ARC DISCOVERY PROJECTS

2018 Round

RULES, RSO PROCESS AND APPLICATION SUPPORT

Maya Roberts – Senior Grants Officer, RSO

ARC FUNDING RULES

For Discovery Projects funding commencing in 2018*PDF Format or Word Format

* The relevant parts for Discovery Projects proposals are Part A and Part F. The other parts of these Funding Rules relate to other schemes and are not relevant to Discovery Projects proposals.

Significant Changes> Eligibility for projects within the Discovery Programme depends

on existing number of Active Projects, (generally two as a CI).Active Projects now include projects with carryover fundsapproved by the ARC or an approved variation to a Project’s enddate.– Therefore, CIs should check the end date for all current Projects in their

RMS profiles.

> Selection Criteria have changed, including the weightings.

> Project Description now 8 pages rather than 10 pages and headings/instructions have changed to reflect new Selection Criteria.

ARC Summary of Rules changes: Changes to Funding Rules

SELECTION CRITERIAInvestigator(s) 40%

• Research opportunity and performance evidence (ROPE); and• Time and capacity to undertake the proposed research.

Project Quality and Innovation 35%

• Does the research address a significant problem?• Is the conceptual/theoretical framework innovative and original?• What is the potential for the research to contribute to the Science and Research Priorities?• Will the aims, concepts, methods and results advance knowledge?• What is the potential for the research to enhance international collaboration?• Are there adequate strategies to encourage dissemination, commercialisation, if appropriate;

and promotion of research outcomes?

Feasibility 10%

• Do the Project’s design, participants and requested budget create confidence in the timely and successful completion of the Project?

• Is there an existing, or developing, supportive and high quality environment for this Project and for Higher Degree by Research students where appropriate?

• Are the necessary facilities available to complete the Project?

Benefit 15%

• Will the completed Project produce significant new knowledge and/or innovative economic, commercial, environmental, social and/or cultural benefit to the Australian and international community?

• Will the proposed research be cost-effective and value for money?

TOTAL 100%

CI Eligibility

CI Eligibility

> Emeritus Appointment means any honorary position that gives full academic status, as certified by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) in the Proposal. These positions are typically held by former academic staff members who continue to have an ongoing relationship with the institution. For ARC purposes this relationship must include access to research support comparable to employees, and would also normally include participation in postgraduate supervision. The person would not normally be eligible if they hold a substantive (paid) position elsewhere.

Funding

BUDGET ITEMS SUPPORTED

BUDGET ITEMS SUPPORTED (continued)

BUDGET ITEMS SUPPORTED (continued)

BUDGET – ITEMS NOT SUPPORTED

BUDGET TIPS> “The ARC does not like big budgets” - Prof Aidan Byrne, ex-CEO,

ARC.> Projects with a funding duration beyond three years need to have a

carefully justified Year 4/5 budget.> Expect your budget to be cut. Items likely to be cut:

– PhD stipends– Research Personnel – if more than one claimed and/or rate or

period– Travel including DIAs– Teaching relief

> If you want to spend on a type of expenditure, e.g. travel, include it in your budget, otherwise you will need to do a variation post-award.

SOME COMPLIANCE ISSUES

> Declare any conflicts of interest to RSO> Be very careful to properly categorise and describe publications:

A11.6.4 Examples of misleading information and misconduct include ……e. making false claims in publication records (such as describing a paper as accepted for publication when it has only been submitted)

> RMS now includes post-award functionality – so easier for ARC to track compliance. If you have not fulfilled your reporting obligations on previous grants, your application may be ruled ineligible: see A.6.2.2.

> Do not include web-links in the proposal except in the reference section

INSTRUCTIONS TO APPLICANTS, FAQ & RMS Additional documentation> Instructions to Applicants – PDF Format or Word Format> Cross-scheme Eligibility Frequently Asked Questions – PDF

Format or Word Format> No scheme-specific FAQ this year

Research Management System (RMS)> ARC web-based system used to submit research proposals,

assessments, rejoinders, reports and variations> RMS information (including user manuals)> RMS Login

ARC Certification> The RSO cannot submit a Discovery Project application to ARC until written agreement

from all relevant persons and organisations involved in a proposal is on file.

> Flinders Certification Form is sufficient for all Flinders CIs.

> ARC Certification Form is required for all external CIs, PIs and their Organisations. PDF Format or Word Format

> Once you have obtained all required external certifications, email arc@flinders.edu.auand attach the signed ARC Certification Forms, where necessary, for all external CIs, PIs and Organisations. Please ensure that the subject of the email includes the application ID, CI surname and scheme e.g:

“Subject: DP1801000001 Smith ARC Certification Forms”

KEY DATES

PROPOSALS OPEN IN

RMS

RSO DEADLINE

FOR REQUEST NOT TO ASSESS

REQUEST NOT TO ASSESS CLOSE

RSO DEADLINE

FOR COMPLIANCE

REVIEW

DEADLINE FOR

SUBMISSION OF FINAL

PROPOSAL IN RMS TO RSO

PROPOSALS CLOSE IN

RMS

REJOINDER

7-Dec-16 8-Mar-17 15-Feb-17 1-Feb-17**2 pm

27-Feb-17* 1-Mar-17 TBA

* The final proposal for Discovery Projects applications must be submitted by 2 pm on 27 February 2017 to the RSO. Applicants who have not met this deadline will need to seek an exemption from the Executive Dean of their Faculty for the application to proceed to submission to the ARC.

** Unsuccessful Discovery Project applicants who do not meet the internal deadline of the 1st of February 2017 for compliance review will not be eligible for Flinders University Near Miss

Funding. Applications submitted for compliance review must be substantially complete.

• When your application is ready for review, email arc@flinders.edu.au to let us know.

Principles of Compliance Review• Applications will be reviewed in the order of receipt, with the level of review

as indicated, time permitting.

• Applications will be reviewed following receipt of email advice as above and ARC Certification Forms.

• If your application is not complete when submitted, the RSO will review the application as is, and will not re-check incomplete sections at a later date. Therefore, an application submitted for review should be “submission ready” i.e. ready for submission to ARC.

• There will be a single eligibility check. Significant changes made after review cannot be constantly checked - any significant changes made after review are at the CI’s risk.

HOW RSO REVIEWS YOUR APPLICATION

REVIEW AND SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS

DP18 Deadline RSO Activity Action8 February 2017 Submit Request

Not To AssessComplete Request Not To Assess and send to arc@flinders.edu.au

1 Feb 2017 Compliance review Applications submitted to the RSO by this date and for which all ARC Certification forms have been provided will receive a full review. The full review includes an eligibility check and review of all fields for completeness and conformity with rules but not scientific quality. Applicants who meet this deadline will be eligible for consideration for Flinders University Near Miss Funding. Applications must be submitted substantially complete.

27 Feb 2017 Submission only Applications first submitted to the RSO in RMS on or after this date will be submitted as is, provided all ARC Certification forms and the Flinders University Certification form are on file.

27 Feb 20172 pm CST

Deadline for submission of application in RMS to the RSO. Applicants who do not meet this deadline will need to seek an exemption from the Executive Dean of their Faculty for the application to proceed to submission to the ARC.

1 Mar 2017,12 pm CST

Final submission deadline

Submission to ARC will take place at the latest at 12 pm on 1 March 2017 (unless applications have already been submitted).

APPLICATION SUPPORT

RSO ContactsMaya Roberts ext: 17698arc@flinders.edu.au

Faculty ContactsSBS: Michelle Lang ext: 12715EHL: Narmon Tulsi ext: 12868

Good luck!