The Australian Research Landscape RMIT University 18 January 2016 Presented by Professor Marian Simms ARC Executive Director

Outline Current Funding Landscape NCGP update ARC Assessment Processes

2015–16 Federal Budget—$429 billion

2015–16 Federal Budget—R&D $9.7 billion

Web: arc.gov.au I Commonwealth Investment in R&D 2015–16 (%)

Web: arc.gov.au I Selected research agencies 2003–2016 funding ($m) Source: Science, Research and Innovation Budget Tables 2015–16

Focusing Government Investment Research Priorities The Australian Government has developed a set of Science and Research Priorities, they are: - soil and water - transport - cybersecurity - energy - resources - advanced manufacturing - environmental change - health More information at

ARC NCGP % funding by institution 2008–2015

Web: arc.gov.au I ARC NCGP funding—Victorian Universities

ITRP Linkages All rounds Higher Education Government Industry/Other Source data: Australian Research Council

Linkage Projects Linkages 2011–2015 Higher Education Government Industry/business Non-profit/other Source data: Australian Research Council

Collaborations through Linkage Projects (2011–2015) Victoria

Linkage Projects Linkages—RMIT University

Histogram of ranking for DP 2012–2016

Histogram of Ranking for DECRA 2012—2016

DECRA mean value of normalised rankings selected 4-digit FoR codes

DP mean value of normalised rankings— selected 4-digit FoR codes

Web: arc.gov.au I NCGP Assessment processes

Web: arc.gov.au I Overall All grants that are successful should provide exciting new outcomes and be excellent investments Decisions will align with scheme objectives Not all excellent proposals can get funding; most applicants will be disappointed

Web: arc.gov.au I Number of Panels

Web: arc.gov.au I Insights into grants process (1) Consider where to apply for funding; choose a scheme Pay attention to eligibility and ARC cross scheme limits The scheme objectives and the selection criteria—address every one of them Choosing Field of Research Codes—assisting the ARC choose the right assessors Record—career interruption—the ROPE provision The scale of assessment – The external assessor—1–2 proposals – The ARC panel member—10–50 – ARC Panel meeting—150–900 The rejoinder

Web: arc.gov.au I Insights into grants process (2) Understand the research field and international context. Develop your ideas to solve a research problem Network with leaders in the field—consider the research environment when applying Apply by yourself or as a team member Career interruptions—making a case for ROPE Seek mentors on writing good grant applications Your first grant application – Write for your peers—write so that someone broadly in your field will understand your project – Write for the public—write a plain English statement Don’t over-inflate authorship claims but don’t undersell yourself either

Web: arc.gov.au I Low ranked proposals (1) Use too much technical jargon Make grandiose and implausible claims about outcomes Do not support claims of excellence or progress with evidence Relate to research areas without momentum Are weakly linked into national and international research networks; unable to demonstrate quality

Web: arc.gov.au I Low ranked proposals (2) Emphasise the collection of data rather than the solution of controversies Set a negative or depressive tone about the state of the subject in Australia Contain a high rate of spelling and grammatical errors Are badly structured and difficult to follow

Web: arc.gov.au I Responding to an assessment/the rejoinder Read the assessments then wait at least a day before starting the rejoinder Approach it constructively The rejoinder is to help College of Experts to seek applicant’s responses on criticisms made by peers Do not get angry at the assessor—you are wasting valuable space instead of addressing important concerns

Web: arc.gov.au I Considering Research Impact Research Impact means the demonstrable contribution that research makes to the economy, society, culture, national security, public policy or services, health, the environment, or quality of life, beyond contributions to academia It is included in objectives and selection criteria The ARC is seeking better communication about research outcomes

Web: arc.gov.au I Tips for new players! 1 ROPE: success is important. The ARC is looking for the best people to conduct research and capacity building in the future Collaborations, linkages, networks: the whole must be greater than the sum of the parts Objectives of the scheme: think carefully about the objectives and how you address them Research programme: well thought out and developed— workshopping with relevant parties

Thank you