Part 1 Preliminary
1 Name of Guidelines
These Guidelines may be cited as the Other Grants Guidelines (Research) 2017.
3 Authority
These Guidelines are made under section 238‑10 of the Act for the purposes of items 7 and 11(b) of the table in subsection 41‑10(1).
5 Transitional Arrangements
The revocation of the Other Grants Guidelines (Research) 2012 dated 24 September 2012 does not affect the validity of a payment or decision made under those guidelines.
A decision made under those guidelines is taken to continue to have effect as if it were made under these Guidelines.
Part 2 Other Grants Guidelines (Research) 2017
COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA
Higher Education Support Act 2003
The purpose of these Guidelines is to provide for Other Grants under Part 2‑3 of the Higher Education Support Act 2003.
i.v.i Unless the contrary intention appears, the terms used within the Other Grants Guidelines (Research) 2017 have the same meaning as in the Act.
i.v.ii The following terms are defined specifically for these Guidelines:
ABS means the Australian Bureau of Statistics as established under the Australian Bureau of Statistics Act 1975
the Act means the Higher Education Support Act 2003
AAH Australian Academy of the Humanities
AAHMS Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences
AAS Australian Academy of Science
ASSA Academy of Social Sciences in Australia Incorporated
ATSE Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering
ACoLA Australian Council of Learned Academies
ANZAAS Australian and New Zealand Association for the Advancement of Science
Category 1 income means Australian competitive grants R&D income, as reported and certified by a HEP through HERDC and accepted by the department
Category 2 income means other public sector R&D income, as reported and certified by a HEP through HERDC and accepted by the department
Category 3 income means industry and other R&D income, as reported and certified by a HEP through HERDC and accepted by the department
Category 4 income means Cooperative Research Centre R&D income, as reported and certified by a HEP through HERDC and accepted by the department
Competitive Income means Category 1 income
Engagement Income means Category 2 income, Category 3 income and Category 4 income
FTE means the number of hours that is considered full-time for an employee at an organisation
Grant Year means the calendar year in respect of which the grant is made, and of which the department has notified the relevant HEP
Guidelines means these Other Grant Guidelines (Research) 2017
HERC IP Framework means the intellectual property framework developed by the department as in force at the time the Other Grants (Research) Amendment (Australia’s Economic Accelerator Program) Guidelines 2023 commenced
Note: The HERC IP Framework as in force at the time the Other Grants (Research) Amendment (Australia’s Economic Accelerator Program) Guidelines 2023 commenced can be viewed on the department’s website at Higher Education Research Commercialisation Intellectual Property Framework - Department of Education, Australian Government.
HEP means a higher education provider as specified in section 16‑15 of the Act (Table A Providers) or section 16‑20 of the Act (Table B Providers)
HERDC means the Higher Education Research Data Collection, which includes information on the HEP’s R&D income, as certified and submitted by the HEPs by 30 June each year
HERP Higher Education Research Promotion
Merging HEP means a body corporate that was a HEP in a previous Grant Year and merged or combined with another body corporate that was also a HEP in a previous Grant Year, to form a HEP.
Note: From 2026, the bodies known as the University of Adelaide and the University of South Australia will be examples of merging HEPs, as bodies that were HEPs in 2025 but will cease to be HEPs in 2026, after combining to form Adelaide University.
the Minister means the Minister responsible for administering the Act
participating organisation means, in Chapter 5, the grant recipient and any organisation that the grant recipient has entered into an agreement with, in relation to the provision of a cash contribution or in-kind contribution, in establishing their project
PhD means a Level 10 Doctoral Degree (Research) or Doctoral Degree (Professional) qualification as described in the Australian Qualifications Framework for which at least two-thirds of the student load for the course is research work
R&D or research means Research and Experimental Development as defined in the Frascati Manual 2015 maintained by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development, as in force at the time the Other Grants (Research) Amendment (Research Support Program) Guidelines 2025 commenced.
Note: The Frascati Manual 2015 as in force at the time the Other Grants (Research) Amendment (Research Support Program) Guidelines 2025 commenced can be viewed on the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development’s website at <https://doi.org/10.1787/9789264239012-en>.
RSP means the Research Support Program
RSP Grant Amount is the amount determined under paragraph 1.4.10
RSP Funding Pool is the total amount of funding for a given Grant Year for the RSP
Note: The Minister determines the total amount of funding available in a given Grant Year for the RSP, and in doing so, may take into account whether it is appropriate to determine the RSP Funding Pool in a Grant Year by indexing the RSP Funding Pool amount in the preceding Grant Year by an amount (such as an amount determined by the method set out in Part 5-6 of the Act).
RTP Fees Offset has the same meaning as in section i.v of the Commonwealth Scholarship Guidelines (Research) 2017
Note: Section i.v of the Commonwealth Scholarship Guidelines (Research) 2017 defines RTP Fees Offset as a type of Research Training Program scholarship to assist with course fees that would otherwise be payable by a student who is completing a higher degree by research (a Research Doctorate or Research Masters course for which at least two-thirds of the student load for the course is required as research work).
RTP Stipend has the same meaning as in section i.v of the Commonwealth Scholarship Guidelines (Research) 2017
Note: Section i.v of the Commonwealth Scholarship Guidelines (Research) 2017 defines RTP Stipend as a type of Research Training Program scholarship to assist students with general living costs.
i.v.iii Unless stated otherwise, references to paragraphs refer to paragraphs in these Guidelines.
i.x APPLICATION, SAVING AND TRANSITIONAL PROVISIONS
i.x.i The amendments to paragraph 1.4.40 made by Schedule 1 of the Other Grants (Research) Amendment (Research Support Program) Guidelines 2025 apply in relation to any adjustment of RSP Grant Amounts after the commencement of that Schedule, in relation to grants made for Grant Years before, on and after the commencement of that Schedule.
i.x.ii The amendments to the Other Grants Guidelines (Research) 2017 made by the Other Grants (Research) Amendment (Research Support Program) Guidelines 2025, do not affect the validity of payments or decisions made under the version of the Other Grants Guidelines (Research) 2017 in force before it was amended by the Other Grants (Research) Amendment (Research Support Program) Guidelines 2025, and those decisions are taken to continue to have effect.
i.x.iii Despite the amendments made by the Other Grants (Research) Amendment (Research Support Program) Guidelines 2025, any conditions that were imposed on a grant in the version of the Other Grants Guidelines (Research) 2017 in force before it was amended by the Other Grants (Research) Amendment (Research Support Program) Guidelines 2025, are taken to continue to apply in respect of a grant made prior to those amendments.
The purpose of this chapter is to specify:
(1) in accordance with subsection 41‑15(1) of the Act for the purpose described at item 7 of the table in subsection 41‑10(1) of the Act, the RSP; and
(2) under subsection 41‑15(2) of the Act, some other matters relevant to the RSP.
The RSP provides block grants, on a calendar year basis, to HEPs to support the systemic costs of research.
The objectives of the RSP are to:
(1) provide flexible funding to support the systemic costs of research by Australian HEPs, including the indirect costs of Australian competitive grant research;
(2) support the delivery of world class research; and
(3) support collaboration between HEPs and industry and other research end‑users.
For the purposes of paragraph 41-30(a) of the Act, the RSP Grant Amounts are determined in accordance with the method set out in paragraph 1.4.5 of these Guidelines.
1.4.5 How Grant Amounts are Determined
Subject to any adjustments that may be made under paragraph 1.4.40, the RSP Grant Amount for a HEP for a Grant Year is the HEP’s RSP Grant Amount calculated in accordance with paragraph 1.4.10, as rounded in accordance with subparagraph 1.4.10(2).
1.4.10 RSP Grant Amounts
(1) Subject to subparagraph (2), a HEP’s RSP Grant Amount for a Grant Year is worked out using the formula:
where:
Competitive Income Share of the HEP for the Grant Year means the amount calculated in accordance with paragraph 1.4.15.
Engagement Income Share of the HEP for the Grant Year means the amount calculated in accordance with paragraph 1.4.15.
Note: A HEP’s RSP Grant Amount for a Grant Year is paid in monthly instalments.
(2) If any HEP’s RSP Grant Amount for a Grant Year under subparagraph (1) is an amount consisting of a number of whole dollars and a number of cents, its RSP Grant Amount is modified as follows:
- the amount allocated to each HEP is rounded down to the nearest whole dollar;
- calculate the difference in cents between the amount determined for a HEP under subparagraph (1) and the amount determined in sub-subparagraph (2)(a) (the HEP’s Remainder);
- calculate the sum of all the HEPs’ Remainders (known as the Unallocated Dollars);
- rank each HEP in descending order based on its Remainder’s closeness to 100 and one dollar is assigned to each HEP in order of ranking until all Unallocated Dollars are exhausted; and
- the HEP’s RSP Grant Amount is equal to the amount determined in sub-subparagraph (2)(a) and any amount assigned to the HEP in sub-subparagraph (2)(d).
1.4.15 Competitive Income Share and Engagement Income Share
(1) For the purposes of this paragraph and paragraph 1.6.5, “New HEP”, for a Grant Year, means either:
- a body corporate that becomes a HEP on 1 January of the Grant Year; or
- a body corporate that became a HEP at any time during the previous Grant Year (other than 1 January of the previous Grant Year).
Example 1: A body corporate becomes a HEP on 1 January 2026. Therefore, it is a New HEP for the 2026 Grant Year.
Example 2: A body corporate becomes a HEP on 1 July 2025. Therefore, it is a New HEP for the 2026 Grant Year.
(2) For the purposes of this paragraph and paragraph 1.6.5, “Merged HEP”, for a Grant Year, means a New HEP that is formed from two or more merging HEPs.
(3) The Competitive Income Share of a HEP for a Grant Year is worked out using the formula:
where:
Competitive Income for the HEP means:
- for a HEP that is not a Merged HEP in the Grant Year and was not a Merged HEP at any point in the previous three Grant Years either:
- the sum of the Competitive Income for the HEP for the second and third calendar year preceding the Grant Year; or
- if no data is available about the HEP’s Competitive Income for either or both of the calendar years specified in subparagraph (i), the sum of the Competitive Income for the HEP for the most recent calendar year preceding the Grant Year for which data is available, and the Competitive Income for the HEP for the second most recent calendar year preceding the Grant Year for which data is available; or
- for a HEP that is a Merged HEP in the Grant Year or was a Merged HEP at any point in the previous three Grant Years, the sum of:
- the combined Competitive Income for the merging HEPs and the Merged HEP for the second calendar year preceding the Grant Year; and
- the combined Competitive Income for the merging HEPs and the Merged HEP for the third calendar year preceding the Grant Year.
Competitive Income for all HEPs means the sum of the Competitive Income for each HEP (excluding any New HEPs that have not satisfied the extra conditions of eligibility in paragraph 1.6.5 for the Grant Year), where the Competitive Income for each HEP is:
- for a HEP that is not a Merged HEP and was not a Merged HEP at any point in the previous three Grant Years, either:
- the sum of the Competitive Income for the HEP for the second and third calendar year preceding the Grant Year; or
- if no data is available about the HEP’s Competitive Income for either or both of the calendar years specified in subparagraph (i), the sum of the Competitive Income for the HEP for the most recent calendar year preceding the Grant Year for which data is available, and the Competitive Income for the HEP for the second most recent calendar year, preceding the Grant Year, for which data is available; or
- for a HEP that is a Merged HEP in the Grant Year or was a Merged HEP at any point in the previous three Grant Years, the sum of the Competitive Income for the merging HEPs and the Merged HEP for the second and third calendar year preceding the Grant Year.
(4) The Engagement Income Share of a HEP for a Grant Year is worked out using the formula:
where:
Engagement Income for the HEP means:
- for a HEP that is not a Merged HEP in the Grant Year and was not a Merged HEP at any point in the previous three Grant Years, either:
- the sum of the Engagement Income for the HEP for the second and third calendar year preceding the Grant Year; or
- if no data is available about the HEP’s Engagement Income for either or both of the calendar years specified in subparagraph (i), the sum of the Engagement Income for the HEP for the most recent calendar year preceding the Grant Year for which data is available, and the Engagement Income for the HEP for the second most recent calendar year preceding the Grant Year for which data is available; or
- for a HEP that is a Merged HEP in the Grant Year or was a Merged HEP at any point in the previous three Grant Years, the sum of:
- the combined Engagement Income for the merging HEPs and the Merged HEP for the second calendar year preceding the Grant Year; and
- the combined Engagement Income for the merging HEPs and the Merged HEP for the third calendar year preceding the Grant Year.
Engagement Income for all HEPs means the sum of the Engagement Income for each HEP (excluding any New HEPs that have not satisfied the extra conditions of eligibility in paragraph 1.6.5 for the Grant Year), where the Engagement Income for each HEP is:
- for a HEP that is not a Merged HEP and was not a Merged HEP at any point in the previous three Grant Years, either:
- the sum of the Engagement Income for the HEP for the second and third calendar year preceding the Grant Year; or
- if no data is available about the HEP’s Engagement Income for either or both of the calendar years specified in subparagraph (i), the sum of the Engagement Income for the HEP for the most recent calendar year preceding the Grant Year for which data is available, and the Engagement Income for the HEP for the second most recent calendar year preceding the Grant Year for which data is available; or
- for a HEP that is a Merged HEP for the Grant Year or was a Merged HEP at any point in the previous three Grant Years, the sum of the Engagement Income for the merging HEPs and the Merged HEP for the second and third calendar year preceding the Grant Year.
1.4.40 Adjustments
(1) If a HEP provides incorrect HERDC data used to calculate the HEP’s RSP Grant Amount for a Grant Year, the HEP must correct the information provided to the department (‘corrected data’), provide supporting evidence that demonstrates the accuracy of the corrected data, and provide information on what caused the HEP to provide incorrect data.
Note: The department may take into account corrected HERDC data and supporting evidence provided by a HEP on or before 1 September in the year the data was first provided to determine RSP Grant Amounts.
(2) If the HEP provides corrected HERDC data and supporting evidence on or before 30 June in the first Grant Year the data is used, the department will only take into account the corrected data to recalculate and adjust RSP Grant Amounts under paragraph 1.4.10, if the RSP Grant Amount calculated for the HEP using the corrected HERDC data is less than the RSP Grant Amount calculated for the HEP using the incorrect HERDC data.
(3) For the avoidance of doubt, if the HEP provides either the corrected HERDC data or supporting evidence after 30 June in the first Grant Year the data is used, the department will not take into account the corrected data to recalculate and readjust RSP Grant Amounts under paragraph 1.4.10.
A RSP grant is made in respect of the relevant Grant Year for the purpose of section 41-40 of the Act.
1.5 Conditions that apply to RSP grants
1.5.5 Specified conditions
(1) A HEP must provide biennially to the department the latest set of information about higher education R&D expenditure that the HEP receives from the ABS.
(2) The information specified in subparagraph 1.5.5(1) must be provided to the department:
- in the form provided to the HEP by the ABS; and
- within 30 days of the ABS providing the information to the HEP.
1.5.10 Other conditions
In addition to the conditions specified in paragraph 1.5.5, the Minister may impose conditions that apply to RSP grants under subsection 41-25(2) of the Act.
- Extra conditions of eligibility to receive RSP grants
1.6.5 Extra conditions of eligibility for New HEPs
(1) If a HEP is a New HEP that is not a Merged HEP for a Grant Year, the HEP is first eligible to receive a RSP Grant in that Grant Year if, by 30 June of the previous calendar year, it reported and certified data through HERDC, about the HEP’s:
- Competitive Income and Engagement Income for the second calendar year preceding that Grant Year; and
- Competitive Income and Engagement Income for the third calendar year preceding that Grant Year.
(2) If a HEP is a New HEP that is not a Merged HEP for a Grant Year and does not meet the extra condition of eligibility in subparagraph 1.6.5(1), the HEP is first eligible to receive a RSP Grant in a subsequent Grant Year if, by 30 June of the previous calendar year, it reported, and certified data through HERDC, about the HEP’s:
- Competitive Income and Engagement Income for the second calendar year preceding that Grant Year; and
- Competitive Income and Engagement Income for the third calendar year preceding that Grant Year.
(3) For the avoidance of doubt:
- the HEP is not eligible to receive a RSP Grant for the Grant Year preceding the Grant Year in relation to which it is a New HEP; and
- the extra conditions of eligibility specified in subparagraph 1.6.5(1) or 1.6.5(2) do not apply to a New HEP that is a Merged HEP.
The purpose of this chapter is to specify:
(1) in accordance with subsection 41‑15(1) of the Act, for the purpose described at item 11(b) of the table in subsection 41‑10(1) of the Act, the HERP; and
(2) under subsection 41‑15(2) of the Act, some other matters relevant to the HERP grants.
The following organisations are eligible to receive grants under the HERP:
(1) Australian and New Zealand Association for the Advancement of Science (ANZAAS);
(2) Australian Council of Learned Academies (ACoLA) (peak body for the Learned Academies);
(3) The Learned Academies:
(aa) Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences (AAHMS);
(a) Australian Academy of the Humanities (AAH);
(b) Australian Academy of Science (AAS);
(c) Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering (ATSE); and
(d) Academy of Social Sciences in Australia Incorporated (ASSA).
The HERP provides grants under the Act to foster an understanding of the importance of, and/or promote research and scholarship in, science, social science or the humanities in Australia.
The objectives for each HERP grant to each of the relevant eligible organisations are:
(1) ANZAAS: To cover the costs of transportation and accommodation for approximately five students from each Australian State and Territory to attend the annual Youth Conference;
(2) ACoLA (peak administrative body for the Learned Academies): To support cooperation between the five Learned Academies, to provide a common point of access to the five Learned Academies for outside organisations and individuals, and promote a unified national vision, helping to enhance interactions between the five Learned Academies without compromising their individual priorities or activities;
(3) Learned Academies:
(a) The AAS, ATSE, AAH, ASSA and AAHMS: To provide secretariat and other administrative support to enable the Academies and their fellows to contribute advice and assistance on issues of national importance, to conduct workshops, forums, symposia and similar events so that the Academies and their fellows can engage on issues of national importance, to manage the development and conduct of policy, education and other programs, and to support relationships with international communities including exchange programs and joint research programs.
Conditions that apply to the HERP grants will be determined in writing by the Minister, or his or her delegate, under subsection 41‑25(b)(i) of the Act.
The HERP grant amounts will be determined in writing by the Minister, or his or her delegate, under subsection 41‑30(b) of the Act. Grants made through the HERP are indexed in accordance with Part 5‑6 of the Act.
CHAPTER 3—AUSTRALIA’S ECONOMIC ACCELERATOR LAUNCH PROGRAM
The Australia’s Economic Accelerator Launch Program (AEA Launch Program) is specified for the purposes of:
(a) supporting research by, and the research capability of, higher education providers; and
(b) encouraging higher education providers to engage with industry.
The objectives of the AEA Launch Program are to:
(a) Support higher education providers to bridge the divide between basic research activities and commercialisation outcomes, through closer engagement with industry partners;
(b) support research activities aligned to national priority areas, undertaken by higher education providers;
(c) boost the research capability of higher education providers to conduct research with high commercialisation potential;
(d) foster a culture of collaboration between universities and industry; and
(e) encourage industry engagement with university research, boosting research capability in areas with the greatest potential for economic impact.
(1) Grants under the AEA Launch Program may only be provided to support projects that align with one of the priority areas as set by the Minister in program guidelines.
(2) Grants under the AEA Launch Program may be provided across two stages:
(a) The first stage will operate as follows—eligible higher education providers seeking a grant at this stage must demonstrate industry engagement with the proposed project, and be able to demonstrate that the project activities are designed to provide:
(i) an experimental proof of concept;
(ii) that the technology will be validated in a laboratory (or equivalent setting); or
(iii) that the technology will be validated in an industrially relevant environment.
(b) The second stage will operate as follows—eligible higher education providers seeking a grant at this stage must provide a project plan that demonstrates a plan, developed in association with an industry partner, in respect of the technology proposed in their project:
(i) that the technology will be validated in an industrially relevant environment;
(ii) that the technology will be demonstrated in an industrially relevant environment; or
(ii) the system prototype will be demonstrated in an operational environment.
Grants under the AEA Launch Program will be:
(a) approved by the Minister in writing;
(b) made in respect of projects; and
(c) subject to conditions imposed on the grant by the Minister in writing under paragraph 41-25(1)(c) of the Act.
CHAPTER 4—NATIONAL INDUSTRY PHD PROGRAM
4.1 Program
The National Industry PhD Program (the Program) is specified for the purposes of supporting the training of research students, and supporting arrangements to increase industry-led study and postgraduate research, under items 8 and 11A of the table in subsection 41-10(1) of the Act.
4.5 Program objectives
The objectives of the Program are to:
- develop talented PhD Candidates into researchers who can work in both industry and academic settings;
- support high calibre industry professionals into industry researchers and leaders, with the potential to work in academic settings;
- contribute to industry-focused innovation and development through university-industry collaboration;
- strengthen collaboration between Australian companies and universities;
- support industry-focused PhD research projects that align with the priority areas as set by the Minister in the program guidelines;
- for the purpose of item 8 of the table in subsection 41-10(1) of the Act, support higher education providers to provide appropriate academic supervision of PhD Candidates to undertake a research project with an industry application; and
- for the purpose of item 11A of the table in subsection 41-10(1) of the Act, support bodies corporate that meet the requirements in subsection 4.10(1) (industry partners) to support employees to undertake PhD projects in partnership with a university.
4.10 Specified bodies corporate and extra conditions of eligibility
Specified bodies corporate
(1) Bodies corporate that meet all of the following criteria are specified for the purposes of item 11A in the table in subsection 41-10(1) of the Act, as an industry partner eligible to receive a grant for the purposes of paragraph 4.5(g):
(a) the body corporate undertakes R&D activities;
(b) the body corporate is partnered with a higher education provider eligible to receive a grant to support a PhD project for the Industry Researcher PhD stream; and
(c) the body corporate employs a PhD Candidate that:
(i) will be eligible for a RTP Fees Offset for the duration of their PhD candidature in the Program;
(ii) has not previously completed a PhD program at the time the PhD Candidate applies to participate in the Program;
(iii) will enrol in the year that they are offered a position in the Program; and
(iv) will be in the first year of their PhD, or if they have already commenced another PhD program, they have received approval from their higher education provider to transfer across to the Program.
Extra conditions of eligibility
(2) Grants under the Program may only be provided to support PhD projects that are:
(a) co-designed by eligible higher education providers and industry (the Industry Linked PhD stream), or
(b) undertaken by industry professionals who are supported by an industry partner to undertake a PhD project in partnership with a university (the Industry Researcher PhD stream).
(3) Grants under the Program may only be provided to:
(a) higher education providers for the purposes of paragraph 4.5(f); or
(b) industry partners for the purposes of paragraph 4.5(g).
(4) Grants under the Program will only be provided to eligible higher education providers that:
(a) for the Industry Researcher PhD stream, are partnered with an industry partner who will receive a grant under the Program;
(b) for the Industry Linked PhD stream:
(i) have entered into an agreement with a business or organisation with an ABN or ACN that undertakes R&D activities, in relation to PhD Candidates associated with that business or organisation’s research project; and
(ii) the agreement in subparagraph (i) provides that the business or organisation will provide a yearly cash contribution; and
(iii) the yearly cash contribution in subparagraph (ii) must be at least $10,000 for four years for each full-time PhD Candidate, and at least $5,000 for up to eight years for each part-time PhD Candidate; and
(c) will enrol PhD candidates for the purposes of the Program that:
(i) will be eligible for a RTP Fees Offset for the duration of their PhD candidature in the Program;
(ii) have not previously completed a PhD program at the time the PhD Candidate applies to participate in the Program;
(iii) will enrol in the year that they are offered a position in the Program;
(iv) will be in the first year of their PhD, or if they have already commenced another PhD program, they have received approval from their higher education provider to transfer across to the Program;
(v) for the Industry Linked PhD stream, the PhD Candidate will be eligible for a stipend equivalent to the amount of the RTP Stipend for the duration of their PhD candidature; and
(vi) for the Industry Researcher PhD stream, the PhD Candidate must be employed by an industry partner and supported to participate in the Program by that employer.
4.15 Method by which the amount of grants under the program are determined
Method for determining the amount of grants to higher education providers
(1) The grant for a participating higher education provider will be made up of:
(a) an administrative component to assist with meeting the higher education provider’s costs in administering the Program (administrative component); and
(b) a student stipend component to meet the higher education provider’s obligation to pay the student an additional amount for the Industry Linked PhD stream under subsection 4.25(1) (student component).
Administrative component
(2) Subject to subsection (3), the administrative component for a participating higher education provider will be:
(a) $10,350 a year for up to four years for each full-time PhD Candidate; and
(b) $5,175 a year for up to eight years for each part-time PhD Candidate.
(3) A participating higher education provider will not be eligible to receive more than $41,400 in administrative component payments for a single PhD Candidate for the duration of their PhD project.
Student component
(4) The student component for a participating higher education provider will be:
(a) $6,210 a year for up to four years for each full-time PhD Candidate in the Industry Linked PhD stream; and
(b) $3,105 a year for up to eight years for each part-time PhD Candidate in the Industry Linked PhD stream.
(5) A participating higher education provider will not be eligible to receive more than $24,840 in student component payments for a single PhD Candidate for the duration of their PhD project.
Method for determining the amount of grants to industry partners
(6) The grant for a participating industry partner will be:
(a) $41,400 a year for up to four years for each full-time PhD Candidate in the Industry Researcher PhD stream; and
(b) $20,700 a year for up to eight years for each part-time PhD Candidate in the Industry Researcher PhD stream.
(7) A participating industry partner will not be eligible to receive more than $165,600 for a single PhD Candidate for the duration of the PhD project.
4.20 Indexation
The amounts listed in section 4.15 are listed for the year 2023 and are to be indexed for subsequent years using the method of indexation set out in Part 5-6 of the Act.
4.25 Conditions that apply to grants
Conditions on grants to higher education providers
(1) Subject to subsection (3), the participating higher education provider must provide the student component of the grant to each PhD Candidate in the Industry Linked PhD stream.
(2) The participating higher education provider must not retain any amount of the student component of the grant.
(3) The participating higher education provider must not provide the student component of the grant to a PhD Candidate if:
(a) the PhD Candidate ceases to meet the requirements set out in paragraph 4.10(4)(c); or
(b) for the Industry Linked PhD stream, the business or organisation with which the higher education provider has an agreement no longer provides a cash contribution consistent with subparagraph 4.10(4)(b)(ii).
(4) If the participating higher education provider becomes aware that a body corporate no longer meets the criteria to be specified is an industry partner under subsection 4.10(1), the participating higher education provider must inform the department.
(5) The participating higher education provider must provide appropriate PhD research supervisors, access to the provider’s facilities and infrastructure, learning and development opportunities and support for the development of research skills to PhD Candidates in the Program to ensure the PhD Candidates are making appropriate progress and to ensure the successful completion of the PhD project.
(6) The participating higher education provider must only use the administrative component of the grant for administrative costs associated with the Program, and must not pass on the administrative component of the grant to the PhD Candidate.
Note: Examples of administrative costs that could be incurred by a participating higher education provider include (but are not limited to) salary costs for administrative support staff, providing a workspace for the PhD Candidate, or travel expenses of the PhD candidate.
Conditions on grants to industry partners
(7) The participating industry partner must agree to support the PhD Candidate for the full duration of the Program to undertake study and work concurrently, and must pay full salary and benefits to the PhD Candidate for the duration of the Program.
(8) The participating industry partner must agree to be responsible for all other relevant expenses incurred by their participation in the Program.
Note: Examples of expenses that could be incurred by a participating industry partner’s participation include (but are not limited to) costs associated with workplace accommodation, equipment or materials for the PhD Candidate.
(9) The participating industry partner must use only use the grant amount to support the provision of higher education to their employed PhD Candidate, including for one of the following purposes:
(a) to support PhD Candidates to complete their PhD project; and
(b) to support the participating industry partner with releasing PhD Candidates and other employees of the industry partner for periods of time for the purposes of assisting PhD Candidates to complete their PhD project.
(10) The participating industry partner must provide supervision for their employed PhD Candidate.
(11) The participating industry partner must provide appropriate access to appropriate facilities and infrastructure to support the PhD Candidate.
Conditions on higher education providers and industry partners in respect of PhD Candidates
(12) Participating higher education providers must ensure that PhD Candidates enrolled in the Industry Linked PhD stream must spend 20 to 50 per cent of the duration of their PhD Candidature undertaking work relevant to their PhD project in the facilities of the business or organisation referred to in paragraph 4.10(4)(b), unless an exception is approved by the department.
(13) Participating industry partners must ensure that PhD Candidates enrolled in the Industry Researcher PhD stream must spend 20 to 50 per cent of the duration of their PhD Candidature embedded in the participating higher education provider’s facilities, unless an exception is approved by the department.
Conditions in respect of the agreement between the higher education provider and the industry partner or relevant business or organisation
(14) The participating higher education provider and participating industry partner must enter into an agreement for each PhD project for the Industry Researcher PhD stream.
(15) The participating higher education provider must enter into an agreement with the relevant business or organisation referred to in paragraph 4.10(4)(b) for each PhD project in the Industry Linked PhD stream.
(16) The agreements referred to in subsections (14) and (15) must provide for how intellectual property rights created as part of the PhD project should be handled, and must allow the PhD Candidate to use and publish such intellectual property in their thesis or relevant publications.
Reporting
(17) The participating higher education provider and industry partner must collect data specified by the department for the purpose of program assurance and give that data to the department annually.
(18) The participating higher education provider and industry partner must, on request, provide a report on performance in the format requested by the department.
Privacy
(19) If the participating higher education provider or industry partner is not an ‘organisation’ for the purposes of the Privacy Act 1988, the participating higher education provider or industry partner must comply with the Australian Privacy Principles as set out in Schedule 1 of the Privacy Act 1988, as if it were an ‘organisation’ for the purposes of the Privacy Act 1988.
CHAPTER 5—AUSTRALIA’S ECONOMIC ACCELERATOR PROGRAM
5.1 Program
The Australia’s Economic Accelerator Program is specified for the purpose of assisting higher education providers to undertake programs of research, in areas of national priority, that progress development of technologies and services to a state of commercial investor readiness, under item 14 of the table in subsection 41-10(1) of the Act.
5.5 Program objectives
The objectives of the Australia’s Economic Accelerator Program are to provide grants that:
(a) support higher education providers to bridge the divide between basic research activities and commercialisation outcomes, through closer engagement with industry partners;
(b) support research activities aligned to national priority areas, undertaken by higher education providers;
(c) boost the research capability of higher education providers to conduct research with high commercialisation potential;
(d) foster a culture of collaboration between universities and industry, including greater job mobility and career development opportunities within both sectors; and
(e) encourage industry engagement with university research, boosting research capability in areas with the greatest potential for economic impact.
5.10 Approval of grants
Grants under the Australia’s Economic Accelerator Program will be:
(a) approved by the Minister in writing;
(b) made in respect of projects; and
(c) subject to conditions imposed on the grant by the Minister in writing under subsection 41-25(2) of the Act.
5.15 Priority managers
For the purposes of paragraph 42-75(1)(a) of the Act, the functions of a priority manager in relation to the Australia’s Economic Accelerator Program are to:
(a) provide advice to the department in relation to the Australia’s Economic Accelerator Program;
(b) provide advice to potential grant recipients on how grant applications may best align with the objectives of the Australia’s Economic Accelerator Program;
(c) assess initial pitches submitted by eligible higher education providers for Ignite Grants and provide advice on whether the project that is the subject of the pitch satisfies the eligibility criteria set out in the Act and these Guidelines and any other selection criteria notified by the department;
(d) make recommendations to the department on the merits of eligible Ignite Grant applications that are submitted for consideration for grants under Part 1 of this Chapter;
(e) assess initial expressions of interest submitted by providers for Innovate Grants, and provide advice on whether these expressions of interest satisfy the eligibility criteria set out in the Act and these Guidelines and any other selection criteria notified by the department;
(f) short-list eligible Innovate Grant applications that are submitted for grants under Part 2 of this Chapter, and provide the shortlist to the AEA Advisory Board for its consideration, prior to the Board making recommendations to the Minister or the department;
(g) drive a commercialisation culture and increased capability, knowledge and awareness of research commercialisation, including by encouraging success of projects through coaching and support to grant recipients, building connections across projects, and promoting the Australia’s Economic Accelerator Program and other Commonwealth Government commercialisation initiatives;
(h) provide strategic leadership, advice and mentoring to research and industry stakeholders and create partnerships to benefit the Australia’s Economic Accelerator Program; and
(i) assist the department in the management of funded projects as required.
5.20 AEA Advisory Board
For the purposes of paragraph 42-15(d) of the Act, the AEA Advisory Board also has the function of making recommendations to the Minister or the department on eligible Innovate Grant applications.
PART 1—IGNITE GRANTS
5.25 Purpose of Ignite Grants
Grants may be made to providers under the Australia’s Economic Accelerator Program for the purposes described in paragraph 5.5, and specifically, for the purposes of assisting providers with demonstrating the commercial feasibility of a project by undertaking testing in an industrially relevant environment that simulates the intended commercial use of the technology (Ignite Grants).
5.30 Specified bodies corporate and extra conditions of eligibility
Specified bodies corporate
(1) For the purposes of item 14 in the table in subsection 41-10(1) of the Act, bodies corporate that are in the ‘University College’ provider category listed in the Higher Education Standards Framework (Threshold Standards) 2021, are eligible to receive Ignite Grants under the Australia’s Economic Accelerator program.
Extra conditions of eligibility
(2) It is an extra condition of eligibility that grant recipients receiving an Ignite Grant:
(a) nominate an individual engaged by the grant recipient (Lead Entrepreneur) that must commit to work on the project for a minimum of 0.5 FTE over the grant period; and
(b) demonstrate that, at least one participating organisation has committed a cash or in-kind contribution to the project; and
(c) demonstrate how their proposed project aligns with one of the following national priority areas:
(i) value-add in the resources sector;
(ii) value-add in the agriculture, forestry and fisheries sectors;
(iii) transport;
(iv) medical science;
(v) renewables and low emissions technology;
(vi) defence capability; or
(vii) enabling capabilities such as data science, artificial intelligence and robotics;
(viii) a national priority set out in the annual investment plan prepared by the AEA Advisory Board in accordance with section 42-5 of the Act for the relevant year; and
(d) demonstrate that, at the time the grant is made, all actual or perceived conflicts of interest, pecuniary or otherwise, both within and outside Australia, that exist in relation to the conduct of the proposed project have been disclosed to the department, and the grant recipient has demonstrated that they have taken steps required by the department to resolve or address the conflict.
5.35 Conditions that apply to Ignite Grants
Conflicts of interest
(1) The grant recipient must make reasonable enquiries to ensure that no actual or perceived conflicts of interest, pecuniary or otherwise, both within and outside Australia, other than those disclosed to the department consistent with sub-subparagraph 5.30(2)(d), exist in relation to the conduct of the project funded by the Ignite Grant.
(2) If any actual or perceived conflict of interest, pecuniary or otherwise, both within and outside Australia, arises during the project, the grant recipient must immediately make full disclosure of the conflict to the department, and take any steps that the department requires to resolve or address the conflict.
Privacy
(3) If the grant recipient is not an ‘agency’ for the purposes of the Privacy Act 1988, the grant recipient must comply with the Privacy Act 1988 and the Australian Privacy Principles as set out in Schedule 1 of the Privacy Act 1988, as if it were an ‘agency’ for the purposes of the Privacy Act 1988.
(4) If the grant recipient enters into a contract in relation to the performance of the project funded by the Ignite Grant, the grant recipient must ensure that any contractor is contractually bound to comply with the Australian Privacy Principles in Schedule 1 of the Privacy Act 1988.
Acknowledgment
(5) The grant recipient must acknowledge the contribution made by the Commonwealth to the project funded by the Ignite Grant in all related promotional material, including by ensuring:
(a) the acknowledgment is prominently recorded and commensurate with that given to state or local government, corporate or other sponsors;
(b) any formal statement issued in relation to any aspect of the project, including speeches, media releases, and brochures, should make reference to the Commonwealth contribution as well as the Australia’s Economic Accelerator Program;
(c) any signs or plaques erected in association with the project must acknowledge the Commonwealth assistance; and
(d) where an official opening or launch is proposed for the project, the Minister is to be invited to attend or to send a representative.
Liaison and monitoring
(6) The grant recipient must:
(a) liaise with and provide information about the project funded by the Ignite Grant to the department or Priority Managers on request; and
(b) comply with all reasonable requests, directions or monitoring requirements received from the department.
Indemnity
(7) The grant recipient must indemnify the Commonwealth against any loss or liability incurred by the Commonwealth, loss of or damage to Commonwealth property, or loss or expense incurred by the Commonwealth in dealing with any claim against the Commonwealth arising from:
(a) any act or omission by the grant recipient or the grant recipient’s employees, agents or subcontractors in relation to the project funded by the Ignite Grant; or
(b) any breach of the grant recipient or any of the grant recipient’s employees, agents or subcontractors of these conditions or conditions imposed on the grant by the Minister in writing under subsection 41-25(2) of the Act; or
(c) any use or disclosure by the grant recipient, or its officers, employees, agents or subcontractors of personal information held or controlled in connection with the project funded by the Ignite Grant; or
(d) the use by the Commonwealth of the information provided to the Commonwealth by the grant recipient in reports provided as part of the grant recipient’s participation in the Australia’s Economic Accelerator Program.
Intellectual property
(8) The grant recipient must provide the department with details of their proposed intellectual property arrangements, including providing details on the use of intellectual property in the project and the ownership of intellectual property created by the project.
(9) The grant recipient must warrant their ownership of and access to, or the beneficial use of, any intellectual property necessary to carry out the project.
(10) The grant recipient must offer to use the HERC IP Framework when entering into agreements with third parties for activities related to the project funded by the Ignite Grant, and indicate to such third parties the grant recipient’s preference to use the HERC IP Framework.
PART 2—INNOVATE GRANTS
5.40 Purpose of Innovate Grants
Grants may be made to providers under the Australia’s Economic Accelerator Program for the purposes described in paragraph 5.5, and specifically, for the purposes of assisting providers with developing and testing prototypes in an operational environment (Innovate Grants).
5.45 Specified bodies corporate and extra conditions of eligibility
Specified bodies corporate
(1) For the purposes of item 14 in the table in subsection 41-10(1) of the Act, bodies corporate that are in the ‘University College’ provider category listed in the Higher Education Standards Framework (Threshold Standards) 2021, are eligible to receive Innovate Grants under the Australia’s Economic Accelerator program.
Extra conditions of eligibility
(2) It is an extra condition of eligibility that grant recipients receiving an Innovate Grant:
(a) nominate an individual engaged by the grant recipient (Lead Entrepreneur) to work on the project over the grant period;
(b) be partnered with at least one organisation that is an Australian body corporate;
(c) demonstrate that, at the time the grant is made, at least one participating organisation has committed cash or in-kind contributions to the project equivalent to the grant amount made to the grant recipient;
(d) demonstrate how their proposed project aligns with the following national priority areas:
(i) value-add in the resources sector;
(ii) value-add in the agriculture, forestry and fisheries sectors;
(iii) transport;
(iv) medical science;
(v) renewables and low emissions technology;
(vi) defence capability; or
(vii) enabling capabilities such as data science, artificial intelligence and robotics;
(viii) a national priority set out in the annual investment plan prepared by the AEA Advisory Board in accordance with section 42-5 of the Act for the relevant year; and
(e) demonstrate that, at the time the grant is made, all actual or perceived conflicts of interest, pecuniary or otherwise, both within and outside Australia, that exist in relation to the conduct of the proposed project have been disclosed to the department, and the grant recipient has demonstrated that they have taken steps required by the department to resolve or address the conflict.
5.50 Conditions that apply to Innovate Grants
Conflicts of interest
(1) The grant recipient must make reasonable enquiries to ensure that no actual or perceived conflicts of interest, pecuniary or otherwise, both within and outside Australia, other than those disclosed to the department consistent with sub-subparagraph 5.45(2)(d), exist in relation to the conduct of the project funded by the Innovate Grant.
(2) If any actual or perceived conflict of interest, pecuniary or otherwise, both within and outside Australia, arises during the project, the grant recipient must immediately make full disclosure of the conflict to the department, and take any steps that the department requires to resolve or address the conflict.
Privacy
(3) If the grant recipient is not an ‘agency’ for the purposes of the Privacy Act 1988, the grant recipient must comply with the Privacy Act 1988 and the Australian Privacy Principles as set out in Schedule 1 of the Privacy Act 1988, as if it were an ‘agency’ for the purposes of the Privacy Act 1988.
(4) If the grant recipient enters into a contract in relation to the performance of the project funded by the Innovate Grant, the grant recipient must ensure that any contractor is contractually bound to comply with the Australian Privacy Principles in Schedule 1 of the Privacy Act 1988.
Acknowledgment
(5) The grant recipient must acknowledge the contribution made by the Commonwealth to the project funded by the Innovate Grant in all related promotional material, including by ensuring:
(a) the acknowledgment is prominently recorded and commensurate with that given to state or local government, corporate or other sponsors;
(b) any formal statement issued in relation to any aspect of the project, including speeches, media releases, and brochures, should make reference to the Commonwealth contribution as well as the Australia’s Economic Accelerator Program;
(c) any signs or plaques erected in association with the project must acknowledge the Commonwealth assistance; and
(d) where an official opening or launch is proposed for the project, the Minister is to be invited to attend or to send a representative.
Liaison and monitoring
(6) The grant recipient must:
(a) liaise with and provide information about the project funded by the Innovate Grant to the department or Priority Managers on request; and
(b) comply with all reasonable requests, directions or monitoring requirements received from the department.
Indemnity
(7) The grant recipient must indemnify the Commonwealth against any loss or liability incurred by the Commonwealth, loss of or damage to Commonwealth property, or loss or expense incurred by the Commonwealth in dealing with any claim against the Commonwealth arising from:
(a) any act or omission by the grant recipient or the grant recipient’s employees, agents or subcontractors in relation to the project funded by the Innovate Grant; or
(b) any breach of the grant recipient or any of the grant recipient’s employees, agents or subcontractors of these conditions or conditions imposed on the grant by the Minister in writing under subsection 41-25(2) of the Act; or
(c) any use or disclosure by the grant recipient, or its officers, employees, agents or subcontractors of personal information held or controlled in connection with the project funded by the Innovate Grant; or
(d) the use by the Commonwealth of the information provided to the Commonwealth by the grant recipient in reports provided as part of the grant recipient’s participation in the Australia’s Economic Accelerator Program.
Intellectual property
(8) The grant recipient must provide the department with details of their proposed intellectual property arrangements, including providing details on the use of intellectual property in the project and the ownership of intellectual property created by the project.
(9) The grant recipient must warrant their ownership of and access to, or the beneficial use of, any intellectual property necessary to carry out the project.
(10) The grant recipient must offer to use the HERC IP Framework when entering into agreements with third parties for activities related to the project funded by the Innovate Grant, and indicate to such third parties the grant recipient’s preference to use the HERC IP Framework.
