OverviewThe 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 trainingsupport research collaboration between universities and organisations outside the Australian higher education sector; andstrengthen the capabilities of industry and research end-users in identified Industrial Transformation Priority areas. Selection processApplications 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 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 feedbackand 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 the funding recommendations to the Minister. Assessment CriteriaAssessment 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 researchevidence of significant outcomes on industry related projects; andevidence of experience in and capacity to provide effective supervisionsupport and mentoring for HDR candidates and postdoctoral researchers over the life of the Training Centreappropriateness of team research track record to achieve the Training Centre’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%)the aims, concepts, methods and outcomes will drive growth, productivity and competitiveness within relevant sectorsthe project builds skills and capacity in end-user focussed researchthe conceptual/theoretical framework is genuinely integrated, cross-disciplinary, innovative and original; andhow 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 moneypracticality of the proposed project objectives, budget and timeframe (including identified risks and mitigation strategies)proposed level of collaboration to support the research projecthigh quality intellectual support provided for the Training Centre by the research environment of the participating organisationsavailability 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 andPartner 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 Prioritiesthe 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 usersthe extent to which the proposed Training Centre will build the ability to exploit research outcomes in the Partner Organisationsthe extent to which there are adequate strategies to encourage disseminations and promotion of research outcomes among the priority industry sectorthe 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 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 durationFunding 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 OutcomesThe 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 2021Training Centre TitleAdministering OrganisationTraining Centre DirectorRecommended funds over project lifeARC Training Centre for Next-Gen Technologies in Biomedical AnalysisThe University of Western AustraliaProf Killugudi L Swaminatha-Iyer$3,975,864ARC Training Centre for Healing CountryCurtin UniversityProf Stephen J van Leeuwen $4,986,473ARC Training Centre for Accelerated Future Crop DevelopmentThe Australian National UniversityProf Barry J Pogson$5,000,000ARC Training Centre in Energy Technologies for Future GridsUniversity of WollongongProf Kashem M Muttaqi$5,000,000ARC Training Centre for Behavioural Insights for Technology Adoption (BITA)Queensland University of TechnologyProf Uwe Dulleck $4,282,859ARC Training Centre in Bioplastics and BiocompositesThe University of QueenslandA/Prof Steven Pratt$4,943,949ARC Training Centre for Optimal AgeingMonash UniversityA/Prof Yen Ying Lim$4,583,816ARC Training Centre for Facilitated Advancement of Australia’s Bioactives (FAAB) Macquarie UniversityProf Alison Rodger$4,997,903Table 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$24,334,385100202125832$116,100,711$37,770,864$37,770,864100*May include indicative funding amounts Outcomes by disciplineA summary of outcomes by discipline grouping is shown in Table 3.Table 3. Number of applications, success rates and requested and allocated funds for recommended Industrial Transformation Training Centres 2021 applications by disciplineDiscipline*Applications consideredApplications recommendedSuccess rate (%)Requested funds over project life for all applications considered ($)Requested funds over project life for recommended applications ($)Funds over project life for recommended applications ($)Return Rate for recommended applications (%)BEM5240.021,875,3129,986,4739,986,473100.0ET9333.342,201,74013,919,81313,919,813100.0HSE7228.632,069,9838,866,6758,866,675100.0PMI4125.019,953,6764,997,9034,997,903100.0Total25832.0116,100,71137,770,86437,770,864100.0*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 OrganisationInstitutions 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 2021Administering OrganisationApplications consideredApplications recommendedSuccess rate (%)ARC recommended funding over project life(recommended applications)Participating organisation*#contributions(cash & in-kind) over project life(recommended applicationsAustralian Capital Territory11100$5,000,000$13,472,487The Australian National University11100100$5,000,000$13,472,487New South Wales8225$9,997,903$31,708,909Macquarie University2150$4,997,903$16,073,639The University of New South Wales300$0$0The University of Newcastle100$0$0University of Wollongong2150$5,000,000$15,635,270Queensland7228.6$9,226,808$18,079,030Queensland University of Technology3133.3$4,282,859$10,279,039The University of Queensland4125$4,943,949$7,799,991Tasmania100$0$0University of Tasmania100$0$0Victoria6116.7$4,583,816$9,919,270Deakin University100$0$0Monash University2150$4,583,816$9,919,270RMIT University100$0$0The University of Melbourne100$0$0Victoria University100$0$0Western Australia22100$8,962,337$23,370,260Curtin University11100$4,986,473$10,731,978The University of Western Australia11100$3,975,864$12,638,282Total25832$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 typeAs 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 applicationsOrganisation typeOrganisation contributions (cash & in-kind) over project life (recommended applications)Administering Organisation$32,640,404Other Eligible Organisation$15,551,137Partner Organisation$46,761,661Other Organisation$1,596,754Total$96,549,956 Partner Organisation contributions by sectorPartner 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 applicationsType CashIn-kindTotal $%$%$%Government Australian State, Territory and Local Government $2,875,00020.99$4,153,83012.56$7,028,83015.03Australian Federal Government $1,217,2768.89$1,629,4804.93$2,846,7566.09 Sub-total$4,092,27629.88$5,783,31017.49$9,875,58621.12Industry Body Australian Company Industry Body $7,717,50056.35$20,581,55462.24$28,299,05460.52International Company Industry Body $441,0003.22$1,921,3015.81$2,362,3015.05 Sub-total$8,158,50059.57$22,502,85568.05$30,661,35565.57Non-profit AustralianNon Profit $1,245,0009.09$2,718,4758.22$3,963,475 8.48International Non Profit $00.00$585,0001.77$585,0001.25 Sub-total$1,245,0009.09$3,303,4759.99$4,548,4759.73Education Higher Education International $00.00$563,7451.70$563,7451.21 Sub-total $00.00$563,7451.70$563,7451.21Other 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$46,761,661100.00Note: All totals and percentages are shown using rounded figures, and as such may not sum. Leverage of ARC fundingOf 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 PrioritiesAs 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 2021Industrial Transformation PrioritiesInstances in applications considered*Instances in applications recommended*Advanced Manufacturing132Cyber Security 62Food and Agribusiness73Medical Technologies and Pharmaceuticals94Mining Equipment, Technology and Services40Oil, Gas and Energy Resources 31Total4212* A single application may select multiple Industrial Transformation PrioritiesOutcomes by Science and Research PrioritiesAs 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 PriorityPriority areaApplications consideredApplications recommendedSuccess rate (%)Recommended funds (over project life)Advanced Manufacturing9222.2$9,941,852Cybersecurity20 Energy2150.0$5,000,000Environmental change11100.0$4,986,473Food4125.0$5,000,000Health33100.0$12,842,539Resources30 Transport10 Total25832.0$37,770,864Total within Science and Research Priorities25832.0$37,770,864Percentage 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 Training Centres for funding in 2021Field 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$28,711,921Environmental Sciences11$4,986,473$10,731,978Biological Sciences11$5,000,000$13,472,487Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences30$0$0Information and Computing Sciences10$0$0Engineering82$9,943,949$23,435,261Built Environment and Design40$0$0Economics21$4,282,859$10,279,039Psychology and Cognitive Sciences11$4,583,816$9,919,270Total258$37,770,864$96,549,956 GenderA 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 collaborationAs 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