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Linkage Learned Academies Special Projects
Selection Report
for Funding commencing in 2012
Overview
The objective of the Linkage Learned Academies Special Projects (LASP) funding scheme is to support the development of Australian research and provide the Learned Academies with the flexibility to achieve that objective. Research programs must encompass research that advances Australian research itself and/or addresses substantive research topics.
In 2012, the LASP funding scheme incorporated a request from the Prime Minister’s Science, Engineering and Innovation Council (PMSEIC), requiring the Learned Academies to complement and inform the PMSEIC in their role by undertaking in-depth, interdisciplinary research on a range of topics with the aim of ‘Securing Australia’s Future’.
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Selection Process
The ARC prepared funding recommendations for consideration by the Acting ARC Chief Executive Officer (CEO). The recommendations were based on advice from the Selection Advisory Committee which:
- assessed the proposals;
- ranked each proposal relative to the others; and
- assessed and recommended budgets.
This report reflects the recommendations of the Acting ARC CEO to the Minister.
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Selection Criteria
Assessment of proposals for LASP was based on the following criteria:
- the contribution to the development of Australian research;
- collaborative approaches to research and research training;
- research and research training in the research themes outlined in the Funding Rules;
- the merit of the Proposal in relation to its:
- goals and potential outcomes;
- conceptual framework, design, methods and analyses;
- budget justification and value for money; and
- the extent to which the Proposal may be expected to have results of broad benefit for research and scholarship in the natural and applied sciences, technological development and applied technology, the social sciences and/or the humanities; and
- the potential for the research to contribute to issues of national significance.
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Summary of Outcomes
LASP projects may be awarded funding for up to three years subject to parliamentary appropriation and the provisions of the Australian Research Council Act 2001 (the ARC Act). The closing date for LASP proposals was 15 May 2012. A total of six proposals were submitted to the ARC by the closing date, seeking a combined total of $10 million in funding. All proposals are recommended for funding, representing a total commitment of $10 million in the financial year 2011–12 for six programs over three years.
Table 1: Number of proposals and percentage funded, by administering organisation
Administering Organisation |
Proposals considered |
Proposals recommended |
Funding requested (all proposals) ($) |
Funding recommended over program life (recommended proposals) ($) |
Recommended funding as a percentage of requested funding (%) |
Australian Council of Learned Academies |
6 |
6 |
10,000,000 |
10,000,000 |
100 |
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Research Themes
Under the LASP scheme each research program is required to encompass research that advances Australian research itself and to address substantive topics based around broad research themes. The themes for research programs in 2012 are concerned with, or include:
- The advancement of Australian research. The broad themes under which research Proposals are to fall are:
- National and international collaboration in research;
- Discipline research development;
- Professional development for early and mid-career researchers;
- Science, humanities, social science and technical and engineering research policy;
- Multidisciplinary, interdisciplinary or cross-disciplinary research;
- Other areas, as approved in advance of the closing date by the ARC; and/or
- Research programs that are to do with substantive topics, namely:
- Climate change/water/sustainability;
- Energy;
- Security and safety;
- Knowledge acquisition and transfer and social inclusion;
- Industry development;
- Indigenous research;
- Australia and the Asia-Pacific region;
- Health, nutrition and disease;
- Other areas, as approved in advance by the ARC.
All proposals submitted by the Australian Council of Learned Academies were identified as meeting one or more of the above themes and substantive topics.
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26/06/12
