Research Administrators Seminar NCGP update Dr Laura Dan Chief Program Officer 25 November 2013

The ARC Structure CEO Executive Directors Strategy BranchProgram Branch ICT Services Branch Research Excellence Branch Corporate Services Branch Executive General Manager

The ARC Executive Directors Biological Sciences and Biotechnology Dr Fiona Cameron - Engineering, Mathematics and Information Sciences Professor Brian Yates Humanities and Creative Arts Professor Denise Meredyth Social, Behavioural and Economic Sciences Professor Marian Simms

National Competitive Grants Program The National Competitive Grants Program (NCGP) is part of the ARC commitment to nurturing the creative abilities and skills of Australia’s most promising researchers. Funding is awarded on the basis of a competitive peer review process. Discovery Program supports fundamental research by teams and individuals Linkage Program facilitates the development of partnerships between research teams and between higher education organisations and other parts of the national and international innovation systems.

Discovery Program Laureate Fellowships Future Fellowships DECRA Discovery Projects Linkage Program Centres of Excellence Co- Funded & SRI Linkage Projects Discovery Indigenous ITRP National Competitive Grants Program (NCGP) LIEF Discovery Program Funding $551.4 million Linkage Program Funding $332.4 million

Program Branch Structure Chief Program Officer Laura Dan Program Operations – Discovery Program Sam Grunhard Program Operations – Linkage Program Sarah Howard Program Partnerships Liz Visher

Working together Regular interactions with the NHMRC – Policy discussions – Peer review and selection process discussions – Observing at selection meetings – Scheme calendar Collaborations with ARMS – ARMS annual conference – ARMS accreditation

Program updates - Discovery Discovery Program in 2013 – Discovery Projects – DECRA – Discovery Indigenous – Future Fellowships – Australian Laureate Fellowships

Program updates - Linkage Linkage Program in 2013 – Linkage Projects – LIEF – ITRP Rounds 1 and 2 – Centres of Excellence 2014

Proposal lifecycle - 1 Funding Rules are released on the ARC website. Eligibility Exemption Requests are submitted (if applicable). Proposals open in RMS. Requests not to Assess are submitted to the ARC. Proposals are submitted in RMS. Proposals are assigned to independent assessors, who assess and provide written comments on the Proposal against the selection criteria. 10

Proposal lifecycle - 2 Applicants may be given the opportunity for a rejoinder to assessors’ written comments. Proposals are ranked by the ARC College of Experts or other Selection Advisory Committee, on the basis of the Proposal, any assessors’ reports and any rejoinder. The ARC College of Experts or other Selection Advisory Committee provides recommendations to the ARC CEO. 11

Proposal lifecycle - 3 The CEO submits funding recommendations to the Minister for consideration. The Minister determines which Proposals will be approved and the amount of funding. Funding outcomes are publicly announced and Administering Organisations enter into an agreement with the ARC. 12

Proposal assessment All proposals are assessed against the selection criteria, and in accordance with the weightings for that scheme A-E rating scale Proposals are generally assigned to – two (or more) College of Experts/ SAC members and – at least two external assessors with specific knowledge of the field of research 13

Grant lifecycle Projects commence. Administering Organisations manage projects and submit progress reports as required. Variations to Funding agreements must be submitted in certain circumstances. Final reports certify the successful completion of ARC-funded projects. 14

The ARC College of Experts play a key role in identifying research excellence, moderating external assessments and recommending fundable proposals. Members meet face to face in Canberra – to moderate judgments and – to make final recommendations about fundable proposals and budgets to the ARC CEO Nominations are approved by the ARC CEO for appointments of one to three years. Further expansion for

ARC peer reviewers -18,000 assessors in the database – national and international Identity of assessors kept confidential Obligations under the Funding Agreement Importance of RMS profile and availability Assessors do not decide on proposal eligibility

Confidentiality The information contained in all proposals is confidential. Assessors should not discuss assessments with others at any stage, nor reveal details about any proposals or assessments unless authorised to do so, either before or after the final decisions have been released. Subject to legal requirements, the ARC will keep the identity of assessors confidential. Assessors must destroy all copies of proposals received as soon assessments are submitted to the ARC. An assessor should not assess any proposal for which he or she may reasonably be perceived to have a potential conflict of interest.

Looking to the future Schemes under assessment – Centres of Excellence – ITRP Round 2 – Future Fellowships 2014 – Linkage Projects 2014 Update for Funding rules – New format: program generic plus scheme specific – Harmonisation across program – Consistency across schemes More engagement

Thank you