“Early-stage research is particularly important for economic growth and productivity. The benefits of basic research often last for long periods,” the ARC states in its report on reforming the National Competitive Grants Program, released Wednesday, with supportive Ministerial mentions. Jason Clare announces the new scheme’s start in March.
“While applied research can offer practical solutions enhancing industrial productivity and social innovation, the key is to ensure world-class research can be harnessed across the spectrum,” the ARC states.
Except that “experimental development” is excluded and the new category of Prioritise schemes will “support large-scale projects addressing a priority of national or global significance, identified through a whole-of-government process.” These grants will be approved by the Minister for Education, not the ARC board.
And then there is Ambitious Australia (the research and development strategy formerly known as SERD). The ARC states its new grant model is flexible on a “strategic approach” to supporting the research sector and will “be responsive.”
“The new NCGP will fund a higher number of projects through fewer, simpler schemes. Our goal is to allow more excellent researchers to devote their time to pursuing a wider variety of ideas – not to burdensome administration,” the Review report said.
What’s in
Eight new grant schemes, (some of which look rather like existing ones).
- Initiate (15 per cent of grant allocations, awarded annually) a maximum five years for ECRS , including help to build adaptable skill sets “aligned with the needs of an evolving society, economy, businesses and the research sector”
- Indigenous Excellence (5 per cent, annually): for Indigenous early and mid-career researchers
- Lead and Mentor (5 per cent, annually): for mid-career and senior researchers to, “create an enduring legacy through investigator-led research projects”
- Explore (5 per cent, annually): “projects with the potential to be highly transformative, whether by creating fundamental knowledge or driving economic, commercial, environmental, social and/or cultural benefits”
- Breakthrough (40 per cent, annually): “the centrepiece of the new National Competitive Grants Programme” to “demonstrably advance knowledge with academic, economic, commercial, environmental, social and/or cultural benefits”
- Collaborate (18 per cent, bi-annually): “early-stage research” involving research institutions and industry, with a sub-programme to fund infrastructure, equipment and facilities
- Prioritise: ( 8 per cent, bi-annually): awarded to, “advance knowledge with academic, economic, commercial, environmental, social and/or cultural benefits for Australia.” By far the richest scheme with $4m-$6m over seven tears,
What’s not
- Seven (un-named) schemes now in the National Competitive Grants Programme
- research full-funding, “not feasible within the ARC’s current resource environment”
- ending MCR and senior research fellowships, to “support project participation for up to 20 per cent more researchers.”
- Research infrastructure funding will go, when “a long-term solution is developed”
Reaction
Early lobby responses were positive. Science and Technology Australia said the ARC reflects many sector priorities.
The Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering called the new model an “important step towards a more effective system to power national discovery and industrial advancement.”
The Council of Australian Postgraduate Associations liked the plan way more than an earlier version, ‘the new program levels the playing field by ring-fencing early-career fellowships, funding them properly, and setting aside a stream for the newest researchers.”
TEQSA Chief Commissioner Kerri-Lee Krause is also supportive, welcoming the report at her personal LinkedIn page.
The Australian Academy of Science was positive overall but warned the new model is a “sensible and measured response to scarcity, but “scarcity should not become Australia's long-term research strategy.”
The Academy of the Humanities was also upset about the end of salaried fellowships for mid-career and senior researchers, because the NCGP “is the cornerstone of humanities research funding.”