Selection Report: ARC Centres of Excellence for funding commencing in 2014
[TOC]
Overview
The ARC Centres of Excellence scheme aims to enhance and develop Australia’s research excellence through highly innovative and collaborative research, as well as build Australia’s human capacity in a range of research areas.
Objectives
As indicated in the Funding Rules for this scheme, the objectives of the ARC Centres of Excellence scheme are to:
- undertake highly innovative and potentially transformational research that aims to achieve international standing in the fields of research envisaged and leads to a significant advancement of capabilities and knowledge
- link existing Australian research strengths and build critical mass with new capacity for interdisciplinary, collaborative approaches to address the most challenging and significant research problems
- develop relationships and build new networks with major national and international centres and research programmes to help strengthen research, achieve global competitiveness and gain recognition for Australian research
- build Australia’s human capacity in a range of research areas by attracting and retaining, from within Australia and abroad, researchers of high international standing as well as the most promising research students
- provide high-quality postgraduate and postdoctoral training environments for the next generation of researchers
- offer Australian researchers opportunities to work on large-scale problems over longer periods of time
- establish Centres of such repute in the wider community that they will serve as points of interaction among higher education institutions, governments, industry and the private sector generally.
Selection process
The ARC Centres of Excellence selection round was conducted through a competitive three-stage process:
- Expression of Interest (EOI)
- full Proposal
- interview.
The ARC Chief Executive Officer (CEO), assisted by ARC staff, prepared funding recommendations for submission to the Minister for Education. The recommendations were based on advice from a Selection Advisory Committee (SAC) which:
- assessed Expressions of Interest and shortlisted EOIs for submission of full Proposals
- assessed full Proposals and reviewed assessments made by independent readers
- reviewed Applicants’ comments on assessor reports
- shortlisted full Proposals for interview
- interviewed shortlisted Proposals
- ranked each Proposal relative to the others on the basis of the proposal, the assessor reports, Applicants’ responses to those assessments and interview
- assessed and recommended budgets
and, advice from the ARC Eligibility Committee which:
- considered eligibility issues identified by ARC staff, the SAC or independent assessors
- where required, sought advice from institutions or at interview with respect to issues raised.
The recommendations of the CEO were considered and approved by the Minister. This report reflects the approved outcomes.
Selection criteria
Selection criteria and corresponding weighting for EOIs:
- Research programme—quality and innovation (45%)
- Investigators (40%)
- Institutional support (15%)
Selection criteria and corresponding weighting for Proposals:
- Research programme—quality and innovation (20%)
- Investigators (20%)
- Institutional support (20%)
- Governance, leadership and mentoring (20%)
- Outcomes and linkages (20%)
Funding levels and duration
Funding of between $1 million and $4 million per annum for up to seven years may be awarded for each ARC Centre of Excellence.
Summary of Outcomes
The ARC received a total of 103 EOIs and invited 22 applications to submit full Proposals. Of the 22 ARC Centres of Excellence Proposals submitted, 12 (54.5%) are approved for funding. This represents an Australian Government commitment of $285 million over the life of these Centres.
Table 1: Numbers of EOIs, Proposals and success rates for ARC Centres of Excellence 2014 by discipline panel
|
Panel* |
EOIs considered |
EOIs shortlisted |
EOI success rate |
Proposals considered |
Proposals interviewed |
Proposals approved |
Proposals success rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
BSB |
26 |
6 |
23.1% |
6 |
6 |
4 |
66.7% |
|
EMI |
33 |
5 |
15.2% |
5 |
5 |
3 |
60.0% |
|
HCA |
11 |
4 |
36.4% |
4 |
4 |
1 |
25.0% |
|
PCE |
23 |
5 |
21.7% |
5 |
5 |
3 |
60.0% |
|
SBE |
10 |
2 |
20.0% |
2 |
2 |
1 |
50.0% |
|
Total |
103 |
22 |
21.4% |
22 |
22 |
12 |
54.5% |
*BSB = Biological Sciences and Biotechnology; EMI = Engineering, Mathematics and Informatics; HCA = Humanities and Creative Arts; PCE = Physics, Chemistry and Earth Sciences; SBE = Social, Behavioural and Economics Sciences
Table 2: Requested and approved funding for ARC Centres of Excellence 2014 by discipline panel
|
Panel* |
Proposals approved |
Requested funds over project life (approved Proposals) |
Approved funds over project life (approved Proposals) |
Approved funds as % of requested funds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
BSB |
4 |
$108,127,261 |
$96,000,000 |
88.78% |
|
EMI |
3 |
$71,532,842 |
$65,000,000 |
90.87% |
|
HCA |
1 |
$28,000,000 |
$28,000,000 |
100.00% |
|
PCE |
3 |
$83,932,145 |
$75,999,996 |
90.55% |
|
SBE |
1 |
$25,200,000 |
$20,000,000 |
79.37% |
|
Total |
12 |
$316,792,248 |
$284,999,996 |
89.96% |
*BSB = Biological Sciences and Biotechnology; EMI = Engineering, Mathematics and Informatics; HCA = Humanities and Creative Arts; PCE = Physics, Chemistry and Earth Sciences; SBE = Social, Behavioural and Economics Sciences
Outcomes by Administering Organisation
Table 3: Numbers of EOIs and Proposals, success rates and ARC approved funding for ARC Centres of Excellence 2014 by Administering Organisation
|
Administering Organisation |
EOIs considered |
EOIs shortlisted |
EOI success rate |
Proposals considered |
Proposals approved |
Proposal success rate |
Approved funds over project life (approved Proposals) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Charles Darwin University |
1 |
0 |
0.0% |
0 |
0 |
- |
- |
|
Curtin University of Technology |
4 |
0 |
0.0% |
0 |
0 |
- |
- |
|
Deakin University |
1 |
0 |
0.0% |
0 |
0 |
- |
- |
|
Griffith University |
2 |
1 |
50.0% |
1 |
0 |
- |
- |
|
James Cook University |
1 |
1 |
100.0% |
1 |
1 |
100.0% |
$28,000,000 |
|
Macquarie University |
3 |
3 |
100.0% |
3 |
0 |
- |
- |
|
Monash University |
8 |
3 |
37.5% |
3 |
3 |
100.0% |
$73,999,996 |
|
Queensland University of Technology |
5 |
2 |
40.0% |
2 |
1 |
50.0% |
$19,000,000 |
|
Swinburne University of Technology |
2 |
0 |
0.0% |
0 |
0 |
- |
- |
|
The Australian National University |
9 |
2 |
22.2% |
2 |
2 |
100.0% |
$50,000,000 |
|
The Flinders University of South Australia |
1 |
1 |
100% |
1 |
0 |
- |
- |
|
The University of Adelaide |
3 |
1 |
33.3% |
1 |
1 |
100.0% |
$23,000,000 |
|
The University of Melbourne |
12 |
1 |
8.3% |
1 |
1 |
100.0% |
$20,000,000 |
|
The University of New South Wales |
11 |
0 |
0.0% |
0 |
0 |
- |
- |
|
The University of Newcastle |
4 |
0 |
0.0% |
0 |
0 |
- |
- |
|
The University of Queensland |
11 |
1 |
9.1% |
1 |
1 |
100.0% |
$20,000,000 |
|
The University of Sydney |
7 |
3 |
42.9% |
3 |
0 |
- |
- |
|
The University of Western Australia |
7 |
1 |
14.3% |
1 |
1 |
100.0% |
$26,000,000 |
|
University of South Australia |
3 |
0 |
0.0% |
0 |
0 |
- |
- |
|
University of Tasmania |
3 |
0 |
0.0% |
0 |
0 |
- |
- |
|
University of Technology, Sydney |
2 |
1 |
50.0% |
1 |
0 |
- |
- |
|
University of Wollongong |
3 |
1 |
33.3% |
1 |
1 |
100.0% |
$25,000,000 |
Table 4: ARC Centres of Excellence 2014 Proposals approved for funding
|
ARC Centres of Excellence Title |
Centre Director |
Administering Organisation |
Total approved funds over project life |
|---|---|---|---|
|
ARC Centre of Excellence in Advanced Molecular Imaging |
Prof James Whisstock |
Monash University |
$27,999,996 |
|
ARC Centre of Excellence for Children and Families over the Life Course |
Prof Janeen Baxter |
The University of Queensland |
$20,000,000 |
|
ARC Centre of Excellence in Convergent Bio-Nano Science and Technology |
Prof Thomas Davis |
Monash University |
$26,000,000 |
|
ARC Centre of Excellence for the Dynamics of Language |
Prof Nicholas Evans |
The Australian National University |
$28,000,000 |
|
ARC Centre of Excellence for Electromaterials Science |
Prof Gordon Wallace |
University of Wollongong |
$25,000,000 |
|
ARC Centre of Excellence for Integrated Coral Reef Studies |
Prof Terence Hughes |
James Cook University |
$28,000,000 |
|
ARC Centre of Excellence for Integrative Brain Function |
Prof Gary Egan |
Monash University |
$20,000,000 |
|
ARC Centre of Excellence for Mathematical and Statistical Frontiers of Big Data, Big Models, New Insights |
Prof Peter Hall |
The University of Melbourne |
$20,000,000 |
|
ARC Centre of Excellence for Nanoscale BioPhotonics |
Prof Tanya Monro |
The University of Adelaide |
$23,000,000 |
|
ARC Centre of Excellence in Plant Energy Biology |
Prof Andrew Millar |
The University of Western Australia |
$26,000,000 |
|
ARC Centre of Excellence for Robotic Vision |
Prof Peter Corke |
Queensland University of Technology |
$19,000,000 |
|
ARC Centre of Excellence for Translational Photosynthesis |
Prof Murray Badger |
The Australian National University |
$22,000,000 |
Collaboration
ARC Centres of Excellence encourage collaboration between university researchers at the Administering and Collaborating Organisations and researchers and end-users at Partner Organisations, both within Australia and internationally.
The approved Proposals involve nine Administering Organisations, 22 Collaborating Organisations and 106 Partner Organisations.
Table 5: ARC requested funds and cash commitments from all Organisations for the ARC Centres of Excellence 2014 approved Proposals
|
ARC Centres of Excellence Title |
ARC requested funds over project life |
Cash commitment from all Organisations* over project life |
Cash commitment from all Organisations* as % of ARC requested funds over project life |
|---|---|---|---|
|
ARC Centre of Excellence in Advanced Molecular Imaging |
$27,999,996 |
$10,558,326 |
37.7% |
|
ARC Centre of Excellence for Children and Families over the Life Course |
$25,200,000 |
$7,900,000 |
31.4% |
|
ARC Centre of Excellence in Convergent Bio-Nano Science and Technology |
$27,996,624 |
$9,413,201 |
33.6% |
|
ARC Centre of Excellence for the Dynamics of Language |
$28,000,000 |
$9,338,000 |
33.4% |
|
ARC Centre of Excellence for Electromaterials Science |
$27,932,149 |
$13,843,602 |
49.6% |
|
ARC Centre of Excellence for Integrated Coral Reef Studies |
$28,000,000 |
$12,026,332 |
43.0% |
|
ARC Centre of Excellence for Integrative Brain Function |
$27,719,993 |
$9,384,551 |
33.9% |
|
ARC Centre of Excellence for Mathematical and Statistical Frontiers of Big Data, Big Models, New Insights |
$22,956,217 |
$8,157,064.00 |
35.5% |
|
ARC Centre of Excellence for Nanoscale BioPhotonics |
$28,000,000 |
$16,319,284 |
58.3% |
|
ARC Centre of Excellence in Plant Energy Biology |
$27,990,263 |
$14,067,236 |
50.3% |
|
ARC Centre of Excellence for Robotic Vision |
$20,580,001 |
$6,860,002 |
33.3% |
|
ARC Centre of Excellence for Translational Photosynthesis |
$24,417,005 |
$8,191,565 |
33.5% |
|
Total |
$316,792,248 |
$126,059,163.00 |
39.8% |
*Administering Organisation, Collaborating Organisations and Partner Organisations
International Collaboration
International collaboration is an important component of ARC Centres of Excellence. All approved Proposals indicated international collaborations with at least one country, with the majority indicating international collaboration with five or more countries. Overall, the approved Proposals indicate collaboration with 44 countries. Data relating to international collaboration is shown in Table 6.
Table 6: International collaboration for the ARC Centres of Excellence 2014 by country of collaboration
|
Country of collaboration |
Proposals considered |
Proposals approved |
|---|---|---|
|
Belgium |
1 |
- |
|
Belize |
1 |
1 |
|
Brazil |
1 |
1 |
|
Burma |
1 |
- |
|
Cambodia |
1 |
- |
|
Canada |
9 |
5 |
|
Chile |
1 |
1 |
|
China |
12 |
4 |
|
Colombia |
1 |
1 |
|
Denmark |
2 |
2 |
|
Fiji |
1 |
1 |
|
Finland |
1 |
1 |
|
France |
7 |
6 |
|
Germany |
10 |
6 |
|
India |
3 |
1 |
|
Indonesia |
3 |
2 |
|
Ireland |
3 |
3 |
|
Israel |
2 |
2 |
|
Italy |
5 |
3 |
|
Japan |
7 |
4 |
|
Kenya |
1 |
1 |
|
Korea, Republic of (South) |
3 |
2 |
|
Madagascar |
1 |
1 |
|
Malaysia |
2 |
1 |
|
Maldives |
1 |
1 |
|
Mexico |
1 |
1 |
|
Monaco |
1 |
1 |
|
Netherlands |
5 |
3 |
|
New Caledonia |
1 |
1 |
|
New Zealand |
7 |
4 |
|
Norway |
3 |
1 |
|
Pakistan |
1 |
- |
|
Papua New Guinea |
1 |
1 |
|
Philippines |
3 |
2 |
|
Portugal |
1 |
1 |
|
Qatar |
1 |
- |
|
Saudi Arabia |
1 |
1 |
|
Seychelles |
1 |
1 |
|
Singapore |
5 |
4 |
|
Solomon Islands |
1 |
1 |
|
South Africa |
2 |
1 |
|
Spain |
1 |
1 |
|
Sri Lanka |
1 |
- |
|
Sweden |
6 |
4 |
|
Switzerland |
6 |
3 |
|
Taiwan |
1 |
1 |
|
Tanzania |
1 |
1 |
|
Thailand |
1 |
- |
|
Turkey |
1 |
- |
|
United Kingdom |
16 |
10 |
|
United States of America |
21 |
11 |
|
Venezuela |
1 |
1 |
|
Vietnam |
1 |
- |
|
Total |
172 |
105 |