1. The Australian Research Landscape The University of Sydney—Business School 28 January 2016 Presented by Professor Marian Simms ARC Executive Director

2. Outline Current funding landscape NCGP update ARC Assessment Process

3. 2015–16 Federal Budget—$429 billion

4. 2015–16 Federal Budget—R&D $9.7 billion

5. Commonwealth Investment in R&D 2015–16 (%)

6. Selected research agencies 2003–2016 funding ($m) Source: Science, Research and Innovation Budget Tables 2015–16

7. The Australian Government has developed a set of Science and Research Priorities, they are: - soil and water - transport - Cyber security - energy - resources - advanced manufacturing - environmental change - health More information can be found on the Australian Government website: www.science.gov.au Focusing Government Investment Research Priorities

8. ARC NCGP % funding by institution 2008–2015

9. Linkage fraction vs Discovery fraction

10. Web: arc.gov.au I Email: Communications@arc.gov.au NCGP funding—NSW Universities 2008–2015

11. Web: arc.gov.au I Email: Communications@arc.gov.au NCGP funding—The University of Sydney

12. ARC NCGP funding by Fields of Research 2002–2014

13. Selected Fields of Research—Success 2011–2015 Funded proposals vs unfunded for 2011–15 (all rounds) by 4-digit FoR 1401 Economic Theory 1402 Applied Economics 1403 Econometrics 1499 Other Economics 1501 Accounting, Auditing and Accountability 1502 Banking, Finance and Investment 1503 Business and Management 1504 Commercial Services 1505 Marketing 1506 Tourism 1507 Transportation and Freight Services 1599 Other Commerce, Management, Tourism and Services

14. ITRP linkages All rounds Higher Education Government Industry/Other Source data: Australian Research Council

15. ITRP linkages The University of Sydney Higher Education Government Industry/Other

16. Linkage Projects linkages 2011–2015 Higher Education Government Industry/business Non-profit/other

17. Linkage Projects linkages NSW 2011–14 Higher Education Government Commercial Non-profit/other

18. Web: arc.gov.au I Email: Communications@arc.gov.au LP linkages—The University of Sydney

19. Histogram of Rank—DP 2012–2016

20. Histogram of Rank—DECRA 2012–2016

21. Overall All grants that are successful should provide exciting new outcomes and be excellent investments Decisions will align with Scheme Objectives Not all excellent proposals can get funding; most applicants will be disappointed 21

22. Number of Panels Discovery Programme Laureate Fellowship s Future Fellowships DECR A Discovery Projects Linkage Programme Centres of Excellence Co- Funded & SRI ITRP Linkage Projects Discovery Indigenous LIEF 1345 BSB, EMI, PCE, HCA, SBE BEM, ET, PMI, HSE

23. Insights into grants process (1) Consider where to apply for funding; choose a scheme Pay attention to eligibility and ARC cross scheme limits The scheme objectives and the selection criteria—address every one of them Choosing Field of Research Codes—assisting the ARC choose the right assessors Record—career interruption—the ROPE provision The scale of assessment — The external assessor—1–2 proposals — The ARC panel member—10–50 — ARC Panel meeting—150–900 The rejoinder

24. Insights into grants process (2) Understand the research field and international context—develop your ideas to solve a research problem Network with leaders in the field—consider the research environment when applying Apply by yourself or as a team member… Career interruptions—making a case for ROPE Seek mentors on writing good grant applications Your first grant application — Write for your peers—write so that someone broadly in your field will understand your project — Write for the public—write a plain English statement Don’t over-inflate authorship claims but don’t undersell yourself either

25. Low ranked proposals (1) Use too much technical jargon Make grandiose and implausible claims about outcomes Do not support claims of excellence or progress with evidence Relate to research areas without momentum Are weakly linked into national and international research networks; unable to demonstrate quality

26. Low ranked proposals (2) Emphasise the collection of data rather than the solution of controversies Set a negative or depressive tone about the state of the subject in Australia Contain a high rate of spelling and grammatical errors Are badly structured and difficult to follow

27. Responding to an assessment— the rejoinder Read the assessments then wait at least a day before starting the rejoinder Approach it constructively The rejoinder is to help College of Experts to seek applicant’s responses on criticisms made by peers Do not get angry at the assessor—you are wasting valuable space instead of addressing important concerns

28. Web: arc.gov.au I Email: Communications@arc.gov.au Considering Research Impact Research Impact means the demonstrable contribution that research makes to the economy, society, culture, national security, public policy or services, health, the environment, or quality of life, beyond contributions to academia It is included in objectives and selection criteria The ARC is seeking better communication about research outcomes

29. Web: arc.gov.au I Email: Communications@arc.gov.au Tips for new players! ROPE: success is important. The ARC is looking for the best people to conduct research and capacity building in the future Collaborations, linkages, networks: the whole must be greater than the sum of the parts Objectives of the scheme—think carefully about the objectives and how you address them Research programme—well thought out and developed—workshopping with relevant parties

30. Thank You