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Selection Report: Industrial Transformation Training Centres 2021

Overview

The Industrial Transformation Training Centres scheme fosters close partnerships between university-based researchers and other researchers. Training Centres deliver innovative Higher Degree by Research (HDR) and postdoctoral training. The focus is on creating end-user research capability that is vital to Australia's future through developing solutions relevant to the Industrial Transformation Priorities.  

The objectives of the Industrial Transformation Training Centres scheme are to:

  • support HDR candidates and postdoctoral researchers to undertake industrial training
  • support research collaboration between universities and organisations outside the Australian higher education sector; and
  • strengthen the capabilities of industry and research end-users in identified Industrial Transformation Priority areas.

 

Selection process

Applications for funding commencing in 2021 opened on 10 September 2020 and closed on 18 November 2020. Applications were submitted through the Australian Research Council (ARC) Research Management System (RMS). This report outlines recommendations from the ARC Chief Executive Officer (CEO) to the Minister.

These recommendations are based on advice from the Selection Advisory Committee (SAC) which:

  • assessed applications and reviewed assessments made by independent assessors
  • reviewed applicants’ comments on assessors’ reports
  • ranked each application relative to the others on the basis of the application, the assessors’ reports and applicants’ responses to those assessments
  • assessed and recommended budgets
  • recommended 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 assessors
  • where required, sought advice from the ARC's Medical Research Advisory Group
  • made recommendations to the CEO in respect of ineligible applications.

This report reflects the funding recommendations to the Minister.

 

Assessment Criteria

Assessment Criteria and corresponding weightings for Industrial Transformation Training Centres applications are:

a. Investigator(s)/Capability (20%)

  • 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; and
    • evidence of experience in and capacity to provide effective supervision
    • support and mentoring for HDR candidates and postdoctoral researchers over the life of the Training Centre
  • appropriateness of team research track record to achieve the Training Centre’s goals and
  • time 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%)

  • the aims, concepts, methods and outcomes will drive growth, productivity and competitiveness within relevant sectors
  • the project builds skills and capacity in end-user focussed research
  • the conceptual/theoretical framework is genuinely integrated, cross-disciplinary, innovative and original; and
  • how the Training Centre has a wide level of collaboration, including the development of national and international networks and linkages.

c. Feasibility and Commitment (20%)

  • extent to which the proposed Training Centre represents value for money
  • practicality of the proposed project objectives, budget and timeframe (including identified risks and mitigation strategies)
  • proposed level of collaboration to support the research project
  • high quality intellectual support provided for the Training Centre by the research environment of the participating organisations
  • availability of and access to necessary facilities required to support the proposed research (physical, technical, access to infrastructure, etc)
  • capacity of each Partner Organisation(s) to support the Training Centre (including the plan for student placements)
  • extent to which the proposed Training Centre will engage, and will continue to engage, meaningfully with the relevant industry experts including Industry Growth Centre(s)
  • commitment by each Partner Organisation(s) to collaboration in the Training Centre and
  • Partner Organisation(s) facilities and personnel contribution to the effective supervision, on-site training, support and mentoring for the HDR candidates and postdoctoral researchers over the life of the project.

Benefit (30%)

  • 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 sectors)
  • the extent to which the proposed Training Centre supports clearly identified market opportunity(ies) and intended transformation for Australian industry or other end users
  • the extent to which the proposed Training Centre will build the ability to exploit research outcomes in the Partner Organisations
  • the extent to which there are adequate strategies to encourage disseminations and promotion of research outcomes among the priority industry sector
  • the potential contribution of the proposed research to addressing the needs of industries and communities as articulated in Australia’s Industrial Transformation Priorities; and
  • where 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 process

The ARC assessment and reporting process for Industrial Transformation Training Centres 2021 involved a panel of 12 SAC members and was managed in RMS. A total of 74 independent assessors’ reports were submitted to the ARC for Industrial Transformation Training Centres 2021.


Funding levels and duration

Funding of between $650,000 and $1 million per annum for the first three years and between $150,000 and $1 million per annum for the fourth year may be awarded for each Industrial Transformation Training Centre. There is no minimum for the fifth year and a maximum of $1 million.

 

Summary of Outcomes

The ARC received 25 applications for Industrial Transformation Training Centres for funding commencing in 2021. All applications met eligibility requirements.

As shown in Table 1, eight applications are recommended for funding. The overall success rate is 32.0 per cent. A comparison of success rates and funding amounts is shown in Table 2.

Table 1. Details of recommended Industrial Transformation Training Centres for funding in 2021

Training Centre TitleAdministering OrganisationTraining Centre DirectorRecommended funds over project life
ARC Training Centre for Next-Gen Technologies in Biomedical AnalysisThe University of Western AustraliaProf Killugudi L Swaminatha-Iyer$3,975,864
ARC Training Centre for Healing CountryCurtin UniversityProf Stephen J van Leeuwen $4,986,473
ARC Training Centre for Accelerated Future Crop DevelopmentThe Australian National UniversityProf Barry J Pogson$5,000,000
ARC Training Centre in Energy Technologies for Future GridsUniversity of WollongongProf Kashem M Muttaqi$5,000,000
ARC Training Centre for Behavioural Insights for Technology Adoption (BITA)Queensland University of TechnologyProf Uwe Dulleck $4,282,859
ARC Training Centre in Bioplastics and BiocompositesThe University of QueenslandA/Prof Steven Pratt$4,943,949
ARC Training Centre for Optimal AgeingMonash UniversityA/Prof Yen Ying Lim$4,583,816
ARC Training Centre for Facilitated Advancement of Australia’s Bioactives (FAAB) Macquarie UniversityProf Alison Rodger$4,997,903

Table 2. Comparison of application numbers, success rates, requested and allocated funds for recommended applications from Industrial Transformation Training Centres for funding in 2020 and 2021*

Funding yearApplications consideredApplications recommendedSuccess rate (%)Requested funds over project life - all applicationsRequested funds over project life - recommended applicationsFunds allocated over project life* - recommended applicationsAllocation as a percentage of request (%)
202031516.1$134,366,011$24,334,385$24,334,385100
202125832$116,100,711$37,770,864$37,770,864100

*May include indicative funding amounts

 

Outcomes by discipline

A summary of outcomes by discipline grouping is shown in Table 3.

Table 3. Number of applications, success rates and requested and allocated funds for recommended Industrial Transformation Training Centres 2021 applications by discipline

Discipline*Applications consideredApplications recommendedSuccess rate (%)Requested funds over project life for all applications considered ($)Requested funds over project life for recommended applications ($)Funds over project life for recommended applications ($)Return Rate for recommended applications (%)
BEM5240.021,875,3129,986,4739,986,473100.0
ET9333.342,201,74013,919,81313,919,813100.0
HSE7228.632,069,9838,866,6758,866,675100.0
PMI4125.019,953,6764,997,9034,997,903100.0
Total25832.0116,100,71137,770,86437,770,864100.0

*BEM – Biological Sciences, Biotechnology, Environmental, Medical and Health Sciences; ET –Engineering and Technology; HSE – Humanities and Creative Arts, Social, Behavioural and Economic Sciences; PMI – Physical, Mathematical and Information Sciences

 

Outcomes by Administering Organisation

Institutions across five Australian States and one Territory submitted applications for Industrial Transformation Training Centres for funding in 2021. 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 recommended funding for recommended Industrial Transformation Training Centres for funding in 2021

Administering OrganisationApplications consideredApplications recommendedSuccess rate (%)ARC recommended funding over project life

(recommended applications)
Participating organisation*#

contributions
(cash & in-kind) over project life

(recommended applications
Australian Capital Territory11100$5,000,000$13,472,487
The Australian National University11100100$5,000,000$13,472,487
New South Wales8225$9,997,903$31,708,909
Macquarie University2150$4,997,903$16,073,639
The University of New South Wales300$0$0
The University of Newcastle100$0$0
University of Wollongong2150$5,000,000$15,635,270
Queensland7228.6$9,226,808$18,079,030
Queensland University of Technology3133.3$4,282,859$10,279,039
The University of Queensland4125$4,943,949$7,799,991
Tasmania100$0$0
University of Tasmania100$0$0
Victoria6116.7$4,583,816$9,919,270
Deakin University100$0$0
Monash University2150$4,583,816$9,919,270
RMIT University100$0$0
The University of Melbourne100$0$0
Victoria University100$0$0
Western Australia22100$8,962,337$23,370,260
Curtin University11100$4,986,473$10,731,978
The University of Western Australia11100$3,975,864$12,638,282
Total25832$37,770,864$96,549,956

* 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 type

As shown in Table 5, contributions to Industrial Transformation Training Centres for funding in 2021 from Partner Organisations total over $46 million, 48.4 per cent of the total organisation contributions to successful Industrial Transformation Training Centres for funding in 2021.

Table 5. Participating organisation contributions by organisation type for recommended Industrial Transformation Training Centres for funding in 2021 applications

Organisation typeOrganisation contributions (cash & in-kind) over project life (recommended applications)
Administering Organisation$32,640,404
Other Eligible Organisation$15,551,137
Partner Organisation$46,761,661
Other Organisation$1,596,754
Total$96,549,956

 

Partner Organisation contributions by sector

Partner Organisations were identified as either Australian State, Territory and local government, Australian Federal government, company industry body (Australian and International) non-profit (Australian and International), overseas higher education organisations and other contributions. The Partner Organisation contributions in these categories for applications recommended for funding in 2021 are shown in Table 6.

Table 6. Partner Organisation contributions by sector for recommended Industrial Transformation Training Centres for funding in 2021 applications

Type CashIn-kindTotal
  $%$%$%
Government 
Australian State, Territory and Local Government $2,875,00020.99$4,153,83012.56$7,028,83015.03
Australian Federal Government $1,217,2768.89$1,629,4804.93$2,846,7566.09
 Sub-total$4,092,27629.88$5,783,31017.49$9,875,58621.12
Industry Body 
Australian Company Industry Body $7,717,50056.35$20,581,55462.24$28,299,05460.52
International Company Industry Body $441,0003.22$1,921,3015.81$2,362,3015.05
 Sub-total$8,158,50059.57$22,502,85568.05$30,661,35565.57
Non-profit 
Australian
Non Profit
 $1,245,0009.09$2,718,4758.22$3,963,475     8.48
International Non Profit $00.00$585,0001.77$585,0001.25
 Sub-total$1,245,0009.09$3,303,4759.99$4,548,4759.73
Education 
Higher Education International  $00.00$563,7451.70$563,7451.21
 Sub-total $00.00$563,7451.70$563,7451.21
Other 
Other  $200,0001.46$912,5002.76$1,112,5002.38
 Sub-total$200,0001.46$912,5002.76$1,112,5002.38
 Total$13,695,776100.00$33,065,885100.00$46,761,661100.00

Note: All totals and percentages are shown using rounded figures, and as such may not sum.

 

Leverage of ARC funding

Of the 25 applications considered, 8 were recommended with a total recommended funding, over the life of these projects, of $37.8 million. There are unique 119 Partner Organisations involved, committing a total of $46.8 million in cash and in-kind funding. This represents $1.24 from Partner Organisations for every dollar of funding from the ARC.

 

Industrial Transformation Priorities

As shown in Table 7, applications for Industrial Transformation Training Centres for funding in 2021 were submitted in all Industrial Transformation Priorities.

Table 7. Instances of identified Industrial Transformation Priorities in Industrial Transformation Training Centres applications recommended for funding commencing in 2021

Industrial Transformation PrioritiesInstances in applications considered*Instances in applications recommended*
Advanced Manufacturing132
Cyber Security 62
Food and Agribusiness73
Medical Technologies and Pharmaceuticals94
Mining Equipment, Technology and Services40
Oil, Gas and Energy Resources 31
Total4212

* A single application may select multiple Industrial Transformation Priorities


Outcomes by Science and Research Priorities

As shown in Table 8, all applications for Industrial Transformation Training Centres for funding in 2021 selected a Science and Research Priority.

Table 8. Recommended funding for Industrial Transformation Training Centres for funding in 2021 by Science and Research Priority

Priority areaApplications consideredApplications recommendedSuccess rate (%)Recommended funds (over project life)
Advanced Manufacturing9222.2$9,941,852
Cybersecurity20  
Energy2150.0$5,000,000
Environmental change11100.0$4,986,473
Food4125.0$5,000,000
Health33100.0$12,842,539
Resources30  
Transport10  
Total25832.0$37,770,864
Total within Science and Research Priorities25832.0$37,770,864
Percentage within Science and Research Priorities (%)100.0100.0 100.0

 

Field of Research Categories

Table 9. Application data by Field of Research category for Industrial Transformation Training Centres for funding in 2021

Field of Research categoryApplications consideredApplications recommendedARC recommended funding over project life (recommended applications)Participating Organisation contributions (cash & in-kind) over project life (recommended applications)
Chemical Sciences42$8,973,767$28,711,921
Environmental Sciences11$4,986,473$10,731,978
Biological Sciences11$5,000,000$13,472,487
Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences30$0$0
Information and Computing Sciences10$0$0
Engineering82$9,943,949$23,435,261
Built Environment and Design40$0$0
Economics21$4,282,859$10,279,039
Psychology and Cognitive Sciences11$4,583,816$9,919,270
Total258$37,770,864$96,549,956

 

Gender

A total of 836 participants were named as a Training Centre Director, Chief Investigator or Partner Investigator on applications considered in this round. Of these, 622 are male, 211 are female and 3 participants chose not to specify their gender. The success rates for male, female and unspecified participants are 30.5 per cent, 45 per cent and 66.7 per cent respectively.

 

International collaboration

As shown in Figure 1, there are 19 instances where a total of 10 countries are participating in the successful Industrial Transformation Training Centres for funding in 2021.

Figure 1. Instances of international collaboration on recommended Industrial Transformation Training Centres for funding in 2021 applications

 

Figure