the project funded by the Innovate Grant; or
(d) the use by the Commonwealth of the information provided to the Commonwealth by the grant recipient in reports provided as part of the grant recipient’s participation in the Australia’s Economic Accelerator Program.
Intellectual property
(8) The grant recipient must provide the department with details of their proposed intellectual property arrangements, including providing details on the use of intellectual property in the project and the ownership of intellectual property created by the project.
(9) The grant recipient must warrant their ownership of and access to, or the beneficial use of, any intellectual property necessary to carry out the project.
(10) The grant recipient must offer to use the HERC IP Framework when entering into agreements with third parties for activities related to the project funded by the Innovate Grant, and indicate to such third parties the grant recipient’s preference to use the HERC IP Framework.