dr fiona cameron, executive director, biological sciences and biotechnology australian research...
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Web: arc.gov.au | Email: [email protected]
Dr Fiona Cameron, Executive Director, Biological Sciences and Biotechnology
Australian Research Council
Centres – an overview
Web: arc.gov.au | Email: [email protected]
• Background on Australian Government’s research investment.
• The National Competitive Grants Program and ARC centre grants
• What an ARC Centre of Excellence or ITRP Hub/Centre looks like
• General lessons learned from recent selection rounds
• Questions
Topics
Commonwealth Investment in R&D 2013-14
CSIRO8.8%
DSTO4.9%
Other Govt R&D 7.4%
Industry R&D Tax Measures
19.4%
Other Industry R&D support0.1%
Other Innovation Support5.0%
ARC10.2%
NHMRC9.9%
Other health1.0%
Block Funding to Higher Ed
21.9%
Other Higher Ed R&D Support
0.9%CRCs1.7%Rural3.9%
Energy and the Environment2.4%
Multisector Science Support2.4%
Source: Budget 2013-2014 Industry and Innovation tables
Discovery Program
Laureate Fellowships
Future FellowshipsDECRA
Discovery Projects
Linkage Program
Centres of Excellence
Co-Funded
& SRI
Linkage Projects
Discovery Indigenous
ITRP
National Competitive Grants Program
LIEF
Discovery Program Funding2013-14 - $551.4 million
Linkage Program Funding2013-14 - $332.4 million
ARC Proposals Received: 2-Digit FOR (%) 2006-2013
ARC NCGP funding by 2-Digit FoR (%) 2006-2013
Web: arc.gov.au | Email: [email protected]
• ARC Centres of Excellence $1-4 m a year for up to seven years
• Industrial Transformation Research Program – Hubs $500K to $1m a year for five years– Centres $600K to $1m a year for three
years• Co-funded and Special Research
Initiatives – various funding and duration
Investment in excellence for the longer term
Web: arc.gov.au | Email: [email protected]
The ARC Centres of Excellence – objectives
a. highly innovative and potentially transformational research that aims to knowledge;
b. interdisciplinary, collaborative approaches to
c. develop relationships and build new networks
d. build Australia’s human capacity in a range of;
e. postgraduate and postdoctoral training
f. large-scale problems over longer periods of
g. points of interaction between unis, business, govt, private sector
Web: arc.gov.au | Email: [email protected]
ITRP – Hubs – Objectives
a. encourage collaborative R&D projects to solve challenging industry issues through innovative research;
b. attract investment from the local, global and international business community by underpinning the internationally-recognised excellence of Australian universities and their industry partners; and
c. leverage national and international investment in targeted industry sectors
Web: arc.gov.au | Email: [email protected]
ITRP – Centres – Objectives
a. foster opportunities for Higher Degree by Research candidates and postdoctoral fellows to pursue industrial training and to enhance competitive research in collaboration between universities and organisations outside the Australian higher education sector; and
b. strengthen Australia’s Industrial Transformation Training Priorities to supplement the capabilities of industries and other research end-users.
Hubs and Centres have Industrial Transformation Priorities that may change from round to round
Web: arc.gov.au | Email: [email protected]
Co-funded and Special Research Initiatives
Often specifically requested by Government in one off research priority areas.
Examples include: NICTA, Groundwater, ACPFGStem Cells Australia, Bionic Vision, Policing
and Security, Synchrotron, Indigenous Researcher Network, Science of Learning.
Web: arc.gov.au | Email: [email protected]
What the Centres need to look like
• The Centres are the largest investments of the ARC Grants Program
• Centres foster frontier interdisciplinary research – with innovative and highly integrated Research Programs
• Centres are critical for the next generation of researchers – capacity building
• Leading the way – international reputation• Building on important collaborations• Public benefits and research impact
Web: arc.gov.au | Email: [email protected]
Key lessons learned from previous selection rounds – the best of the best
• Do:– The whole must be greater than the sum of the parts – Allow plenty of time to prepare grant applications, organising
reviews, and developing strategic and operational plans. – Aim to address all objectives of the scheme – workshop these with
your senior team – vision is important – KPIs to support this– think about and address all selection criteria. Focus on the end game
as competition is fierce– Mentor your key staff as an inspiration to others – a core institutional
responsibility
Web: arc.gov.au | Email: [email protected]
Key lessons learned from previous selection rounds – the best of the best• Do (cont.)
– Know your competitors and collaborate as much as possible. Existing and new networks are highly valuable for future research
– Address good governance to enhance the business of your Centre – resource and support your business and operational staff
– Think about a diverse centre and how to communicate and manage it effectively
– Ensure the whole interview team is across the bid– Ask for feedback– Acknowledge that Centre Directors are the superstars of the
research community – we have high expectations of you being an inspiration as highly visible research leaders
Web: arc.gov.au | Email: [email protected]
Key lessons learned from previous selection rounds – the best of the best
• Don’t:– Don’t rely on past success– Assemble bids that appear to be a series of smaller
projects with minimal integration fail– At interview a CD should neither answer everything nor
delegate everything– Make assumptions as to why your bid did not get up
Web: arc.gov.au | Email: [email protected]
Do take the opportunity today to network with your peers
Questions?