ARC Linkage 2014 Session: Tips and Insights

ARC LINKAGE 2014 – SESSION 1 -

OVERVIEW, TIPS AND HINTS

Rose Firkin - Executive Officer

Deakin Research - Grants

Greg Pullen– Senior Commercial Manager

Deakin Research - Commercial

OUTLINE

1.

Revised NCG process

2.

Main features of the Scheme

3.

Major Changes for 2014 (Partner Organisations)

4.

Things to watch for

5.

Questions

6.

Discussion

REVISED NATIONAL COMPETITIVE

GRANT PROCESS

FYI:

1.

Previous ARC and NHMRC round process has been

reviewed and revised

2.

Lead times will be longer

3.

Will affect Linkage to a degree but will have greater

impact on next ARC DP and NHMRC project rounds

4.

Arranging meetings with Faculties and Institutes now

5.

Faculties and IFM retain an active role in assessing the

calibre and quality of applications

–

 Applicants will need to work within Faculty/IFM timelines

WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR LINKAGE?

1.

Earlier input from Deakin Research – Grants to

Faculties/IFM

2.

Greater input from Deakin Research – Commercial

3.

Earlier communication with applicant teams to identify

and address issues earlier in the process (this workshop)

4.

Expectation that teams will prepare applications earlier

and have partner engagement commitment earlier

DEAKIN RESEARCH COMMERCIAL  -

ROLE

•

Able to help strengthen Partner Organisation

relationship(s)

•

Able to identify and address IP issues

•

Able to negotiate specific contractual arrangements

•

Valuable resource for industry-specific knowledge

MAIN FEATURES – OBJECTIVES 2014

RULES

To promote:

•

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;

•

the scale and focus of research in the Strategic Research

Priorities;

•

opportunities for researchers to pursue internationally

competitive research; and

•

growth of a national pool of world-class researchers

MAIN FEATURES – FUNDING &

DURATION (2014 RULES)

•

Minimum = $50,000 p.a

•

Maximum = $300,000 p.a

•

Duration = 2 to 3 years

MAIN FEATURES–SELECTION CRITERIA

(2014 RULES)

•

20% - Investigators

•

50% - Project

–

Significance & Innovation (25%)

–

Approach & Training (15%)

–

Research Environment (10%)

•

30% - Commitment from Partner

MAJOR CHANGES – PARTNER

ORGANISATIONS (2014 RULES)

•

No longer need an Australian Partner Organisation

•

Overseas higher education institutions may participate

as eligible Partner Organisations in their own right

without having to find another PO

•

Any Conflict of Interest must be declared to Deakin

Research prior to submission (usually applies to CI

conflicts with Partner Organisations)

PARTNER ORGANISATION REQUIREMENTS

•

POs cannot be an eligible organisation; a

controlled entity of any eligible organisation or; an

entity more than 50% owned by an eligible

organisation

•

Each PO must meet 3 conditions

–

Evidence of new or ongoing collaboration with

Deakin

–

No duplication of Commonwealth funding for the

research and/or activities funded for the project

–

Cash and/or in-kind contribution

PARTNER CONTRIBUTIONS

•

Combined PO’s 

eligible

contributions (cash & in-

kind) must at least match the total ARC request

•

Combined PO’s 

eligible

 cash contribution must be

at least 25% of the total ARC request 

(recommend

aiming for 

50%

)

•

Further information in Session: Linkage Budgets

PO EXEMPTIONS FROM CASH

CONTRIBUTION REQUIREMENT

•

Defined in Funding Rules Definitions

•

Includes:

–

Registered charities

–

Not-for-profit organisations/community

organisations

–

Start-up companies

•

those commercialising R&D with average annual

revenue not exceeding $5M over past 2 years & majority

of employees and assets in Australia

–

Museums or herbaria

THINGS TO WATCH FOR -

BACKGROUND

•

If successful, it can take up to 12 months to negotiate a

Linkage agreement.  Why?

Several Key Reasons:

•

Partner Organisations were not fully aware of the scheme

•

Partner Organisations unable to agree on IP provisions

•

Partner Organisations not fully committed to the project

•

Large number of collaborators

•

Some collaborators not willing to cut their income despite

project receiving fewer ARC funds

THINGS TO WATCH FOR -

BACKGROUND

Most of the issues can be avoided by:

•

Diligent planning & realistic preparation time

•

Careful documentation (in the application)

•

Open and adequate discussion

•

True involvement of parties

•

Utilising partner organisations with which you have a solid

relationship

PARTNER ORGANISATION - TIPS

•

Proposals must include details of the proposed

collaborative arrangements:

–

How is each PO involved in the project?

–

How does the project fit with the PO’s overall

strategic plan?

–

How is the project of value to each PO?

•

Make sure your PO is genuinely committed

–

Commitment should be evident throughout the

proposal

PARTNER ORGANISATION - TIPS

•

Limit POs (suggest 1 – 3) - do not add for the sake

of numbers, the strength of the collaboration is key

•

Watch the mix of POs – they may have different

strategic directions and priorities

•

Each PO must provide a Partner Investigator for the

project

–

Make sure it’s someone with whom you can work

–

Make sure it’s someone who has the PO’s backing

PARTNER ORGANISATION - TIPS

•

Treat your application as a Memorandum of

Understanding (MoU)

–

Biggest issue we have during contract negotiation is

sorting out misunderstandings regarding how the

project will work in practice

•

In these instances we refer back to the original

application – it provides evidence of any discussions

–

Do not add partners after award – original partners

have “right of way” to negotiate agreement

PARTNER INVESTIGATORS (PIS)

•

PI must have a role within the Partner Organisation

–

Are they likely to stay with the same PO for the next 3-4

years?

•

PIs must satisfy the eligibility criteria:

–

Take significant intellectual responsibility; and/or

–

Have the experience and capacity to provide supervision,

support and mentoring of research personnel associated

with the project; and/or

–

Have the skills and experience to manage a similar scale

research project

PARTNER INVESTIGATORS (PIS)

•

All investigators (including PIs) are assessed

and merit ranked on the following basis (20%):

–

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 PO

OTHER ORGANISATIONS - TIPS

These are NOT Eligible Organisations or Partner

Organisations:

•

Can have PIs on the project for specific expertise

•

Can be included without a PI 

but

:

–

We highly recommend that they provide one

•

Communication can be very difficult if there is no one with a direct

interest in or link to the project

•

Contractual arrangements can be more complex

•

There are fewer rules regarding their engagement with

Linkage projects

CHIEF INVESTIGATORS (CI’S) TIPS

When formulating teams:

•

Do not build in CIs just to boost track records

–

Each CI must commit substantially and significantly to the

project and have a particular role for the full term

–

Each CI should consider their forward availability

including other major project initiatives, study leave,

inter-institutional transfers etc

•

CIs from other Universities – need clear understanding of

their role and what is likely to happen if the ARC funding is

reduced – plan for this in advance

GRANTS WEBSITE & RESOURCES

We provide a dedicated page for each major round

and scheme

•

http://www.deakin.edu.au/research/grants/opport

unities/arc-linkage-projects.php

•

Includes:

–

 timelines, specific resources (salary calculators,

application templates, stipend rates) and links to

ARC documentation (2014 at present)

FINAL TIP

•

Applications are not yet open on RMS

•

Get an RMS profile immediately

•

Get your co CIs and PIs to do the same

QUESTIONS?

•

Further Information Sessions will be provided:

Ideas for Potential Topics?

DISCUSSION