1. Linkage grants and research opportunities
Lelia Green

2. Aims of the Linkage Program
to support research and development (R&D) projects which:
are collaborative between higher education researchers and other parts of the national innovation system
are undertaken to acquire new knowledge, and
involve risk or innovation.

3. Objectives of Linkage Program
From the funding rules:
collaborative research between university-based researchers and researchers in other sectors
research training and career opportunities that enable Australian and international researchers and research students to work with industry and other end-users
research in priority areas.

4. The linkage program funds …
ARC Centres of Excellence
Industrial Transformation Research Program
Linkage Projects
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment and Facilities
Linkage Learned Academies Special Projects
Special Research Objectives

5. Linkage Projects definition
The Linkage Projects scheme provides funding to Eligible Organisations [Universities] to support research and development (R&D) projects which are collaborative between higher education researchers and other parts of the national innovation system, which are undertaken to acquire new knowledge, and which involve risk or innovation.

6. Objectives of Linkage Projects
support the initiation and/or development of long-term strategic research alliances between higher education organisations and other organisations, including industry and other research end-users, in order to apply advanced knowledge to problems and/or to provide opportunities to obtain national economic, commercial, social or cultural benefits
provide opportunities for internationally competitive research projects to be conducted in collaboration with organisations outside the higher education sector, targeting those who have demonstrated a clear commitment to high-quality research
encourage growth of a national pool of world-class researchers to meet the needs of the broader Australian innovation system
build the scale and focus of research in the national Science and Research Priorities

7. National Science & Research Priorities
With 3-4 Practical Research Challenges each, these are:
Food
Soil and Water
Transport
Cybersecurity
Energy
Resources
Advanced Manufacturing
Environmental Change
Health

8. Environmental change (challenges)
Improved accuracy and precision in predicting and measuring the impact of environmental changes caused by climate and local factors.
Resilient urban, rural and regional infrastructure.
Options for responding and adapting to the impacts of environmental change on biological systems, urban and rural communities and industry.

9. Health (practical challenges)
Better models of health care and services that improve outcomes, reduce disparities for disadvantaged and vulnerable groups, increase efficciency and provide greater value for a given expenditure.
Improved prediction, identification, tracking, prevention and management of emerging local and regional health threats.
Better health outcomes for Indigenous people, with strategies for both urban and regional communities.
Effective technologies for individuals to manage their own health care, for example, using mobile apps, remote monitoring and online access to therapies.

10. LP selection criteria
Assessors are asked to rank Linkage Projects according to the following criteria
Investigator(s) 25%
Project Quality and Innovation 25%
Significance and Innovation
Approach and Training
Feasibility 20%
Benefit 30%

11. Investigators (25%)
Research Opportunity and Performance Evidence (ROPE)
potential to engage in collaborative research with end-users
time and capacity to undertake and manage the proposed research in collaboration with the Partner Organisation(s)

12. Quality I: significance & innovation
Will new methods or technologies be developed that address a specific market opportunity?
How will the anticipated outcomes advance the knowledge base and/or provide an end-user and/or industry advantage?
Does the Project plan provide a business model for implementation?
Does the Project address the Science and Research Priorities?
Are the Project aims and concepts novel and innovative?
Does the research address an important problem for the partners?
How will the Project benefit Partner Organisation(s) and other relevant end-users?
Does the Project significantly enhance links with organisations outside the Australian publicly-funded research and higher education sectors?

13. Quality II: Approach & Training
Are the conceptual framework, design, methods and analyses adequately developed, well integrated and appropriate to the aims of the Project?
Where relevant, is the intellectual content and scale of the work proposed appropriate to a higher degree by research?
How appropriate is the proposed budget?
(Quality I + II = 25%)

14. Feasibility (20%)
Is there an existing, or developing, supportive and high-quality environment for this research both within the Administering Organisation and in the Partner Organisation(s)?
Are the necessary facilities available to conduct the proposed research?
Is there evidence that each of the Partner Organisation(s) is genuinely committed to, and prepared to collaborate in, the research Project?
Is the budget justification for Cash and in-kind Contributions adequate?

15. Benefit (30%)
Will the proposed research encourage and develop strategic research alliances between the higher education organisation(s) and other organisation(s)?
Will the proposed research maximise economic, commercial, environmental and/or social benefit to Australia? Are there adequate strategies to encourage dissemination, commercialisation, if appropriate, and promotion of research outcomes?
Is it demonstrated that, where relevant, the applicants have identified the freedom to operate in the Intellectual Property and patent landscape to enable future benefits to end-users and/or industry?
Does the Project represent value for money?

16. Partner Organisation (+ Industry Partner)
PO must be included in the project, and a PI is uaually on the research team (more not necessarily better!)
$12,500 minimum cash p.a. (unless an *exempt* NFP, etc), triggers $50,000 in ARC funding
In-kind requirement for $37,500 p.a., or equivalent so that partner cash+in-kind = ARC contribution
$50,000 minimum/ $300,000 maximum; project planned for 2-5 years’ duration
Intellectual property and contracts can be a challenge and need addressing early

17. Finding a partner Their money, their idea
Your contacts – Alumni, colleagues’ contacts, industry connections, news stories, person-person compatibility
A “research awareness” mindset
What are they going to get out of it?
What is it going to cost them?
What are their risks and benefits?
Honest evaluation of time, input, bureaucracy

18. Partner funding exemptions …
Exempt Archive and Public Record Office
Exempt Charity
Exempt Herbarium
Exempt Museum and Collecting Organisation
Exempt Non-Profit Organisation
Exempt Small Business
Exempt Start-up.

19. For each partner organisation …
Provide evidence of:
new or on-going collaboration between the Partner Organisation either directly with the Administering Organisation, and/or with an Other Eligible Organisation on the Proposal
no duplication of Commonwealth funding for the research and/or activities funded for the Project
a contribution of cash and/or in-kind or other material resources from each Partner Organisation, having regard to the total cost of the Project and specific scheme requirements.

20. PO letter of support to 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
demonstrate the source of its Cash Contribution
certify that no part of its Cash Contribution is drawn from funds previously appropriated or awarded from Commonwealth or Australian State or Territory sources for the purposes of research
state its expectations about industry outcomes/products and market value
provide details regarding how the Project aligns with the Partner Organisation’s strategic objectives
certify that it will meet the requirements outlined in a standard ARC Funding Agreement, including arrangements regarding Intellectual Property which do not unreasonably prevent or delay academic outputs
be signed by the Chief Executive Officer, or delegate.

21. Administering organisation
Responsible for establishing the merit of the case for recognition of in-kind contributions
Ensure that CIs and PIs make a serious commitment to carrying out the Project and do not assume the role of a supplier of resources for work that will largely be undertaken by others
Ensuring that the maximum limits (4 Linkage Projects) are not exceeded

22. Key documents and dates
Since mid-2016, in response to the National Innovation and Science Agenda, Linkage Projects have been open for (near) continuous submission
2017 Linkage Project submissions close 19 December 2017
Key Document 1: Funding rules for:
Linkage Projects for funding applied for in 2017
Linkage Projects for funding applied for in 2018
Key Document 2: Instructions to Applicants

23. Budget items NOT supported
Partner Organisation(s) seeking expert assistance to develop specific applications or outputs which involve little innovation or low risk
Consultancies or contract research
Salaries for Chief Investigators or Partner Investigators (either by ARC or PO funds)
International student fees, HECS or HELP fees (but domestic HDR stipends are okay)

24. But, provided they directly support research,
budgets can be used for
(i) personnel:
salary support for research associates and assistants, technicians and laboratory attendants at an appropriate salary level, including 30 per cent on-costs, for the Administering Organisation
stipends for Higher Degree by Research students, in whole or in part, at an appropriate level for the Administering Organisation or the relevant industry sector.
(ii) teaching relief for CIs up to a total value for the Project of $50,000 per year.

25. Dissemination
Any Research Outputs arising from a Project must be deposited into an open access institutional repository within a 12 month period from the date the Research Output was published or made publicly available. Where this requirement cannot be met, reasons must be provided in the Final Report for the Project. Research Output metadata must be made available in an institutional repository immediately upon publication.
Researchers and institutions have an obligation to care for and maintain research data in accordance with the Australian Code for the Responsible Conduct of Research (2007). Researchers must outline briefly in their Proposal how they plan to manage research data arising from a Project. The ARC strongly encourages the depositing of data arising from a Project in an appropriate publically accessible subject and/or institutional repository. Where appropriate, the Final Report must outline how data has been made publicly accessible.
The ARC strongly encourages all researchers applying for funding to have an ORCID Identifier in their RMS Profile.