The ARC and NHMRC offers support to any administering organisations and their researchers directly affected by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, including:
Extensions to submit grant applications
ARC
As a result of the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, the ARC has extended the application closing date for the following schemes:
- Linkage Projects 2020 Assessment Round 1—22 April 2020
- Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment and Facilities (LIEF) 2021—29 April 2020
- Special Research Initiative (SRI) for Australian Society, History and Culture—6 May 2020
Announcement: Continued support for the research sector
NHMRC
Similarly, the NHMRC has released the following revised plan for their 2020 grants schemes in response to the effects of the COVID-19 outbreak:
- Ideas Grant Scheme - deadline extended by 5 weeks, with a new closing date of 10 June 2020.
- Clinical Trials and Cohort Studies Scheme (CTCS) – delayed; new closing date of 25 November 2020.
- Synergy Grant Scheme – cancelled for 2020.
- Investigator Grants 2020 - outcomes from the 2020 Investigator Grant round will be available soon.
Announcement: Changes to NHMRC 2020 Funding Schemes
Extensions to post-award reporting obligations and variations to research projects
ARC
In relation to ARC post-award reporting obligations, Research Office Directors can seek extensions to deadlines where the Administering Organisation or their researchers have been directly affected by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Research Office Directors may also seek ARC assistance with post-award project variation approvals where research projects and researchers have been directly affected by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. ARC Grant Agreements allow for post-award variations to research projects due to changes in circumstances, including scope changes, personnel changes, suspensions and extensions to end dates. The ARC will consider any variation requests on a case-by-case basis. Should you need to vary your research, to either seek an extension or change its scope, we can do that later in the year once the full extent of the impact is known.
To assist both researchers and research administrators with managing reporting obligations, the ARC will be extending the following deadlines:
- End of Year Reports – deadline extended from 31 March 2020 to 31 May 2020
- Annual/Progress Reporting (for applicable projects) – deadline extended from 31 March 2020 to 31 May 2020
- Final Reports – initial three-month extensions will be automatically approved by the ARC on request. Noting that submission dates for final reports vary project by project and that extensions may impact researchers’ eligibility for future applications, it is not practical to provide a blanket extension.
NHMRC
The NHMRC is also being asked to consider extending current grants and providing extra funding to cover the extension. In making such a decision, there are several factors to be considered, including how the provision of extra funding would affect the availability of research funds for future funding rounds, as well as impacts to investigator eligibility limits. The NHMRC is considering all available options and will update the sector once a decision has been made.
Further information