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Linkage International
Social Sciences Collaboration (SSC)
Selection Report for funding commencing in 2008

Overview
Objectives
Selection Process
Selection Criteria
Funding Levels and Duration
National Research Priorities
Summary of Selection Outcomes
Funding Assistance
International Collaboration
Selection Outcomes by Administering Organisation
Scheme Budget by Financial Year
Scheme Budget by Calendar Year

Overview

Linkage International comprises three elements:

  • Awards: to build links among researchers, research teams or research centres of excellence in Australia and overseas by funding extended collaborations;
  • ARC International Fellowships (ARCIFs), comprising:
    • ARCIFs to fund overseas researchers to work in Australia;
    • ARCIFs to fund Australian researchers to work in overseas institutions; and
  • Internationally Coordinated Initiatives: collaborative initiatives between the ARC and overseas funding agencies to fund collaborative research proposals in targeted areas of research as defined for each specific initiative.

Objectives

Linkage International aims to:

  • build collaborations among researchers, research teams and/or research centres of excellence in Australia and overseas;
  • generate opportunities for researchers to participate in leading-edge international research networks and strengthen their international research experience;
  • build Australian research capability by enhancing existing and developing new collaborations among researchers;
  • develop innovative modes of international collaboration; and
  • foster participation in global innovation networks.

Selection process

The closing date for Linkage International Social Sciences Collaboration proposals was 1 June 2007.  Assessment of proposals was undertaken by a Selection Advisory Committee (SAC) comprising members of the ARC’s College of Experts. The Linkage International SAC:

  • ranked each proposal relative to the others on the basis of the proposal, the assessors' reports and Applicants' responses to those assessments;
  • assessed each proposal and recommended budgets; and
  • prepared funding recommendations.

Prior to finalising recommendations the ARC consulted with the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) in the UK regarding the relative merit of counterpart proposals.

Selection Criteria

Assessment of proposals was based on the following criteria and weightings:

  • the parties who are to be involved in and associated with the project (including track record relative to opportunities; capacity to undertake the proposed collaborative research; and commitments to other research programs and duties); 40%
  • the aims and approach (including capacity to stimulate enhanced collaboration and create networks linking social sciences researchers in Australia and the UK; the conceptual framework, design, methods and analyses of the proposal; and the value for money and budget justification); 25%
  • significance and innovation of the collaborative research and anticipated outcomes; 25% and
  • national benefit 10%

Funding Levels and Duration

Proposals may be awarded funding for up to five years subject to parliamentary appropriation.  All proposals submitted in the 2007 round requested between one and four years of funding, with 97.6% of proposals submitted requesting two or three years of funding.

National Research Priorities

Of the 42 proposals, 37 (88.1%) were identified by their proponents as addressing a National Research Priority.  All of the seven proposals approved for funding identified research within a priority area.

Research Priority 1: An Environmentally Sustainable Australia
Research Priority 2: Promoting and Maintaining Good Health
Research Priority 3: Frontier Technologies for Building and Transforming Australian Industries
Research Priority 4: Safeguarding Australia

National Research Priorities identified in proposals submitted and proposals approved for funding are shown in Table 1. The greatest amount of approved funding ($466,786) is for proposals in the area of Promoting and Maintaining Good Health.

Table 1: Numbers of proposals and success rates by National Research Priority

Priority area
Proposals considered
Proposals approved
Success rate %
Approved funding $
An Environmentally Sustainable Australia
3
0
0.0%
$0
Promoting and Maintaining Good Health
20
5
25.0%
$466,786
Frontier Technologies for Building and Transforming Australian Industries
5
0
0.0%
$0
Safeguarding Australia
9
2
22.2%
$202,172
None selected
5
0
0.0%
$0
Total
42
7
16.7%
$668,958

Summary of Selection Outcomes

The Minister approved all of the proposals recommended by the ARC for funding. Of the 42 proposals considered, seven were recommended, and subsequently approved, for funding.  The remaining 35 proposals are not approved for funding.  On the basis of these approvals, the overall success rate is 16.7%. 

The aim of the SSC initiative is to fund proposals within the social sciences and related disciplines.  It is therefore not surprising that the SSC proposals submitted in 2007 fell mainly within the discipline of Social and Behavioural Sciences (34 of 42).  The remaining eight proposals were within the Humanities and Creative Arts discipline group.

Total requested funding over the financial years 2007-08 to 2010-11 for the 42 proposals was $7,587,517. Total approved funding is $668,958 or 56.1% of the total funding requested in approved proposals, as shown in Table 2.

Table 2: Amounts requested and approved funding by discipline group

Discipline Group*
Total requested over project life (all proposals) $
Total requested over project life (approved proposals) $
Indicative funding over project life (approved proposals) $
Indicative funding as % of funding requested (approved proposals)
HCA
$1,528,734
$0
$0
0%
SBE
$6,058,783
$1,192,087
$668,958
56.1%
Total
$7,587,517
$1,192,087
$668,958
56.1%

*HCA = Humanities and Creative Arts; SBE = Social, Behavioural and Economic Sciences

The success rate of 16.7% for proposals for funding commencing in 2008 (16.7%) would be slightly higher than the overall success rate for proposals submitted in 2006 (16.0%).

Funding Assistance

The average funding per approved proposal would be $95,565, as shown in Table 3.

Table 3: Approved funding

Number of proposals approved
Total amount requested for approved proposals
Approved funding over project life
Average approved funding per approved proposal
7
$1,192,087
2007-08 = $137,474*
2008-09 = $274,479
2009-10 = $197,006*
2010-11 = $60,000
Total = $668,958
$95,565

*Funding allocations rounded up to the nearest whole dollar

International Collaboration

Participants on Linkage International proposals are asked to indicate which countries will be involved in the proposed collaborations.  There were 50 instances of international collaboration reported within the 42 proposals considered.  The ARC and ESRC called for proposals to stimulate collaborations between Australia-based and UK researchers and all 42 proposals reported international collaboration with the UK.

Selection Outcomes by Administering Organisation

The number of proposals considered and approved, and funding requested and approved, by administering organisation, is shown in Table 4.

Table 4: Proposals by administering organisation: total requested and approved funding over project life

Administering Organisation
Funding requested (all proposals) $
Approved funding over project life (approved proposals) $
Proposals considered
Proposals approved
Success rate %
Curtin University of Technology
100,645
0
1
0
0.0
Deakin University
243,034
0
1
0
0.0
Griffith University
735,049
72,541
4
1
25.0
Monash University
837,274
0
4
0
0.0
Queensland University of Technology
173,498
0
1
0
0.0
RMIT University
53,000
0
1
0
0.0
Swinburne University
469,282
0
3
0
0.0
The Australian National University
1,425,120
208,077
8
2
25.0
The University of Adelaide
212,724
0
1
0
0.0
The University of Melbourne
248,778
0
1
0
0.0
The University of New South Wales
413,125
175,000
3
2
66.7
The University of Queensland
909,094
72,129
5
1
20.0
The University of Sydney
492,032
0
2
0
0.0
University of South Australia
499,140
0
3
0
0.0
University of Technology, Sydney
145,333
0
1
0
0.0
University of Western Sydney
380,389
0
2
0
0.0
University of Wollongong
250,000
141,211
1
1
100.0
TOTAL
7,587,517
668,958
42
7
16.7

Scheme Budget by Financial Year

The approved funding allocations from the Linkage International budget for SSC proposals to commence in 2008, by financial year, are shown in Table 5.

Table 5: Approved funding allocations, by financial year
2007-08
2008-09
2009-10
2010-11
TOTAL
Total
$137,474
$274,479
$197,006
$60,000
$668,958

Scheme Budget by Calendar Year

The approved funding allocations from the Linkage International budget for SSC proposals to commence in 2008, by calendar year, are shown in Table 6.

Table 6: Approved funding allocations, by calendar year
2008
2009
2010
2011
TOTAL
Total
$274,947
$274,011
$120,000
$0
$668,958
Content Last Modified:

18/3/08

 

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