OverviewThe Industrial Transformation Research Hub scheme fosters close partnerships between university-based researchers and other researchers. Research Hubs support joint research activity, between the Australian higher education sector and industry, designed to focus on strategic outcomes that cannot be realised independently of each other. The objectives of the Industrial Transformation Research Hubs scheme are to:support collaborative research projects between universities and organisations outside the Australian higher education sector that involve cutting-edge research on new technologies; andleverage national and international investment in targeted industry sectors, including from industry and other research end-users. Selection processApplications for funding commencing in 2022 opened on 6 August 2021 and closed on 15 October 2021. Applications were submitted through the Australian Research Council’s (ARC) Research Management System (RMS). This report reflects the funding approved by the Minister.These recommendations are based on advice from the Selection Advisory Committee (SAC) which:assessed applications and reviewed assessments made by independent assessorsreviewed applicants’ comments on assessors’ reportsranked each application relative to the others on the basis of the application, the assessors’ reports and applicants’ responses to those assessmentsassessed and recommended budgetsrecommended application feedback and advice from the ARC’s National Competitive Grants Program Eligibility Committee which:considered eligibility issues identified by ARC staff, the members of the SAC or independent assessorswhere required, sought advice from the ARC's Medical Research Advisory Groupmade recommendations to the CEO in respect of ineligible applications.This report reflects funding approved by the Minister. Assessment criteriaAssessment criteria and corresponding weightings for Industrial Transformation Research Hubs applications are:a. Investigator(s)/Capability (20%)Describe the:demonstrated Research Opportunity and Performance Evidence (ROPE) of the proposed team including:evidence of experience in managing distributed and/or collaborative industrial and end-user focussed research;evidence of significant outcomes on industry related projects; andevidence of experience in and capacity to provide effective supervision, support and mentoring for HDR candidates and postdoctoral researchers over the life of the Research Hub.appropriateness of the team research track record to achieve the Research Hub’s goals; andtime and capacity of the team to undertake and manage the proposed research in collaboration with the Partner Organisation(s).b. Project Quality and Innovation (30%)Describe the extent to which the:aims, concepts, methods and outcomes will drive growth, productivity and competitiveness within relevant sectors;conceptual/theoretical framework is genuinely integrated, cross-disciplinary, innovative and original; andproject draws together high quality innovative national and international partnership(s) into an integrated Research Hub.c. Feasibility and Commitment (20%)Describe the:extent to which the Research Hub represents value for money;appropriateness of the design of the Research Hub and the expertise of the participants to ensure the project can be completed within the proposed budget and timeframe (including identified risks and mitigation strategies);proposed level of collaboration to support the research project, including national and international networks and linkages;high-quality intellectual support provided for the Research Hub by the research environment of the participating organisations;availability of and access to the necessary facilities required to support the proposed research (physical, technical, access to infrastructure, etc);commitment by each Partner Organisation(s) to collaboration in the Research Hub;adequacy of the budget, including cash and in-kind Contributions pledged by participating organisations; andextent to which the proposed Research Hub engages, and will continue to engage, meaningfully with the relevant industry experts including Industry Growth Centres.If the project involves research pertaining to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander communities describe:the strategies for enabling collaboration with Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander communities (for example, dialogue/collaboration with an Indigenous cultural mentor);any existing or developing, supportive and high-quality relationships with Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander communities; andany personal affiliations with local Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander communities that can facilitate the proposed research.d. Benefit (30%)Describe:the extent to which the research clearly addresses one or more of the Industrial Transformation Priorities;the economic, commercial, environmental, social and/or cultural benefits for relevant Australian research end-users (including relevant industry and manufacturing sectors);the extent to which the proposed Research Hub supports clearly identified market opportunity(ies) and intended transformation for Australian industry or other end users;the extent to which the proposed Research Hub will build research capacity in the Partner Organisation(s);the extent to which there are adequate strategies to encourage dissemination, promotion, and the commercialisation of research outcomes;the potential contribution of the proposed research to addressing the needs of industries and communities as articulated in Australia’s Industrial Transformation Priorities; andwhere relevant, the extent to which the applicants have identified the freedom to operate in the Intellectual Property and patent landscape to enable future benefits to industry. Assessment processThe ARC assessment and reporting process for Industrial Transformation Research Hubs commencing in 2022 involved a panel of 14 SAC members and was managed in RMS. A total of 43 independent assessors’ reports were submitted to the ARC for Industrial Transformation Research Hubs commencing in 2022. Funding levels and durationFunding of between $500,000 and $1 million per annum for between three to five consecutive years may be awarded for each Industrial Transformation Research Hub. Summary of outcomesThe ARC received 12 applications for Industrial Transformation Research Hubs commencing in 2022. 11 applications met eligibility requirements. One did not meet the eligibility requirements and was deemed ineligible.As shown in Table 1, four applications are recommended for funding. The overall success rate is 33.3 per cent. A comparison of success rates and funding amounts is shown in Table 2.Table 1. Details of approved Industrial Transformation Research Hubs commencing in 2022Research Hub TitleAdministering OrganisationResearch Hub DirectorApproved funds over project lifeARC Research Hub for Advanced Manufacture of Targeted RadiopharmaceuticalsThe University of QueenslandProf Kristofer Thurecht$4,808,669ARC Research Hub to Advance Timber for Australia’s Future Built EnvironmentThe University of QueenslandProf Keith Crews$2,959,803ARC Research Hub for Carbon Utilisation and RecyclingMonash UniversityProf Paul Webley$5,000,000ARC Research Hub for Fire Resilience Infrastructure, Assets and Safety Advancements (FRIASA) in Urban, Resources, Energy and Renewables SectorsThe University of New South WalesProf Guan Yeoh$4,999,700Table 2. Comparison of application numbers, success rates, requested and allocated funds for approved applications from Industrial Transformation Research Hubs for funding in 2021 and 2022*Funding yearApplications consideredApplications approvedSuccess rate(%)Requested funds over project life - all applicationsRequested funds over project life - approved applicationsFunds allocated over project life* - approved applicationsAllocation as a percentage of request (%)202116850.0$71,951,781$36,418,096$36,418,096100.0202212433.3$57,033,938$17,768,172$17,768,172100.0*May include indicative funding amounts Outcomes by disciplineA summary of outcomes by discipline grouping is shown in Table 3.Table 3. Number of applications, success rates and requested and allocated funds for approved Industrial Transformation Research Hubs commencing in 2022 applications by disciplineDiscipline*Applications consideredApplications approvedSuccess rate(%)Requested funds over project life for all applications considered ($)Requested funds over project life for approved applications ($)Funds over project life for approved applications ($)Return Rate for approved applications (%)BSB11100.0$4,808,669$4,808,669$4,808,669100.0EIC11327.3$52,225,269$12,959,503$12,959,503100.0Total12433.3$57,033,938$17,768,172$17,768,172100.0*BSB – Biological Sciences and Biotechnology; EIC –Engineering and Information Sciences; HSE – Humanities and Creative Arts, Social, Behavioural and Economic Sciences; MPCE – Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry and Earth Sciences Outcomes by administering organisation Institutions across six Australian States submitted applications for Industrial Transformation Research Hubs commencing in 2022. In addition to ARC funding, significant contributions are made by participating organisations as shown in Table 4.Table 4. Numbers of applications, success rates and ARC approved funding for Industrial Transformation Research Hubs commencing in 2022Administering OrganisationApplications consideredApplications approvedSuccess rate (%)ARC approved funding over project life (approved applications)Participating organisation*#contributions(cash & in-kind) over project life (approved applications)New South Wales4125.0$4,999,700$16,798,035Macquarie University100$0$0The University of New South Wales2150$4,999,700$16,798,035The University of Newcastle100$0$0Queensland22100.0$7,768,472$22,239,418University of Queensland22100.0$7,768,472$22,239,418Victoria6116.7$5,000,000$17,320,895Monash University2150.0$5,000,000$17,320,895Swinburne University of Technology400.0$0$0Total12433.3$17,768.172$56,358,348* Participating Organisations include the Administering Organisation, Other Eligible Organisations, Partner Organisations and Other Organisations.# Participating Organisation contributions are shown by organisation type in Table 4. Participating organisation contributions by organisation typeAs shown in Table 5, contributions to Industrial Transformation Research Hubs commencing in 2022 from Partner Organisations total over $31 million, 55.8 per cent of the total organisation contributions to successful Industrial Transformation Research Hubs commencing in 2022.Table 5. Participating organisation contributions by organisation type for approved Industrial Transformation Research Hubs commencing in 2022 applicationsOrganisation typeOrganisation contributions (cash & in-kind) over project life (approved applications)Administering Organisation$12,624,172Other Eligible Organisation$11,366,818Partner Organisation$31,444,458Other Organisation$922,900Total$56,358,348 Partner organisation contributions by sectorPartner Organisations were identified as either Australian, international, government, non-profit, industry or overseas higher education organisations. The Partner Organisation contributions in these categories for applications approved for funding in 2022 are shown in Table 6.Table 6. Partner Organisation contributions by sector for approved Industrial Transformation Research Hubs commencing in 2022 applicationsType Cash In-kindTotal $%$%$%Government Australian State, Territory and Local Government $1,000,003 6.19$449,3602.94$1,449,3634.61Australian Federal Government $00.00$750,0004.90$750,0002.39 Sub-total$1,000,0036.19$1,199,3607.84$2,199,3637.00Industry Body Australian Company Industry Body $12,748,50078.96$11,104,34072.59$23,852,84075.86International Company Industry Body $1,370,0008.48$850,0005.56$2,220,0007.06 Sub-total$14,118,50087.44$11,954,34078.15$26,072,84082.92Non-profitAustralian Non Profit $300,0001.86$300,0001.96$600,0001.91International Non Profit $00.00$480,6653.14$480,6651.53 Sub-total$300,0001.86$780,6655.10$1,080,6653.44Education Higher Education International $267,8401.66$788,7505.16$1,056,5903.36 Sub-total$267,8401.66$788,7505.16$1,056,5903.36Other Other $460,0002.85$575,0003.76$1,035,0003.29 Sub-total$460,0002.85$575,0003.76$1,035,0003.29 Total$16,146,343100.00$15,298,115100.00$31,444,458100.00Note: All totals and percentages are shown using rounded figures, and as such may not sum. Leverage of ARC fundingOf the 12 applications considered, four were approved with a total approved funding, over the life of these projects, of $17,768,172 million. There are 68 unique Partner Organisations involved, committing a total of $31,444,458 million in cash and in-kind funding. This represents $1.77 from Partner Organisations for every dollar of funding from the ARC. Industrial transformation prioritiesAs shown in Table 7, applications for Industrial Transformation Research Hubs commencing in 2022 were submitted in eight Industrial Transformation Priorities.Table 7. Instances of identified Industrial Transformation Priorities in Industrial Transformation Research Hubs applications approved for funding commencing in 2022Industrial Transformation PrioritiesInstances in applications considered*Instances in applications approved*Advanced Manufacturing103Cyber Security41Defence10Food, Beverage and Agribusiness30Medical Technologies and Pharmaceuticals21Mining Equipment, Resources Technology and Services, Critical Minerals Processing31Oil, Gas and Energy Resources 32Recycling and Clean Energy41Total309* A single application may select multiple Industrial Transformation Priorities Science and research prioritiesAs shown in Table 8, all applications for Industrial Transformation Research Hubs commencing in 2022 selected a Science and Research Priority.Table 8. Approved funding for Industrial Transformation Research Hubs for funding in 2022 by Science and Research PriorityPriority areaApplications consideredApplications approvedSuccess rate (%)Approved funds (over project life)Advanced Manufacturing6350.0$12,768,172Cybersecurity2000Energy2150.0$5,000,000Health1000Resources1000Total12433.3$17,768,172Total within Science and Research Priorities12433.3$17,768,172Percentage within Science and Research Priorities (%)100.0100.0 100.0 Field of research categoriesTable 9. Application data by Field of Research category for Industrial Transformation Research Hubs commencing in 2022Field of Research categoryApplications consideredApplications approvedARC approved funding over project life (approved applications)Participating Organisation contributions (cash & in-kind) over project life (approved applications)Pharmacology and pharmaceutical sciences11$4,808,669$10,255,730Building11$2,959,803$11,983,688Chemical Engineering31$5,000,000$17,320,895Civil Engineering21$4,999,700$16,798,035Mechanical Engineering1000Cybersecurity and privacy1000Distributed computing and systems software3000Total124$17,768,172$56,358,348 GenderA total of 462 participants were named as a Research Hub Director, Chief Investigator or Partner Investigator on applications considered in this round. Of these, 381 are male, 76 are female and 5 participants chose not to specify their gender. The success rates for male, female and unspecified participants are 38.8 per cent, 47.4 per cent and 80 per cent respectively. International collaborationAs shown in Figure 1, there are 12 instances where a total of 8 countries are participating in the successful Industrial Transformation Research Hubs commencing in 2022.Figure 1. Instances of international collaboration on approved Industrial Transformation Research Hubs commencing in 2022 applications