Australian Research Council (ARC) Linkage Projects Grants

1. What are Linkage Projects Grants?

Linkage Projects supports research and development projects which are collaborative between higher education researchers and other parts of the national innovation system, which are undertaken to acquire new knowledge, and which involve risk or innovation. Proposals must contain a contribution from a collaborating organisation.

2. Who is eligible to be a Partner Organisation?

To be an eligible collaborating organisation, an organisation must be:

A private sector industry organisation
A private non-profit organisation, or
A government agency

Examples of UOW Partner Organisations: BHP Steel Ltd; MIAB Technology P/L; Shoalhaven City Council & Manildra Group Nowra; So Natural Foods; Mono Pumps (Australia) P/L; Illawarra Retirement Trust; Defence Legal Service; NSW Agriculture; Forensic Services Group, NSW Police; Meyrick & Associates P/L; NSW National Parks & Wildlife Service; and Australian Development & Relief Agency.

Details of successful LP projects available:

For UOW
For all ARC Linkage Projects

3. What Support Can I Apply For?

The ARC provides support for the following project costs under LP:

Personnel

Australian Postgraduate Awards Industry (APAI) for research students studying towards Masters or PhD Award.
Australian Postdoctoral Fellowships Industry (APDI) for researchers with <3 years' postdoctoral experience.
Linkage Industry Fellowships—support for short-terms transfers for Chief Investigators (CIs) or some Partner Investigators (PIs) between higher education institutions and Industry.
Research Associates, technicians, laboratory attendants, etc.
Teaching relief for CIs.

Equipment, Maintenance, and Travel

4. How much do Partner Organisations need to Contribute?

Proposals must contain a cash and in-kind contribution from a collaborating organisation.

For APAI(s) only
For projects involving an APAI student, the partner organisation must contribute a minimum of 20% cash and 20% in kind of the total amount sought from the ARC for each year the APAI is requested.
For Projects
For projects not involving an APAI, the combined partner organisation contributions, in cash or in kind must at least match the total amount sought from the ARC on a dollar-for-dollar basis. Where a project is seeking less than $500K per year from the ARC, the combined minimum contribution in cash should be at least 20% of the total amount sought from the ARC.
Where a project is seeking more than $500K in any year from the ARC, the combined minimum contribution in cash should be at least 50% of the total amount sought from the ARC.

Organisations such as community groups, small businesses, charities, and start-up commercial organisations that can demonstrate they do not have ready access to cash reserves, may seek exemption for the minimum cash requirement. A written request must be lodged 6 weeks before the application closing date.