Linkage - ProjectsFundamentals for applicants

Coombs Extension 1.04

18 September 2013

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Linkage – Projects: Speakers

• Sean Downes, Research Services, College of Asia and the Pacific

• Dr Nicholas Biddle, Centre for Aboriginal Economic Policy Research, College of Arts and Social Sciences

• Dr Ann Nevile, Crawford School of Public Policy, College of Asia and the Pacific

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Linkage – Projects: College contacts

• CAP – Sean Downes sean.downes@• CASS – Louise Knox louise.knox@• CBE – Dora Gava dora.gava@• CoL – Katy Paterson katy.paterson@

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Linkage – Projects: The program

• What are Linkage-Projects?

• Lived experience

• Approaching the application

• Resources and support

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Linkage – Projects: What they are

• Put simply, Linkages are partnerships between University researchers and outside bodies (Partner Organisations) built around a significant research project of both fundamental and applied merit.

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Linkage – Projects: Key points

• Supports the initiation and/or development of long-term strategic research alliances between higher education organisations and other organisations (including industry) and end-users, in order to apply advanced knowledge to problems and/or to provide opportunities to obtain national economic, social or cultural benefits

• The proposed research will be assessed by academic reviewers and therefore should be of a quality comparable to Discovery Projects, innovative and significant with clear benefits to the field, the Partner(s) and Australia.

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Linkage – Projects: What they’re not

• Highly-leveraged consultancies • Token relationships between Researchers and Partner

Organisations• Pure, basic research with little or no application beyond

the academy

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Linkage – Projects: What you need

• A well articulated, credible research project addressing significant research problems in innovative and applied ways

• Demonstrated commitment and collaboration from the Partner Organisation(s)

• A research team with the appropriate track record and skills, including member(s) from the Partner Organisation

• Demonstrated ability to enhance links to non-academic organisations and deliver real-world outcomes

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Linkage – Projects: Partner Organisations

• Are genuine partners from outside the Australian University sector

• Must nominate at least one researcher to be their representative, called a PI (Partner Investigator)

• Must provide a Letter of Support meeting the ARC’s requirements, included as part of the application

• Must at least match the funding requested from the ARC, with at no less than 25% of that amount in cash. The rest must be a real, in-kind contribution

• If successful, will enter into a contract with the ANU

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Linkage – Projects: Partner Investigators

• A Partner Investigator (PI) is a researcher not based at an Australian University

• They take significant intellectual responsibility for the project, along with Chief Investigators (CIs) from the University.

• A Partner Investigator’s record will be part of the assessment.

• While each Partner Organisation must provide at least one PI, additional PIs can come from non-Partners.

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Linkage – Projects: Lived experience 1

Dr Nick Biddle,

Fellow,

Centre for Aboriginal Economic Policy Research,

College of Arts and Social Sciences

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Linkage – Projects: Lived experience 2

Dr Ann Nevile,

Senior Lecturer,

Crawford School of Public Policy,

College of Asia and the Pacific

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Linkage – Projects: The project

• Must be of 2 or 3 years’ duration

• Request a minimum of $50k and maximum of $300k p.a. from the ARC

• Must address the selection criteria set out in the ARC’s Funding Rules

• Submitted through the Research Management System

• ARC funds can be used for fieldwork, travel, non-CI/PI personnel (incl. HDR students), teaching relief, specialised equipment, web hosting/development and publication costs

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Linkage – Projects: Selection criteria

• Investigator(s) 20%

• Proposed Project 50%– Significance and Innovation 25%– Approach and Training 15%– Research Environment 10%

• Commitment from Partner Orgs 30%

• See LP14 Funding Rules, section 4.3 for more information

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Linkage – Projects: New sub-criteria

• Does the Project significantly enhance links with organisations outside the Australian publicly-funded research and higher education sectors? (S&I)

• Does the Project represent value for money? (A&T)

• Are there adequate strategies to encourage dissemination, commercialisation, if appropriate; and promotion of research outcomes? (RE)

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Linkage – Projects: Important changes

• There is no longer a postdoctoral fellowship (APDI)• There does not need to be an Australian partner

Organisation• Projects must comply with the ARC Open Access Policy• Publication/dissemination and web costs are now

allowable• Funding for hosting of seminars, conferences, etc. is no

longer allowed• Consult your RO about other changes

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Linkage – Projects: Application structurePart A: Administrative Summary

Part B: Classification and Other Statistical Information

Part C: Project Description

Part D: Project Cost

Part E: Budget Justifications

Part F: Personnel

Part G: Partner Organisation Details

Part H: Research Support

Part I: Statements on Progress of ARC Funded Projects

Part J: Additional Details

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Linkage – Projects: Key components

Some key sections:

• Title and 100 word summary• Keywords and FoR codes• Project Description• Letters of Support• Budget and justifications• Personnel summaries

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Linkage – Projects: Fundamentals

Grant Writing Tips

Clear, direct writing -

What, why and how?

A sales document for a skeptical audience

Interrelationships within the form:

The idea is to construct one story

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Linkage – Projects: Good applications

• Present exciting or ambitious goals. • Describe hypotheses and/or controversies and explain how

the proposed work will address or resolve them. • Explain why funding is needed now • Give context - how the proposed work fits into international

work in the field. • Balance technical detail and general explanations. • Include clear and convincing material regarding National

Benefit and practical application.• Demonstrate clear partnerships, benefits to and lasting

strategic links with Partner Organisations

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Linkage – Projects: Poor applications

• Lack evidence of genuine collaboration and/or show weak Partner Organisation commitment

• Are full of jargon, impenetrable and are difficult to read.• Demonstrate poor knowledge of the field.• Make implausible claims about outcomes or experience.• Have flawed or incomplete methodologies.• Relate to areas which are widely seen to be well worked

over, or without momentum.• Convey a negative tone or feeling• Show weak track records

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Linkage – Projects: Assessment

• Selection of assessors• ARC College• Assessments and rejoinder process• Feedback

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Linkage – Projects: Resources

• Funding Rules and Instructions to Applicants• ARC website, eg ‘Information for Applicants’• Other documents and templates• Local Research Office (check timelines)• Heads of School, mentors, fellow applicants

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Linkage – Projects: Dates

• Sept 18: proposals open in RMS• _______: draft application/budget/peer review

deadlines• _______: internal deadlines for requests not to assess• _______: compliance deadlines• Mid-Nov : ARC deadline

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Linkage – Projects: Wrap-up

Questions?