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26 October 2009
$325.5 M for 925 fundamental research projects
The Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research, Senator Kim Carr today announced funding of $325.5 million for 925 fundamental research projects under the Australian Research Council’s Discovery Projects scheme.
“The Rudd Government is committed to supporting research that creates and supports a strong national innovation system,” Senator Carr said.
“This $325.5 million investment in fundamental research and international collaboration will ensure Australia achieves its goal of a world-class national innovation system.
“The funding is being awarded through the Discovery Projects scheme, which supports high-quality fundamental research that builds Australia’s knowledge, research capacity and international competitiveness.
“These 925 fundamental research projects will not only address Australia’s priority areas–environmental sustainability, health, technology and safety—they will see 1351 instances of international collaboration with researchers in 73 countries.
“This level of collaboration is an increase from previous years and has been achieved through the Australian Research Council’s commitment to facilitate greater international collaboration by lifting restrictions on the use of ARC funds for overseas partner investigators.
“The research that will result will produce significant national benefits such as:
- an in-depth understanding of the consequences of parents giving children alcohol and when, where and how this can be done to minimise harm;
- analysis of policies on the future of farming, resilient rural communities and an environmentally sustainable Australia; and
- the creation of a non-venomous honey bee.
A summary of the Discovery Projects scheme funding outcomes is attached.
More information about the scheme and funding outcomes is available at www.arc.gov.au/ncgp/dp/dp_outcomes.htm.
| Media contacts: | ||
Catriona Jackson |
Senator Carr’s office |
0417 142 238 |
Summary of Discovery Projects 2010 funding
- Total ARC funding for Discovery Projects in this round is $325,575,289.
- Total number of successful projects is 925.
- 609 projects foreshadowed 1351 instances of international collaboration with researchers in 73 countries. The majority of collaborations will take place with the United States (339 projects).
- 19.9 per cent of the funding awarded is for projects where one or more of the participants is an Early-Career Researcher (five years or less from completion of their PhD).
- 21.3 per cent of participants in funded projects are women.
- 203 Fellowships are being awarded, representing an ARC salary and salary-related on-costs support commitment for new fellows of over $16.6 million for the calendar year 2010.
Funding by ARC discipline panel
Approved funds over project life |
Success rate |
|
|---|---|---|
| Biological Sciences and Biotechnology | $65,992,655 | 22.0% |
| Engineering and Environmental Sciences | $44,675,929 | 23.2% |
| Humanities and Creative Arts | $45,195,999 | 24.9% |
| Mathematics, Information and Communication Sciences | $49,543,418 | 21.6% |
| Physics, Chemistry and Earth Sciences | $65,360,560 | 22.8% |
| Social, Behavioural and Economic Sciences | $54,806,728 | 22.5% |
Projects in the ARC discipline panel Biological Sciences and Biotechnology will receive the highest funding at $65,992,655.
Projects in National Research Priority areas
Approved funds over project life |
Number of projects |
|
|---|---|---|
| An Environmentally Sustainable Australia | $57,712,364 | 159 |
| Promoting and Maintaining Good Health | $57,151,078 | 173 |
| Frontier Technologies for Building and Transforming Australian Industries | $142,206,702 | 363 |
| Safeguarding Australia | $43,355,832 | 139 |
| Total National Research Priority | $300,425,976 | 834 |
90.2 per cent of successful Discovery Projects proposals are considered by the applicants to lie in the National Research Priority areas.
State/Territory outcomes
Success rate |
Funding |
|
|---|---|---|
| New South Wales | 34.4% | $110,540,762 |
| Victoria | 27.0% | $85,326,465 |
| Queensland | 15.0% | $50,184,248 |
| Australian Capital Territory | 10.3% | $36,412,490 |
| Western Australia | 6.4% | $21,651,367 |
| South Australia | 5.3% | $17,258,493 |
| Tasmania | 1.4% | $3,172,464 |
| Northern Territory | 0.2% | $1,029,000 |
