Industry Fellowships Program (IFP) Grant Guidelines (2024 edition)

Early Career Industry Fellowships

Mid-Career Industry Fellowships

Industry Laureate Fellowships

Australian Research Council Act 2001

I, Jason Clare, Minister for Education, having satisfied myself of the matters set out in section 58 of the Australian Research Council Act 2001, approve these grant guidelines under section 59 of that Act.

Dated

29 July 2024

Jason Clare

Minister for Education

Contents

1 Linkage Program: Industry Fellowships Program processes...............4

2 About the Linkage Program........................................5

3 Grant amount and period..........................................6

4 Eligibility criteria................................................7

5 What the grant money can be used for................................8

What grant funds can be used for.....................................8

What grant funds cannot be used for...................................9

6 How to apply...................................................10

Application process..............................................10

Timing of the grant opportunities.....................................10

7 The grant selection process.......................................10

Eligibility and assessment..........................................10

National Interest Test Statement.....................................10

Who will approve grants?..........................................11

Requests not to assess process.....................................11

Rejoinder process...............................................11

8 Successful grant applications.....................................11

Advice and Announcement.........................................11

Grant Agreements...............................................12

Responsibilities.................................................12

Specific research policies and practices................................13

Monitoring and Reporting..........................................14

9 Probity.......................................................14

Appeals process................................................14

Conflicts of interest...............................................14

Privacy and protection of personal information...........................15

Confidential information...........................................15

Freedom of information............................................15

Part A Early Career Industry Fellowships...............................16

Part B Mid-Career Industry Fellowships................................18

Part C Industry Laureate Fellowships..................................20

Appendix A: Glossary...............................................22

Appendix B: Eligible Organisations....................................26

1         Linkage Program: Industry Fellowships Program processes

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We notify You of the outcome.
We advise You if Your application was successful or not through RMS.

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2         About the Linkage Program

2.                    

2.1.         The Linkage Program is one of two Programs under the ARC National Competitive Grants Program (NCGP). Information about the Linkage Program is on the ARC website.

About the Industry Fellowships Program grant opportunity

2.2.         The Industry Fellowships Program (IFP) is funded under the Linkage Program.

2.3.         The IFP objectives are to support:

1. outstanding academic researchers with demonstrated capacity for high-quality research and capability in research collaboration, to develop industry-focused or industry-based careers;
2. outstanding industry-based researchers with demonstrated capacity for high-quality research and capability in research collaboration, and with distinctive industry knowledge and skills, to work in university settings; and
3. increased two-way mobility and skill-development to drive research collaboration, translation and commercialisation outcomes across a range of industry settings, including private sector, not-for-profits, community groups, and/or government and government agencies.

2.4.         There are three levels in the IFP. All levels seek to:

• increase the pipeline of researchers in Australia with capabilities in industry-focused and/or industry-based research collaboration, translation and commercialisation;
• open up and maintain a diversity of two-way career pathways traversing university and industry settings;
• increase strategic engagement and alignment between universities and industry;
• contribute to the solving of industry-identified challenges and opportunities; and
• create commercial, economic, environmental, social and/or cultural benefits for Australia through enhanced translation and/or commercialisation, including the development of start-up companies.

2.5.         Specific aims at each of the levels are:

2.6.         The grant commencement date and active project date for each grant opportunity under the Industry Fellowships Program will be available on the ARC website.

3         Grant amount and period

3.                    

3.1.         We may provide funding for salary and project costs as detailed in Table 1. Further details are provided in the scheme specific parts (Parts A to C) of these grant guidelines.

3.2.         We provide salary, salary-related (on-cost) support and project funding as detailed below. Salary and/or project contributions will not be awarded separately.

Table 1: Industry Fellowships Program funding and grant duration.

These figures are based on 2024 funding levels and may be subject to variation (for example, due to annual indexation). Updated levels will be listed on the ‘Salaries and Stipends’ page of the ARC website.

4         Eligibility criteria

4.                    

4.1.         We will only accept applications from Eligible Organisations as identified in Appendix B. An Eligible Organisation that applies will be the ‘Administering Organisation’ (henceforth, ‘You’).

What are the eligibility requirements for applications?

4.2.         Applications must:

1. include one IFP candidate; and
2. include one Key Industry Partner.

4.3.         An IFP candidate can only be named on only one IFP application (at any level) in a program round.

4.4.         You must ensure that any additional certification requirements, applied by the ARC as a result of findings of breaches of the Australian Code for the Responsible Conduct of Research (2018), are provided at the grant opportunity closing date for any named participant on an application.

4.5.         Your application must not include medical research as detailed in the ARC Medical Research Policy (2020 version) on the ARC website.

Who is eligible to be a fellowship candidate?

4.6.         The IFP candidate must satisfy eligibility criteria for the role they are to perform (including criteria outlined in this section as well as scheme-specific criteria in Part A, Part B or Part C).

4.7.         An ARC Fellow or Award recipient cannot concurrently hold more than one ARC Fellowship or Award.  

4.8.         The IFP candidate must not undertake a HDR during the project activity period.

4.9.         The IFP candidate must have met their obligations on previously funded ARC projects, including submission of satisfactory final reports, before the commencement date of their IFP.

Who is eligible to be a Key Industry Partner or Other Industry Partner?

4.10.      The Key Industry Partner must be one of the following:

1. an organisation with an Australian Company Number (ACN);
2. an Australian government entity (Commonwealth, State/Territory or Local); or
3. an Australian not-for-profit/charity registered on the Australian Government’s Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission Charity Register.

4.11.      Other Industry Partners are Australian or international organisations that provide Industry Fellows with additional or complementary support, facilities and/or networking opportunities.

4.12.      To be eligible as the Key Industry Partner or an Other Industry Partner, an organisation cannot be:

1. included on the National Redress Scheme’s website on the list of ‘Institutions that have not joined or signified their intent to join the Scheme’ (www.nationalredress.gov.au);
2. an Eligible Organisation;
3. a controlled entity of any Eligible Organisation; or
4. an entity (for example a joint venture) where more than 50 per cent is owned by one or more Eligible Organisations.

4.13.      An IFP candidate currently employed by an Eligible Organisation must not simultaneously be an owner or Director, or hold any other paid position, within the Key Industry Partner or Other Industry Partner.

4.14.      Key Industry Partner and Other Industry Partner cash contributions cannot be sourced from funds awarded or appropriated by the Commonwealth or an Australian State or Territory or Local Government for the purposes of research, nor funds used to leverage any other government research or research infrastructure funding.

What are the limits on the number of applications and projects per named participant?

4.15.      These limits only apply to candidates and are designed to ensure that named participants have the capacity to undertake each project. 

4.16.      A named participant can be concurrently funded through the Linkage Program for a maximum of: 

1. four projects as a Chief Investigator (CI); or 

b.      one ARC Fellowship and three Linkage Projects, ITRP and ARC Centres of Excellence projects as a CI; or 

c.       one ARC Fellowship and two Linkage Projects, ITRP and ARC Centres of Excellence projects as a CI if the individual is also a Director on an active ARC Centre of Excellence and/or a Special Research Initiative project. 

4.17.      Applications to the Industry Fellowship Program do not need to meet the project limit requirements at the grant opportunity closing date. If an Industry Fellowship Program application is successful, named participants must meet the project limits under section 4.16 before the project can start. Project limits can be met by relinquishing existing active project(s), or relinquishing role(s) on existing active projects, or withdrawing application(s) that would exceed the project limits. This may not need to occur until all applications are announced. 

4.18.      It is Your responsibility to determine if applying for, or holding, a project under these grant guidelines will affect an individual researcher’s eligibility for other ARC grant opportunities as other ARC grant opportunities may have different project limits. We reserve the right to change project and application limits in future grant opportunities. 

5         What the grant money can be used for

What grant funds can be used for

5.                    

5.1.         The Linkage Program supports research activities that meet the definition of ‘research’ in the Glossary.

5.2.         You can only spend the grant on eligible expenditure items that directly support the project and in accordance with any additional special conditions in the grant agreement.

5.3.         Eligible expenditure items may include:

1. salary support for other personnel, for example, research associates and assistants, technicians and laboratory attendants must be at an appropriate salary level and include the relevant on-costs as specified at the employing organisation;

b.              stipends for HDR students, at an appropriate level for the Administering Organisation;

c.              equipment (and its maintenance) and consumables, including specialised computer equipment and software essential to the project;

d.              travel costs essential to the project.

What grant funds cannot be used for

5.4          You cannot request or use grant funds for:

1. bench fees or similar laboratory access fees;
2. access to a basic library collection;
3. access to film or music editing facilities;
4. work accommodation (for example, laboratory and office space, suitably equipped and furnished);
5. basic computer facilities such as desktop computers, portable computer devices, printers, word processing, and other standard software; and
6. standard reference materials or funds for abstracting services;

6         How to apply

6.                    

Application process

6.1.         Instructions To Applicants will be issued on the opening of the grant opportunity and applicants must follow the processes described in those Instructions, including regarding attachments to the application.

6.2.         Your application must be completed in RMS. We will not accept late applications, other than in exceptional circumstances (such as due to natural disasters) in which case We will discuss this with You, and if We agree, invite You to make a late application.

6.3.         You cannot change Your application after the closing date and time, unless invited to by the ARC.

6.4.         We reserve the right to seek evidence to support the certification of applications at any point.

6.5.         Questions during the application period should be directed to the Administering Organisation’s Research Office. Answers to Frequently Asked Questions will be posted on GrantConnect.

6.6.         If You wish to withdraw Your application, You must inform Us in writing.

Timing of the grant opportunities

6.7.         Schemes under these guidelines typically accept one round of applications each year.

6.8.         You must submit Your application between the round opening and closing dates and times specified on GrantConnect.

7         The grant selection process

Eligibility and assessment

7.1.         All applications will be considered through a competitive peer process, based on:

1. how well it meets the weighted assessment criteria;

b.      how it is ranked against other applications; and

c.       whether it provides value for money (as defined in the Glossary).

7.2.         Applications will undergo peer review assessment and recommendations will be made to the ARC Accountable Authority from a Selection Advisory Committee, which will include Industry Assessors.

7.3.         In Our absolute discretion, We may recommend an application not be approved if we consider it (a) incomplete, (b) inaccurate or contains false or misleading information, or (c) is otherwise in breach of the Australian Code for the Responsible Conduct of Research.

7.4.         We may seek advice on security or other matters from Commonwealth agencies at any time during the process. We may seek information from You about activities and protections in line with that advice.

7.5.         During the assessment, We may request additional information, which does not change the nature of Your application.

National Interest Test Statement

7.6.         Applicants must provide a National Interest Test statement: a brief response that articulates the benefits of the proposed research in plain English in general terms beyond the period of the grant.

Who will approve grants?

7.7.         The ARC Accountable Authority will decide which grants to fund, after considering the advice from peer review, and alignment with Australian Government priorities. The ARC Accountable Authority’s decision is final in all matters.

7.8.         The outcome of all applications will be published in RMS.

7.9.         The Minister may at any time decide that, for reasons relevant to the security, defence or international relations of Australia, the ARC Accountable Authority should not approve a grant. The ARC Accountable Authority must comply with the Minister’s decision.

Requests not to assess process

7.10.      You may name up to three persons whom You do not wish to assess an application by submitting a ‘Request Not to Assess’ form in RMS as detailed on GrantConnect and on the ARC website. This form must be received by Us two weeks prior to the grant opportunity closing date.

7.11.      Only one request containing the names of up to three individual assessors may be submitted per application.

7.12.      If a request includes the name of a current ARC College of Experts member, as listed on the ARC website or in RMS at the time of submitting the ‘Request Not to Assess’ form, the request must be accompanied by comprehensive evidence justifying the request for the ARC College of Experts member or members named. If We consider the evidence is not sufficient for the named ARC College of Experts member or members, We will reject part, or all of the request.

7.13.      We have discretion about whether We accept or refuse a ‘Request Not to Assess’. We will not notify You of the outcome.

Rejoinder process

7.14.      You will be given the opportunity to respond to assessors’ written comments through a rejoinder. Names of assessors will not be provided. Further information on the rejoinder process is available on the ARC website.

8         Successful grant applications

Advice and Announcement

8.                    

8.1.         If your grant application is successful, We:

1. will give You a copy of the ARC’s Accountable Authority’s approval no more that 21 days after the ARC’s Accountable Authority’s decision;
2. may give you earlier notice of the ARC Accountable Authority’s approval and may impose a short embargo on announcements in order to enable parties to co-ordinate announcements; and
3. will list Your grant on GrantConnect no more than 21 calendar days after the day of effect.

8.2.         We will publicise offers and grants awarded, which may include the following information:

1. Your name and any other parties involved in or associated with the project;

b.      Industry Fellows and their organisations;

c.       the project description (the title and summary description);

d.      Your National Interest Test statement;

e.       classifications and international collaboration country names; and

f.        the ARC grant funding amount.

8.3.         You should ensure information contained in the project title, summary descriptions and National Interest Test statement will not compromise Your requirements for confidentiality (such as protection of Intellectual Property).

8.4.         We may publish a project description, including title and summary, which differs from that provided in the application.

Grant Agreements

8.5.         You must enter into a grant agreement with Us to receive a grant.

8.6.         We use the ARC Linkage Program IFP grant agreement which contains standard terms and conditions that cannot be changed. A sample grant agreement is available on GrantConnect. Any special conditions will be identified in the grant offer.

8.7.         You will have 30 calendar days from the date of offer to execute the grant agreement.

8.8.         We must execute a grant agreement with You before We can make payment. We are not responsible for any of Your project expenditure until a grant agreement is executed. You must not start any activities until all third-party agreements are executed.

How We pay the grant

8.9.         Payments will be made as set out in the grant agreement. Grant funding will typically be paid monthly through Our payment system to You.

8.10.      The grant offer will specify the approved grant amount. We will not pay more than the approved grant amount under any circumstances. If you incur extra costs, You must meet them.

8.11.       Grant funding may be subject to indexation.

8.12.      All amounts referred to in these grant guidelines are exclusive of the Goods and Services Tax (GST), unless expressly stated otherwise.

8.13.      Any grant awarded will be subject to sufficient funds being available for the project, the provisions of the ARC Act and the continued satisfactory progress of the project.

Grant Agreement Variation

8.14.      The grant agreement outlines the circumstances in which Variations must be submitted. Variations are subject to ARC approval and further information can be found in the Grant Agreement.

Responsibilities

Fellow responsibilities

8.15.      The Fellow must:

1. take responsibility for the authorship and intellectual content of the application, appropriately citing sources and acknowledging all significant contributions, including from third parties;

b.      obtain a legal right to work and reside in Australia, prior to the commencement of the project if the candidate is not an Australian citizen;

c.       reside for more than 50% of the project activity period in Australia;

d.      work a minimum 80% (0.8 FTE) of their time on research activities related to the Fellowship or Award, including time spent in the Key Industry Partner setting;

e.       not spend more than 20% (0.2 FTE) of their time on activities not related to the Fellowships or Award, such as teaching. The Fellowship or Award will not be extended to cover periods of teaching;

f.        meet relinquishment requirements as specified in the grant agreement; and

g.       meet the additional requirements in the relevant sections of these guidelines (Part A-C).

Your (Administering Organisation) responsibilities

8.16.      You must ensure the Industry Fellow is supported to spend time working in the Key Industry Partner setting and Administering Organisation. You must provide appropriate facilities for project-related activities, and have arrangements in place with the Key Industry Partner to ensure the Fellow’s access to their facilities.

8.17.      The salary component of a grant is a contribution to assist You employing the Industry Fellow to conduct research. An Industry Fellow’s total salary must be agreed between You and the Industry Fellow, and may include top-ups provided by funds other than ARC funds.

8.18.      You must ensure the Industry Fellow has access to the following leave entitlements in line with Your normal practice:

1. parental leave;
2. recreation leave;
3. sick leave; and
4. additional leave of up to twelve months using accrued leave or leave without pay.

8.19.      You must meet the additional requirements in the relevant sections of these guidelines (Part A-C).

Key Industry Partner responsibilities

8.20.      The Key Industry Partner will be required to certify their commitment to the successful completion of the project, including any financial contributions they will make and that they have appropriate governance arrangements in place.

8.21.      The Key Industry Partner must ensure the Industry Fellow is supported to spend time working in an industry setting as well as in the Administering Organisation. The Key Industry Partner must provide appropriate facilities for project-related activities.

Specific research policies and practices

8.22.      All applications and ARC-funded research projects must comply with the requirements for responsible and ethical research practice specified in the Australian Code for the Responsible Conduct of Research (2018) and the codes, guidelines, practices and policies on the ARC website, including the ARC Conflict of Interest and Confidentiality Policy (2024) and any actions that have been applied under the ARC Research Integrity Policy (2023 version).

8.23.      An ethics plan must be in place before commencement of the Fellowship.

8.24.      Intellectual Property arrangements should be negotiated between You, the Key Industry Partner and Other Industry Partners. Key Industry Partners or Other Industry Partners may have access to Intellectual Property arising from the project. We do not claim ownership of any IP arising from the project.

8.25.      All research projects must comply with the ARC Open Access Policy (2021 version) on the dissemination of findings on the ARC website.

8.26.      A data management plan must be in place before the project commences, in line with the grant agreement, and ARC expectations on the ARC website.

8.27.      All Industry Fellow candidates applying for grants are strongly encouraged to have a persistent digital identifier such as Open Researcher and Contributor Identifier (ORCID) in their RMS Profile.

Monitoring and Reporting

8.28.      You must inform us of any changes to Your:

1. name;

b.      addresses;

c.       nominated contact details; or

d.      bank account details.

8.29.      You must submit reports in line with the grant agreement. Reports must be submitted through RMS, unless otherwise advised by Us. Reporting includes:

1. End of year reports;

b.      Final reports; and

c.       Post-project reporting.

8.30.      We will monitor progress by assessing Your reports and may conduct site visits or request records to confirm details of Your reports if necessary. We may re-examine claims, seek further information or request an independent audit of claims and payments.

8.31.      We may evaluate the project to measure how well the outcomes and objectives were achieved. We may use information from Your application and reports or may contact You after grant completion to assist evaluation.

9         Probity

9.                    

9.1.         The Australian Government will make sure that the grant opportunity process is fair, according to the published guidelines, incorporates appropriate safeguards against fraud, unlawful activities and other inappropriate conduct and is consistent with the CGRGs and the ARC Act.

Appeals process

9.2.         We will only consider appeals against the NCGP administrative process and not against committee decisions, assessor ratings and comments, or the assessment outcome. Appellants must identify the specific guideline/legislative instrument clause, policy or procedure which they believe has been incorrectly applied.

9.3.         You must submit an appeal using the Form on the ARC website and have it authorised by the Administering Organisation’s Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) or equivalent.

9.4.         The appeals process is set out on the ARC website.

Conflicts of interest

9.5.         You will be asked to certify as part of Your application that any perceived, potential or existing conflicts of interests have been declared to You or that, to the best of Your knowledge, there is no conflict of interest in Your application. Each named individual or organisation must make this declaration about any aspect of the application or project to You at the date of submission.

9.6.         If a conflict of interest exists or arises, You must have documented processes in place to manage that conflict of interest for the duration of the project. Processes must comply with the Australian Code for the Responsible Conduct of Research (2018), the ARC Conflict of Interest and Confidentiality Policy (2024) and any relevant documents.

9.7.         We will handle any conflicts of interest as set out in Australian Government policies and procedures. Refer to the ARC Conflict of Interest and Confidentiality Policy (2024) on the ARC website.

Privacy and protection of personal information

9.8.         We treat Your personal information according to the Australian Privacy Principles and the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth).

9.9.         You are required, as part of Your application, to certify Your compliance with the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth), including the Australian Privacy Principles and impose the same privacy obligations on any subcontractors You engage to assist with the activity. You must ask for the Australian Government’s consent in writing before disclosing confidential information.

9.10.      Information about privacy and personal information is set out on the ARC website.

Confidential information

9.11.      The Australian Government may use and disclose confidential information about grant applicants and grant recipients under the NCGP in any other Australian Government business or function.

9.12.      We will treat the information You give Us as confidential if it meets one of the four conditions below:

1. You clearly identify the information as confidential and explain why We should treat it as confidential;

b.      the information is commercial in confidence;

c.       revealing the information would cause unreasonable harm to You or someone else; or

d.      You provide the information with an understanding that it will stay confidential.

Freedom of information

9.13.      All documents in the possession of the Australian Government, including those about this program, are subject to the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (Cth) (FOI Act).

9.14.      The Freedom of Information process is set out on the ARC website.

Part A       Early Career Industry Fellowships

A1.1       The requirements for the Early Career Industry Fellowship scheme set out here must be read with the IFP requirements in Sections 1–9 of these grant guidelines.

Grant Eligibility criteria

A1.2       An individual must not be nominated for more than one Early Career Industry Fellowship in a grant opportunity.

A1.3       A previous recipient of an Early Career Industry Fellowship is not eligible to apply for another Early Career Industry Fellowship but may apply for a Mid-Career Industry Fellowship or Industry Laureate Fellowship.

A1.4       An individual who has been nominated for an Early Career Industry Fellowship on two previous occasions, over the period in which the candidate is eligible, is not eligible to apply for another Early Career Industry Fellowship. This includes applications that were withdrawn after the grant opportunity closing date and applications that We deemed ineligible.

A1.5       To be eligible, the candidate must, as at the grant opportunity closing date:

1. have an award of PhD dated on, or after, the grant opportunity eligibility dates listed on the ARC website; or

b.      have an award of PhD date together with an allowable period of career interruption that would be commensurate with an award of PhD date on or after the grant opportunity eligibility dates listed on the ARC website. More information on allowable career interruptions, and the period allowed for each, is available in the Instructions to Applicants and the ‘Eligibility and Career Interruptions Statement' on the ARC website.

A1.6       If the candidate has more than one PhD, the earliest awarded PhD must fall within this timeframe.

A1.7       Where the candidate holds a higher research degree that is not a PhD, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) or equivalent must certify that the qualification meets the level 10 criteria of the Australian Qualifications Framework Second Edition.

A1.8       Where the candidate holds a professional equivalent to a PhD which is relied upon as the relevant qualification, this must be certified by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) or equivalent.

Assessment criteria

A1.9       Your application must address all assessment criteria. We will assess Your application based on the weighting given to each criterion. The assessment criteria for the Early Career Industry Fellowship grant opportunity are:

1. Investigator/Capability 35%

• Research Opportunity and Performance Evidence (ROPE), including a demonstrated track-record of high-quality research outputs appropriate to the discipline/s;
• Demonstrated capability to undertake research projects in collaboration with industry and/or other research end-user groups; and
• Alignment of the candidate’s skills and experience to the project.

b.         Project Quality and Innovation 35%

• Contribution of the project to address an important gap in knowledge or significant problem identified by the Key Industry Partner;
• Novelty and innovation of the project in the context of previous research in the area;
• Cohesiveness and clarity of the project design and implementation plan (including the appropriateness of the aim(s), conceptual framework, method, data and/or analyses); and
• The clear presence of the Key Industry Partner in the design, method and delivery of the research.

If the project involves Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander research, additional criteria include:

• The project’s level of collaboration, engagement, relationship building and benefit sharing with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples, and First Nations Organisations and Communities;
• The project’s strategy and mechanisms for Indigenous research capacity building within the project;
• The project’s adherence to the Australian Indigenous Data Sovereignty Principles (2018); and
• The project’s understanding of, and proposed strategies to adhere to, the AIATSIS Code of Ethics for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Research (2020) and NHMRC’s guidelines on Ethical conduct in research with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and communities (2018).

c.         Feasibility and Strategic Alignment 15%

• Strength of engagement between the candidate and the Key Industry Partner, including previous projects (where applicable), and interactions to date on the proposed project;
• The extent to which all parties demonstrate a commitment to the success of the project, and to developing and expanding a collaborative relationship, including the necessary facilities, resources and development opportunities that the organisations will provide for the candidate; and
• The feasibility of the research in terms of the project’s design, participants, requested duration, required resources/facilities, risk management, and cost-effectiveness of the budget.

d.         Benefit 15%

• Delivery of actionable outcomes for the industry partner(s) and other research end-users;
• New or advanced knowledge expected to result from the project;
• Appropriateness, completeness and effectiveness of proposed pathways for short-, medium- or long-term adoption, translation, and/or commercialisation of the project outcomes, including IP management, by the industry partner(s) beyond the Fellowship completion;
• Demonstration of the mutual benefit to the candidate and the Key Industry Partner including potential to lead to longer-term collaboration; and
• The potential for economic, commercial, environmental, cultural and/or social benefit for Australia.

Successful grant applications

A1.10   The Early Career Industry Fellowship may be undertaken full-time or part‑time subject to Your employment conditions and provided it does not exceed 6 years (excluding any approved suspensions).

A1.11   You must employ the Early Career Industry Fellow at a minimum of academic level A (or equivalent) for the entire project activity period.

Part B       Mid-Career Industry Fellowships

B1.1       The requirements for the Mid-Career Industry Fellowship scheme set out here must be read with the IFP requirements in Sections 1–9.

Grant Eligibility criteria

B1.2       An individual must not be nominated for more than one Mid-Career Industry Fellowship application in a grant opportunity.

B1.3       A previous recipient of a Mid-Career Industry Fellowship is not eligible to apply for another Mid-Career Industry Fellowship or an Early Career Industry Fellowship, but may apply for an Industry Laureate Fellowship.

B1.4       An individual who has been nominated for a Mid-Career Industry Fellowships on three previous occasions, over the period in which the candidate is eligible, is not eligible to apply for another Mid-Career Industry Fellowships. This includes applications that were withdrawn after the grant opportunity closing date and applications that We deemed ineligible.

B1.5       To be eligible, the candidate must, as at the grant opportunity closing date:

1. have an award of PhD date on, or after, the grant opportunity eligibility dates listed on the ARC website; or

b.      have an award of PhD date together with an allowable period of career interruption that would be commensurate with an award of PhD date on or after the grant opportunity eligibility dates listed on the ARC website. More information on allowable career interruptions, and the period allowed for each, is available in the Instructions to Applicants and the ‘Eligibility and Career Interruptions Statement' on the ARC website.

B1.6       If the candidate has more than one PhD, the earliest awarded PhD must fall within this timeframe.

B1.7       Where the candidate holds a higher research degree that is not a PhD, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) or equivalent must certify that the qualification meets the level 10 criteria of the Australian Qualifications Framework Second Edition.

B1.8       Where the candidate holds a professional equivalent to a PhD which is relied upon as the relevant qualification, this must be certified by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) or equivalent.

Assessment criteria

B1.9       Your application must address all assessment criteria. We will assess your application based on the weighting given to each criterion. The assessment criteria for the Mid-Career Industry Fellowship grant opportunity are:

1. Investigator/Capability 50%

• Research Opportunity and Performance Evidence (ROPE), including a demonstrated track-record of excellent research outputs appropriate to the discipline/s
• Demonstrated capability to lead research projects in collaboration with industry; and
• Demonstrated capability to effectively supervise and mentor HDR students and ECRs in industry and/or university settings.

b.         Project Quality and Innovation 20%

• Contribution of the project to address an important gap in knowledge or significant problem identified by the Key Industry Partner;
• Novelty and innovation of the project in the context of recent international research in the area;
• Cohesiveness and clarity of the project design and implementation plan (including the appropriateness of the aim(s), conceptual framework, method, data and/or analyses); and
• The clear presence of the Key Industry Partner in the design, method and delivery of the research.

If the project involves Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander research, additional criteria include:

• The project’s level of collaboration, engagement, relationship building and benefit sharing with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples, and First Nations Organisations and Communities;
• The project’s strategy and mechanisms for Indigenous research capacity building within the project;
• The project’s adherence to the Australian Indigenous Data Sovereignty Principles (2018); and
• The project’s understanding of, and proposed strategies to adhere to, the AIATSIS Code of Ethics for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Research (2020) and NHMRC’s guidelines on Ethical conduct in research with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and communities (2018).

c.         Feasibility and Strategic Alignment 15%

• Strength of engagement between the candidate and the Key Industry Partner, including previous projects (where applicable), and interactions to date on the proposed project;
• The extent to which all parties demonstrate a commitment to the success of the project, and to developing and expanding a collaborative relationship, including the necessary facilities, resources and development opportunities that the organisations will provide for the candidate; and
• The feasibility of the research in terms of the project’s design, participants, requested duration, required resources/facilities, risk management, and cost-effectiveness of the budget.

d.         Benefit 15%

• Delivery of significant, actionable outcomes for the industry partner(s) and research end-users;
• Significant new or advanced knowledge expected to result from the project;
• Appropriateness, completeness and effectiveness of proposed pathways for short-, medium- or long-term adoption, translation, and/or commercialisation of the project outcomes, including IP management, by the industry partner(s) beyond the Fellowship completion;
• Demonstration of the mutual benefit to the candidate and the Key Industry Partner including potential to lead to longer-term collaboration; and
• The potential for significant commercial, economic, environmental, cultural and/or social benefit for Australia.

Successful grant applications

B1.10    The Mid-Career Industry Fellowship may be undertaken full-time or part-time subject to Your employment conditions and provided that it does not exceed 8 years (excluding any approved periods of suspension).

B1.11    You must employ the Mid-Career Industry Fellow at a minimum of Academic Level C (or equivalent) for the project activity period.

Part C       Industry Laureate Fellowships

C1.1       The requirements for the Industry Laureate Fellowships scheme set out here must be read with the general IFP requirements in Sections 1–9.

Grant Eligibility criteria

C1.2       An individual must not be nominated for more than one Industry Laureate Fellowship application in a grant opportunity.

C1.3       Your Industry Laureate Fellowship application must:

1. nominate an Industry Laureate Fellowship candidate;

b.      request funding for a minimum of two PDRAs and two PGRs; and

c.       nominate a Key Industry Partner.

C1.4       A previous recipient of an Industry Laureate Fellowship is not eligible to apply for another grant under the Industry Fellowship Program.

Assessment criteria

C1.5       Your application must address all the assessment criteria. We will assess your application based on the weighting given to each criterion. The assessment criteria for the Industry Laureate Fellowship grant opportunity are:

1. Investigator/Capability 40%

• Research Opportunity and Performance Evidence (ROPE), including a track-record of outstanding research outputs and achievements appropriate to the discipline/s;
• Evidence of the candidate’s capacity to lead a high-quality program of ground-breaking, internationally competitive industry-focused or industry-based research undertaken by a diverse research team with world-class research translation and/or commercialisation capabilities in collaboration with industry and/or other research end-user groups;
• Demonstrated ability to develop research collaboration, translation and/or commercialisation skills in HDR students, ECRs and/or industry staff through supervision and mentoring; and
• The candidate's potential to create an enduring legacy through acting as a senior academic- or industry-based end user ambassador.

b.         Project Quality and Innovation 25%

• Contribution of the project to address an important gap in knowledge or significant problem identified by the Key Industry Partner;
• Innovation and significance of the proposed program of research in the context of recent international research in the area, and its potential to transform current bodies of knowledge and practices for the Key Industry Partner and research end-users;
• Cohesiveness and clarity of the design and implementation plan for the program of research (including the appropriateness of the aim(s), conceptual framework, method, data and/or analyses); and
• Clear involvement of the Key Industry Partner in the design, method and delivery of the research, and relationship to previous collaborative projects between the candidate and the Key Industry Partner.

If the project involves Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander research, additional criteria include:

• The project’s level of collaboration, engagement, relationship building and benefit sharing with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples, and First Nations Organisations and Communities;
• The project’s strategy and mechanisms for Indigenous research capacity building within the project;
• The project’s adherence to the Australian Indigenous Data Sovereignty Principles (2018); and
• The project’s understanding of, and proposed strategies to adhere to, the AIATSIS Code of Ethics for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Research (2020) and NHMRC’s guidelines on Ethical conduct in research with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and communities (2018).

c.         Benefit 10%

• Strength of engagement between the candidate and the Key Industry Partner, including previous projects (where applicable), and interactions to date on the proposed project;
• The extent to which all parties demonstrate a commitment to the success of the project, and to developing and expanding a collaborative relationship, including the necessary facilities, resources and development opportunities that the organisations will provide for the candidate;
• The feasibility of the research in terms of the project’s design, participants, requested duration, required resources/facilities, risk management, and appropriateness of the budget; and
• The cost-effectiveness of the research and its value for money.

d.         Mentoring and Capacity Building 25%

• Extent to which the candidate demonstrates exceptional leadership and organisational skills to ensure successful completion of the program of research;
• Extent to which the candidate will provide exceptional leadership for supervision and mentoring of HDR students and ECRs, to enable their development of industry-focused and industry-based collaboration, translation and/or commercialisation skills, and careers;
• The extent to which the program of research will build new teams and create world-class research capacity, collaboration and innovation across the relevant industry setting(s);
• The extent to which all parties demonstrate a commitment to establish enduring Australian and international research collaborations or links between academia and industry; and
• Evidence of the candidates’ potential to attract sustained financial resources to continue and expand the capacity of the program of research, including beyond completion of the Fellowship.

Successful grant applications

C1.6       The Industry Laureate Fellowship may be undertaken on either a full-time, or a part‑time basis subject to Your organisation’s employment conditions and provided that the Industry Laureate Fellowship does not exceed 8 years from the project start date (excluding any approved periods of suspension).

C1.7       You must employ the Industry Laureate Fellow at a minimum of academic level E (or equivalent) for the project activity period.

Appendix A: Glossary

Acronyms

Definitions

Appendix B: Eligible Organisations